Insurance claim for sofas - being offered low sum

markelock

Hi

Hopefully this is the best area to put this.

I have two sofas from sofa workshop (who were, but I believe are not now in administration), and policies protecting the sofas from accidental damage.

The short of it is, I've made a claim (kids got paint on them), we've filled in the claims forms, guardsman/valspar sent out a cleaner (who couldn't clean the stain, and made the pile of the fabric worse)

So they're offering £850 to recover the sofas (they are removable covers). They said they are unable to get hold of the fabric from sofa workshop, as they are in admin (which I don't believe is true, as SW have restructured their business)

However, I called sofa workshop (because I wanted to double check), and was given a price of circa £1500 for the correct fabric inc labour (from john brown fabrics). I wasn't impressed when I found this out, as it only took 25 minutes.

Obviously it's dissapointing that the offer is too low, and also that they either didn't get a replacement cost, or did, and are trying it on.

Am I not right in wanting them to perform their side of the contract??? i.e. they get the fabric and re-upholster, or pay me enough money to buy the fabric and get it re-upholstered (if they really don't deal with SW now)

So far nothing is in writing, which will be my next suggestion to them.

dacouch

I would recommend you speak to your Insurers direct prerably with the quote from SW in writing and including the line "This is on a like for like basis" (Assuming it is). Your Insurers should then accept it unless the fabric they have sourced is genuinly a direct replacement or of an equal standard

markelock

dacouch wrote: »

I would recommend you speak to your Insurers direct prerably with the quote from SW in writing and including the line "This is on a like for like basis" (Assuming it is). Your Insurers should then accept it unless the fabric they have sourced is genuinly a direct replacement or of an equal standard

Sounds fair enough. The fabric is exactly the same (which is why when I'd given them the name of the fabric, I was dissapointed with their figure, and efforts to come to a realistic one)

At the moment they aren't proposing to source a fabric, which is something else I will ask them to do (direct from the manfacturer rather than via SW)

dacouch

Your Insurers are entitled to settle the claim at the lowest possible amount assuming they are providing the same quality of fabric or fabric.


Your insurance is designed to put you in the same position you were in if you had not had the claim. So if they can source the same fabric directly for a cheaper amount they can use the cheaper supplier.

markelock

dacouch wrote: »

Your Insurers are entitled to settle the claim at the lowest possible amount assuming they are providing the same quality of fabric or fabric.


Your insurance is designed to put you in the same position you were in if you had not had the claim. So if they can source the same fabric directly for a cheaper amount they can use the cheaper supplier.

Absolutely.

But as they've not offered to cover it, only cash, I don't think they want to, and I don't think they can do it for their original offer!

dacouch

They should also pay to cover it as like I said you should be put in the same position as if you had not had a claim.

Get a quote to recover it and then ring them up with this price.

Which Insurance company is it?

markelock

It's Guardsman (which I believe is part of Valspar)

I was suprised they came back with a figure at all in the first instance. I was waiting for them to reject it based on it being the third sunday in the month, and not a leap year type excuses.

dacouch

How much did they charge you for the cover?

Did you realise your home insurance probably already covers this and iif not you could have added Accidental Damage Cover for around 15% of your premium and had everything in your home covered for Accidental Damage...

Home Insurers tend to deal with a claim in a much more efficient way and there would have been a good chance they would have just replaced the sofas

On your home insurance you would have had to pay the excess (Probably between £50 and £100) and then had an increase in your premium of around 10% for a couple of years.

Ignore what I said in previous threads about being in the same position as if you never had the claim as the cover you bought from SW may contain exclusions allowing them to not pay for work in actually covering it (Although it may).

If you get no where with SW you could always try putting a claim in on your home insurance if your have accidental damage cover.

P.S Never buy a warranty or insurance at the store you buy an item, go home see if you have cover on another policy and if not shop around. Selling these warranties etc is where the shops make a massive profit margin and the staff are on big bonuses to sell these policies. I'm guessing you paid around £125 for that cover on your sofa

markelock

I paid £250 for both sofas. the policy does say it will pay for replacements. I genuinely think they're trying it on.

Knowing what I know now, I would never buy it, but it was a couple of years ago. I would even buy that type of sofa. (They're not our day to day sofas, are made of acrylic velvet, and because they can damage easily, I've never used them in two years!)

Thanks for your thoughts on this btw.

dacouch

No problems, an expensive lesson to learn. Like I said you prob have cover on your home insurance its worth paying the extra as it will give your entire contents accidental damage cover. Beleive it or not most decent home insurers are really quick and fair now days when they settle claims so you probably would not have had the problems you have had

markelock

An update.

I received a call from Valspar, who contacted the underwriters (AIG) today. They are prepared to pay the full amount to recover the sofas.

I cannot believe it was this straightforward.

Once it's sorted I'll be posting on the 5 star board!