All moving companies in the United States are required to have a dispute resolution process and provide a written contract that contains key information for the customer. Your contract with the moving company should contain specific information such as:  Estimates: There should be estimates specified in writing for the costs of the services the moving company will perform. The estimates should all be clearly stated and signed off by the mover. Order of service: This is a list of all the services the mover will perform. The order of service should also note the dates that your goods will be picked up from your previous residence and delivered to your new residence. Bill of Lading: This is a contract between you and the mover. It will also act as a receipt for your goods. You should have a partially completed copy of the Bill of Lading before the mover’s vehicles leave your old residence. Inventory list: This is a complete list of each item being moved and it’s current condition. You should have a written copy of the inventory list once your belongings are loaded into the moving vehicle and you should sign off on the description of your belongings’ current condition before the move. When you signed the contract with your moving company, you also signed up for liability insurance offered by the company in the event of theft, loss, or damage. This liability coverage, also referred to as “valuation”, is usually provided by moving companies in three different ways: based on the weight of your shipment multiplied by a specified amount per pound, based on the assessed value of the items provided by you, or based on the full value of the items, which means the company will pay for all repairs or replacements. Most moving companies offer declared value based on weight at no charge and will charge a fee for full value protection.  Note the type of coverage you signed off on the contract with the moving company. If the declared value of your shipment was specified as $10,000, for example, the moving company is liable for up to $10,000 worth of damage. If the liability insurance on your contract is based on the weight of your shipment multiplied by a specified amount per pound, you may need to consider the weight of the damaged items and how much money the moving company may be required to pay. If you have a very light, but very expensive item that is damaged, you may only receive a quarter of the value of the item as the moving company is responsible for costs based on weight, not value. Once you have collected information on the damaged goods and reviewed your contract with the moving company, you should contact the moving company and let them know you intend to file a claim for partial or full value of the damaged goods. All interstate moving companies are required to provide you with information on their dispute settlement program. Most moving companies will have a neutral arbitration program to settle disputes due to lost or damaged goods. You should also ask the company about their requirements to process your claim, such as any request forms you need to submit specific to the moving company. Some companies may request a personal inspection of the damaged goods or other physical evidence of the damage. Make sure you get as much information as possible about the moving company’s dispute settlement procedures to ensure your claim is processed.

Summary: Review your written contract with the moving company. Determine the type of liability insurance you purchased through the moving company. Contact the moving company and let them know you are filing a claim.


The best time to speak with someone about their behavior is when you are both stress-free, in good moods and not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Unfortunately, it may be difficult to find the time for a conversation when you are both at your absolute best. Still, you should try to initiate the conversation during a time when you think your friend will be more receptive. For instance, avoid talking while you are out drinking with each other. Also, try not to talk to your friend when they've had a particularly rough day or are overly stressed about something, if possible. Talking to your friend after they exhibit the behavior in question has more of an impact than waiting a substantial amount of time to point out their actions. They may forget what happened, or may not feel as emotionally attached to it if they have time to get over what occurred. As soon as you can, confront them about the situation.   If you feel like your friend's risky behavior is potentially life-threatening and may be putting them or others into harm's way, don't wait to confront them. For example, if you're sure that your friend has been driving while intoxicated, talk to them about it immediately. If you are unable to address the behavior when it happens, keep a log of your friend's behavior. Write down the day and time the behavior occurred, and what your friend did. Having solid evidence in front of them may make them take your concern more seriously. As important as it is to point out the issue right away, it's also important not to sugarcoat it. You may try to minimize what's happening so you don't offend your friend, but downplaying risky behavior could lead to negative consequences. Be straightforward and honest with your friend about what happened.  Try saying, “I watched the way you behaved last night and it really concerned me. Do you know why you behaved in that way?”  Don't say, "You were wild last night!" since this could be misconstrued as approval rather than concern. Also, Avoid accusing your friend of anything and focus on what concerned you. Part of the benefit of planning your approach is the opportunity to conduct some research. If you don't take the time to research and brainstorm ways your friend can receive help with the behavior, the meeting won't have as much of an impact. Your friend may want to come up with solutions together with you, and that's fine, but you'll want to have some of the work already completed before you hold the meeting.  If you're afraid your friend is addicted to drugs or alcohol, look into treatment options and support groups that may help. If you believe the behavior is due to a medical condition, talk to health care professionals about what can be done.

Summary: Talk to your friend when you are both clear-minded. Speak with your friend about the risky behavior soon after it happens. Be honest when you share your concerns. Research possible solutions prior to speaking to your friend.


There is a long-standing myth in the music industry that the old-fashioned fix of recording a song, placing it in an envelope and mailing it to oneself guaranteed copyright. The post date on the stamp was supposed to serve as proof of the date of origin of the song, provided the envelope remained sealed. However, this method didn't stand up in various court cases and has since been discredited. Moreover, given that your copyright exists on creation, and that an envelope's seal can be carefully unsealed and resealed, this method does seem rather fallible. If your country is a member of the Berne Convention, copyright in a song comes into existence when you create it. It does become more complicated when there are several creators who have contributed to the song, but there are rules governing these "layers." It's best to seek legal advice in that situation. The U.S. copyright office is the only one among the Berne Convention's member countries offering a method to register content of the song (lyrics, melody, chord, etc.). Unfortunately in all other countries, only the title of the song is recorded. The value of the protection afforded is significantly reduced. However, your possession of a dated original is all the proof of authorship that you need in most countries, assuming there is any dispute.
Summary: Avoid poor man's copyright. Be aware of the Berne Convention.