Asprea Issues

custnomore

Depressing reading so far about these companies, but please let me warn everyone how their inadequate service can also be life threatening . My (first every) claim started Nov08. Firstly, NU stated I had to use Asprea. An untrained & unlicensed workman (he said he was a roofer!) came into my house with NO safety equipment, cloths or use of procedures. He wasn't able to spot the asbestos contained within the walls that he partially hacked off my living room with a power tool (kanga) and in the presence of my children (11 & 14) and I. The next workman (from Rainbow International) then placed a fan on the exposed asbestos for over 328 hours and also used a dehumidifier to extract any moisture from the air; making it perfect conditions for the asbestos to be propelled at force around this small, contained room. The force of the fan was so great, it regularly blew off bits of this asbestos material onto the carpet, which was always hovered up (mostly by my children) which was also used in their bedrooms, stairs, landing rugs etc. A couple of months later, they sent another workman to replaster, but this man was trained and recognised the asbestos at once. He refused to touch the wall and after a quick call to his office, he fled my property within minutes, leaving my children and I panicking about what to do. He made no attempt to make safe the premises nor did they inform the HSE of this dangerous occurrence. I have confirmation through sampling that this is asbestos. It is a small %, but there is NO SAFE LVEL OF ASBESTOS. My children joke "how long have we got mum... will the dog die too?" It's heartbreaking. Norwich Union, to this date, have not put one word in writing to me regarding this situation. If there are any Boston Legal Eagles with a heart out there, please help . They won’t even reply to my requests for health screening based on research I have gathered regarding children (on Daily Mirror site also) and women.
Becca, you sound really nice, but they really have changed our lives forever. The last woman I spoke to this evening had the cheek to get an attitude with me when I expressed (didn't swear I promise!") my annoyance at her needing 2 days to "acquaint herself" with the case, only to phone 3.45pm today to say she can't d/w it now and it's with someone else and they will also need time to "acquaint themselves" to it. No-one can give me a guarantee my children or I won't suffer/die of a asbestos related disease... and she had the cheek to say "I can't wave a magic wand and make all your dreams come true," to me... (a remark in response to me wanting to speed things up re safety/health screens). NU even had the cheek to be dragging their feet in removing & replacing soft furnishings, which retain fibres and cannot be wiped clean. You would think morally they would ensure they complied with expert opinion which confirms this action. And if you say all that "levels are low risk/little chance of..." !!!! i've heard from you so far I extend this offer to you all: Come and enjoy a roast dinner at my house. Bring your children, I'll hack off some more plaster, place a huge fan and dehumidifier on it, and lets all sit and eat together.... any takers??? NU, you are my worst nightmare and have condemned me (and my children) to worry every time we get a cold/cough for the next 20-30 years. (Well, conditions accelerate more quickly for children because their tissue is still in its growing state.)

dacouch

What sort of asbestos was it eg white etc?

custnomore

Thank you for responding. Makes me less like i'm on my own. It is white, Chrysotile 1-5%, which I kno is a low risk, but it's a risk and research suggests children vulnerable. As for it taking 15/20/30 yrs for if any symptoms show up, try telling that to the 13yr old English girl currently undergoing chemo/radiotherapy for Mesothelioma(Daily Mirror Asbestos Campaign).

[Deleted User]

custnomore

I don't know what to say.
I will do my best to find out what I can for you. I got your PM, could you email me your policy number?
my email address is [EMAIL="rebecca.sibley@norwich-union.co.uk"]rebecca.sibley@norwich-union.co.uk[/EMAIL]

Becca

dacouch

With white asbestos the risk is very low of any problems, as you know white asbestos is in many many homes in artex ceilings etc.

The evidence of the risks of it can be contracdictory, it might be worth contacting a solicitor who specialise in claims for asbestos as they will be more aware of the risks involved and the legal side to making a claim. I suspect most normal solicitors will not wish to take a claim on for it.

Have a read of this website and speak to them http://www.irwinmitchell.com/Personal/PersonalInjury/AsbestosRelatedDiseases/default.htm

P.S If you have issues with NU that you want resolved contact beccus whose contact detials you will find in this thread as she will do her best to help you

custnomore

Had t/c from NU (contract manager) and still NOTHING IN WRITING! I do ont believe that a huge company like that with thousands of employees/solicitors/asbestos experts ect cannot sort this out. I believe they do this because they can. they want to save money and don't give a damn about people. This time they say they want to appoint an "independent solicitor" that has expertise in this arena. Well they already have had Independent expertise advice from the Asbestos Removal company and my local council's asbestos unit, both of which they have ignored. Why? So thewy can get one of their own people to say there is no need to pay for anything and we don't need a health screen...This is a clear breach of contract, gross negligence and NU have ignored every health & safety, HSE and the various asbestos laws... and they still have not admitted or confirmed ANYTHING. I know the independent contractor spoke to them this wednesday for authority to throw my soft furnishings away. They said they would get back to him and didn't. The woman on the phone today claimed not to know anything about why the experts didn't throw all furnishings away... a lie. No faith. They should be done for attempted murder!

custnomore

I've been awake since 3am, my 11 year old son wanted to sleep in my room last night (not a usual occurrence) because he didn’t feel safe. I am ashamed to admit it, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask him why he didn’t feel safe (not my usual response to anyone let alone my child). The thing is; I don’t feel “safe” in our own home. I don’t feel “safe” knowing that the one soft furnishing they took away (and under controlled conditions along with my hoover) from our home, was put in a sealed, marked bag to be put in a 40 FOOT HOLE AND IN A SPECIALIALLY DESIGNATED WASTE SITE. And that the carpet is the only soft furnishing Norwich Union gavethe independent contractors whom they have employed, the authority to remove from our property. I don’t feel safe in our home anymore because they didn’t remove any other soft furnishing including cushions and rug what were inches away from that carpet (and hovered by that hoover) from our home.

Yesterday evening, this same inquisitive 11 year old boy asked me why only downstairs was wiped clean by the workmen, because when walk back down from upstairs, we would’ve contaminated the area again! Kids are smart like that. When they have a question, they have this wonderful ability to ask it in a clear and precise manner. I smiled at my son and told how smart he is to realise this fact. I also lied to my son and to his direct question, (and the questions I knew existed in his head, that was prompting him to ask me such a question) to enable me to answer him in the in the most positive and reassuring way I know.

My other “heartbreaking” moment came a few days ago when both my sons came bounding in to the living room only to stop dead in their tracks at the living room door on seeing what looked like a scene from one of those environmental disaster movies. You know: sealed off and tented areas of our living room, men in suits that completely coved their bodies and masks on their faces. I saw the look on my 14 year olds face first and instantly walked over to them both and asked him if he was alright and what he thinking. I already knew what he was thinking. I could see his mind surveying what lay before his eyes and how this was really serious. He knew workmen would be coming to fix the wall but the other workman who came in months ago did none of that when he dry drilled the (asbestos) wall. I do remember my 14 year old left the room because he couldn’t stand the dust and the noise of that first workman Norwich Union sent to our home, but my 11 year old and I stayed in the room.

I haven’t been sleeping well myself as you can imagine. It’s been six months since I made a claim on my Norwich Union House and Contents insurance, 10 weeks since they exposed my children and I (and the dog!) to asbestos, over 336 hours of having that asbestos material blown around my home at force via a fan placed inches away from the exposed asbestos material in an unnatural atmosphere (moisture removed by dehumidifier).

288 hours since they took away my piece of mind. You know, those times when you look at your child and smile from your heart outwards and you feel that safe and secure feeling you take for granted that they are OK, that they healthy and fine and have their whole lives ahead of them, that in the natural order of the world, they will grow and be strong and have families and be successful etc... As parents, we think all this at a non-verbal, instinctive but continuous invisible flow and with the arrogance that it is our right to think and feel those thoughts. Sorry. I’m rambling; I told you I am sleep deprived.

I am angry. Not one word in writing from Norwich Union to explain, apologise, take responsibility, admit or even to confirm any of these events have taken place. I am Angry they have not answered or provided any evidence I have requested in writing for insurance details (in case we go on to have any health problems connected to asbestos exposure). For evidence of their (statutory obligation to hold evidence) of licences, training etc for all the workmen and companies they sent into our house. I’m told: (always over the phone and never in writing of course) that “these things take time”, “we need to acquaint ourselves to your case”, then they pass it on to someone else who “also needs time to acquaint herself with the case”, “ I don’t feel able to deal with this”, “I can’t wave a magic wand and make your dreams come true” That’s my favourite one KathrynAllpress of Customer Relations....You have irrevocably changed our lives forever. You have taken away: the health security of my children, their mother and only carer, and their dog. You make our home; the one place you are supposed to feel safe, a truly unsafe place to be. A place where we still tread through, sit on and touch every day material that can harbour asbestos fibres...

I am angry that you lied to me on the phone yesterday about the conversation that happened between the contractors you hired (Iain from Trinitas) and Allison on Wednesday 15th when he told you that you needed to make a decision about throwing away the soft furnishings at that time to ensure no recontamination could take place. He told you Norwich Union would not incur no extra cost for him to do this because it could all be done within the contracted time frame. No-one phoned him back. Yet you phone me the next day Thursday 16th April at 4pm and after Trinitas had left my property stating you are going to Instruct “independent solicitors....who have access to medical scanning...???” You said you didn’t know why Trinitas removed only the carpet when I raised concerns about the rug and other furnishings. You said you would phone them and try to catch them before the end of office hours. You didn’t. You lied again. I phoned, and got through to Iain at 4.43 and he informed me that no-one from NU had been in touch and also told me about the conversation he had with Allison or Kathryn on Wednesday before they started the clean up procedure.

Even if you had chosen to listen to the independent and expert advice from Trinitas and Enfield Asbestos Unit, who told you (and Enfield Council will still tell you if you bothered to phone them) and what is painfully obvious to an 11 year old boy... that you remove all material that can harbour fibres (even after washing), then wipe clean all the surfaces that can be environmentally completely wiped clean of asbestos material to ensure you have done the SAFEST possible measures to make our home feel safe again. You should be doing this as the least possible thing you can do considering your actions in this case. Even then, you can’t make my dreams come true Norwich Union; you gave us a nightmare burden that is the Ticking Timebomb of asbestos exposure.

My sons have also asked: will we die from this? Will the dog die too?

Can we have my guarantee now Norwich Union that we will not suffer and/or die from an asbestos related disease?

custnomore

beccus wrote: »

custnomore

I don't know what to say.
I will do my best to find out what I can for you. I got your PM, could you email me your policy number?
my email address is [EMAIL="rebecca.sibley@norwich-union.co.uk"]rebecca.sibley@norwich-union.co.uk[/EMAIL]

Becca

Becca,
you can see from my notes below that I know for sure NU have lied to me. I know you work for them which is why I haven't used your link you so kindly put on here. I've read the prev adv.you hav offered to customers and see you actually try to help. I have received a ltr from Markfield Claims Management on behalf of for Asprea, stating that Asprea have notified them of a an Incidence of a Dangerous Occurrence on 17/04...one day after I emailed NU requesting the reference number which I already have, because I notified them before this date:p and which was their stutory obligation on 3/2/09 when the asbestos was first know. Or even on 6th April. What is this? Are the solicitors? What do they do? can you help?
Thanks

[Deleted User]

custnomore,
I understand what you are saying about not giving me more details. I have been in contact with Senior Management at Asprea as I believe you have been as well.

I'm sorry that you don't feel supported, and that you are scared and feel vulnerable. Asprea are taking your claims and worries very very seriously. As are Norwich Union.

I will keep in touch with the Customer Experience team at Asprea about your case and will liase with them as best I can.

I'm not expecting this to instantly put your mind at ease, but I just wanted to come back and let you know what I am doing.
Becca

123naj

I have today received a voice message from Asprea to book an appointment with one of their surveyors, with respect to a claim I have made for a leak in my bathroom. My insurers are Norwich Union. This is the first time I am making a buildings insurance claim and am frankly frightened by the posts I have read about Asprea. They sound like a bunch of cowboys.

Does anyone have any advice on how I can avoid Asprea altogether? If I supply two quotes, do they still need to come around?

I am not sure I understand from the posts I have read on this forum, how Asprea work. Do they inflate the quotes, to fleece NU? Or, are they paid to supply min. possible quotes? Do they make the final decision on the settlement?

If I can't avoid them, do I have to accept their builders to do the work? What is cash settlement?

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks.