Traveling with Kids

     I recently had a fellow Army wife send me a message stating that it's much easier and less expensive for my husband and I to travel here in Europe because we don't have children. That is very true! I don't know what it's like and it doesn't usually cross my mind. I don't think about paying for each child, or where a good restaurant is that will have kid friendly food. I don't think about the extra bags and luggage needed or needing to find a restroom to change diapers. So although I don't have any personal experience traveling with children I did find some great websites with some "traveling with kids" tips. 

Exploring Bavaria, Germany

Traveling to Europe 

Traveling with Kids: Facing my fears in Europe

Europe with Kids: The Ultimate Guide 

Europe with Kids

Filing Moving Claims Process

       If you received anything that was broken, damaged or lost through the moving process you can claim those items to either have them repaired or replaced. This process can take a while so once your HHG are delivered unpack everything as soon as you can. You have 70 days from day of delivery to start the initial claims process. Make a list of all items that are broken, damaged or lost. Write a small description about what happened to it. For example, if your kitchen table in scratched you would write "kitchen table scratched on tabletop, left end of the table." While you are going through each item be sure to take pictures of the damage and write down the inventory number. You know, those annoying little stickers on every piece of furniture that you find years after your move... You will later use these when finishing the claim. 
       Call the claims office, usually where JAG is located (legal office), to see if you need an appointment. The first time you go in be sure you have ALL paperwork from the move. Inventory of all items, POA's, orders and the paper you signed from the movers on the day of delivery. Now the next step may vary depending on where you are located. Some places will help you get started so you understand how the website for filing claims works. Other locations may not help at all or they may do every step for you. 
        Here at Vilseck, the claims office showed me how to work the website so I could then finish the claim on my own. The DPS website can be a little frustrating so be sure you ask questions to make sure you understand the process. I have heard the DPS website will not work on a Mac but I do know someone who had theirs work. Also, on a PC you will need to open everything in Internet Explorer, it will not work in Firefox or Chrome. 
       Now the first step is going to be adding all the items that were broken, damaged or lost. At this time you'll only be filling out the item name, description of what happened and the inventory number. The claims office at Vilseck does all of this with you. Once all items are entered then you have finally started the claims process. Remember to get this done within 70 days of delivery!

          After that list is turned in you have 9 months to complete the claims process. All of this has to be completed through the DPS website. A spouse can file the claim but the claims people will not contact the spouse/dependent because the move was done under the sponsor’s name. So all emails regarding the claim will be sent to the sponsor. In this next part of the claim you will be adding detail to each item such as serial numbers, pictures, and copies of receipts. You will also add in the year the item was purchased and what amount you are claiming. For example, we had a desk broken into pieces. I looked up the desk online and found the exact same one. I claimed the exact amount of what the desk was being sold for. If you are unsure of how much an item is research it to find the value of what it’s worth. If you don’t tell them what the item was worth or what it looked like they will research the cheapest one and pay you for that. I had hand painted wine glasses broken. They were a gift so I don't know how much they were. I went onto Etsy and found some that were similar and claimed a price that they were being sold for. 

         You will fill all of this info out for each item (don't forget to attach those pictures). Once every item has been completed you will submit the final claim. DO NOT click the red "submit claim" button until you are 100% sure everything is done. You can not go back to fix it. Once you have submitted the final claim you should get an email stating that the moving company has received it (it may take a few days). They will then send someone to your house to look at all your items. They will be looking to see if the item can be repaired. Depending on what happened to the item you will either get a replacement amount or a small amount to get it repaired.
       Once the claims person takes a look at all the items they will send you an offer of how much you should get back to either replace or repair your items. You CAN counter offer this! If you don’t agree with the amount, argue it!

Reminder: Do not throw away any items until the claims process is complete. All items will need to be looked at before sending an offer.

And this is where the claims process has stopped for me. We are currently waiting on an offer!