I RECENTLY (JULY) MOVED FROM A LEASED HOUSE MY FAMILY AND I HAD BEEN IN SINCE 9/01/93. WE HAD FINALLY BEEN ABLE TO BUILD OUR DREAM HOME, COMPLETE WITH A BASEMENT SO I COULD FINALLY HAVE MY TRUCKS IN CUSTOM CABINETS WITH SOME ROOM TO GROW. I HAD REMOVED ALL OF MY CODE 3 TRUCKS (72) FROM THE BUBBLES AND CASES AND HAD THEM IN DUST/SMOKE FREE CURIO CABINETS. ALL OF MY BUBBLES/CASES I HAD PLACED IN LARGE STORAGE BOXES (TV, MICROWAVE, COMPUTER). THESE WERE KEPT IN A STORAGE BUILDING SAFE FROM TEMPERATURE AND WEATHER EXTREMES. I HAD SHOULDER SURGERY IN LATE JUNE AND I TOLD THE HOME OWNER I WOULD MOVE MY STORAGE BOXES AS SOON AS I GOT CLEARANCE FROM MY DOCTOR. THE HOME OWNER TOLD ME THAT WOULD BE FINE. DURING THE WEEKEND OF AUGUST 16/17 I WENT TO REMOVE MY BOXES ONLY TO DISCOVER HE HAD PUT ALL OF MY STUFF ON THE CURB AND IT WAS GONE TO THE LANDFILL!!!!!!!!!! NOW, WITH ALL OF THAT SAID, MY QUESTION FOR ALL YOU FELLOW COLLECTORS IS WHAT PERCENTAGE OF VALUE ON MY TRUCKS HAVE I LOST???? DO I TAKE THIS GUY TO COURT OR TURN IT IN ON MY RENTERS INSURANCE???? THANKS AND REGARDS, BILL
COLLECTION TRASHED
Yeah, but then he goes to jail with no money, file a police report, bring him to court and file for insurance coverage! What an ass, i feel bad for ya man!
In much the same way as the value of a new car plummets the moment it drives off the lot (or so people say), in the eyes of many collectors, your trucks lost value the moment they were taken out of the package and handled, regardless of whether the packaging is still around or not.
Regardless, on the surface it appears that the homeowner had no business trashing your belongings like that, and it sounds like you've got a pretty good case against him/her. They definitely have something to answer for in court.
Good luck!
I read your post and what I get out of this is that you only lost the boxes to your collection, is that correct?
If you lost only your boxes/bubble boxes to your trucks, I'm not sure you really have a case. You might take him to small claims court, but the truth is that a judge will probably only view what you have lost as empty toy boxes and you won't get a dime. And the same for your insureance. Unless you can attach a significant dollar value to empty boxes, you probably wont get anything.
Even if it was only empty boxes, it was still HIS belongings which this person trashed without his permission or consent. True, not as much chance of getting any compensation as there would be if the trucks were in them, but there's still principle here.
I also think he doesn't make a change,so the only option is to shoot the guy.
Hey Rescue 131, thanks for the input. I was hoping that someone could tell me for example: Code 3 Black Indianapolis ladder 1.)In the box $$$$ or 2.) Out of box $$$$. And then place the percentage difference on all of my other trucks. Then I would try to get him in court. Thanks and Regards, Bill
I also think he doesn't make a change,so the only option is to shoot the guy.-fdnyfan
We get it.
Go back to playing Halo....
I am wondering why you did not move the boxes in the first place? If they were so important to you, they should have been moved with your other belongings.
Hey Poorkenny, if you read all of my original post you'll notice that I had shoulder surgery in June and could not move them until August. Thanks and Regards, Bill
First rule of renting property, never beleive a landlord. ALWAYS beleive in the contract!
My Friend, you have no standing in this dispute short of filing a complaint in small claims court. If you can prove the worth of the collection and exhibit the agreement you made with the landlord, you may recieve relief.
However, I don't believe the oral contract you explained can be proved in court (he said: she said), and you'll be out of pocket for the cost of court. If you have the means (that means money), you might hire a lawyer and file a suit for loss of your goods and chattles under the local renters' law, but this seems rather fruitless in my opinion.
You should have preserved your rights by having a representative speak to the landlord and explain your situation and created a contract for the storage or care of your goods until such time as you became able to retrieve them. This might have cost some cash, but you would have preserved the landlord/ tennant relationship and thusly, your property and rights would've been protected. No one does anything for nothing in a landlord/ tennant situation, and once the property is vacated, usually so are your rights to anything left behind. In fact, consider yourself lucky the landlord didn't charge you for the removal.
You may have a remedy if you purchased renters' insurance, as long as you paid the premium and the policy was still enforceable on the date in question. If that is so, the most you will recieve will be 80% of the cash value of the goods (if you can prove the worth at the time of the loss).
As one who has had dealings in this situation, and dealt with insurance companies in seeking relief for loss, I can tell you that there is a mighty big lesson to learn here: always insure your "collections" with a "collectable rider" on your homeowners/ renters insurance (if available)and maintain an inventory and value voucher of your goods every time you add or delete from the collection. This, along with a yearly evaluation of the status of your "collection" will work wonders in defending your claims in the future. Right now I have to give you the bad news, I don't think you stand a farts chance in a whirlwind of recieveing any relief in the above described action.
One-One-Oh to Brooklyn K ... never make an oral contract with anyone other than a hooker. And even with a hooker you'd better use protection
Do math and see if all the legal stuff is worth the time, money and effort,, or if its not.
i agree with fdnyfan
DO YOU EVER PLAN ON SELLING YOUR TRUCKS. I AM LIKE YOU, I HAVE TAKEN ALL MY TRUCKS OUT OF THERE BOXES, AND THEY ARE ALL BEING DISPLAYED IN CABINETS. AFTER HAVING 20-25 LARGE CLEAR 32 QUART BOXES STORED IN THE ATTIC, MY WIFE TOLD ME TO MINIMIZE. I FINALLY BROKE DOWN ALL THE BOXES, INTO THE SAME SIZE BOXES {ENGINE,LADDER AND AMBULANCE SIZE DOMES, THEN STACKED THEM INSIDE OF EACH OTHER. I KNOW HAVE 12 LARGE BOXES. REMEMBER, IF YOU DID PLAN ON SELLING YOUR COLLECTION, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO RECONSTUCT THE MODELS BACK INTO THE DOMES OR NEW PLASTIC BOXES. IT WAS NOT EASY TO TAKE OUT OF OLD DOMES. I PLAN ON NEVER SELLING MY COLLECT, SO I WILL NEVER PUT BACK IN BOXES. WHO EVER GETS MY COLLECTION WHEN I DIE, IF THEY WANT TO MAKE MORE MONEY, THEY CAN PUT BACK IN BOXES. I, AS A COLLECTOR, AM MORE INTERESTED IN THE MODEL,BECAUSE I AM GOING TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE BOX. AFTER A WHILE, UNLESS YOU HAVE ALOT OF ROOM, THE BOXES BECOME JUST SOMETHING TO TAKE CARE OFF. PS, I AGREE WITH FDNYFAN.
I found out the hard way that if you don't have a rider on the collection from your renters insurance it will not be covered by insurance. If you are considered about your collection talk to your insurance agent about getting a rider on them.
It can be time consuming task because you must keep an updated inventory with cost of each item and pictures of each one.
This does not only affect renters insurance but also your homeowers insurance.
