insurance claims - contractor level of service?

mutley74

Just curious to those that have made claims from house insurance for building damage such as water damage etc. What is the level of service you would expect from the contractors doing the work?

For example, for the work we have been getting repaired contractors have been polite, but using dirty dusy sheets. They re-decorated a room, but the final finish is not good. Now they may need to rewallpaper and paint the room again - that means we have to empty it all over again!

Do you expect contractors to help lift furniture?
Are they expected to clean up all mess and dust with a proper vacuum cleaner that works?
If work has to be redone can i claim any inconvenience money from them for time of work, hassle etc?

olias

If someone else is paying (ie insurers), then I would keep on at them until I was happy with the work done and the finish.
I don't think it's reasonable to be compensated for the hassle if they have to redo work. I do however think that they should clean up properly afterwards, as any decent contractor should.

Olias

latecomer

I'm with olias on this. We were flooded 4 times (in 2 flats) by the flat upstairs and twice the work wasn't up to scratch and I simply explained what was wrong and they fixed it. If they are not being reasonable then take it up with your insurers.

And I would always expect a workmen to clean up their mess afterwards if appropriate.

mutley74

:rotfl:

latecomer wrote: »

I'm with olias on this. We were flooded 4 times (in 2 flats) by the flat upstairs and twice the work wasn't up to scratch and I simply explained what was wrong and they fixed it. If they are not being reasonable then take it up with your insurers.

And I would always expect a workmen to clean up their mess afterwards if appropriate.

thanks for replies. What level of cleaning up do you expect a contractor to do? Just a basic vacuum? or proper vacuum of all work and access areas including dusting areas?
the workmen have been using sheets but to be honest their sheets are so dirty with bits of plaster etc its not even worth it! But spoke to insurance company today and they said dont sign off job until i am happy. Problem is contractor is moaning he is losing out even though he even admitted job is not "professional" but says he cant afford to buy new material again, and i should be paying for it! he even said his staff are "not professional" tradesmen!! I was gobsmacked when he said that! :mad:

latecomer

I wouldn't be bothered by a little dust which can be wiped up in seconds but anything thats marked or obviously unclean would not be accepted by me. There is no excuse for dust sheets to be covered before starting on a job thats just laziness, they could just shake them down properly as that would remove most of it.

As for the contractor tell him to either fix it properly or not bother coming back. Insurance jobs have huge mark ups on them over a standard job so he's either truely incompetent or lying. Either way if he can't/wont fix it get back onto the insurance company as its their responsibility.

I had a problem with a plasterer last time we had something done. He took down part of the ceiling but when it replaced it, it was nearly a inch lower at one end as he couldn't figure out how to attach the new plasterboard so just left it floating and hence it drooped down. When asked about it his answer was they never told him how to fix this kind of problem at college :eek:

olias

mutley74 wrote: »

:rotfl:


thanks for replies. What level of cleaning up do you expect a contractor to do? Just a basic vacuum? or proper vacuum of all work and access areas including dusting areas?
the workmen have been using sheets but to be honest their sheets are so dirty with bits of plaster etc its not even worth it! But spoke to insurance company today and they said dont sign off job until i am happy. Problem is contractor is moaning he is losing out even though he even admitted job is not "professional" but says he cant afford to buy new material again, and i should be paying for it! he even said his staff are "not professional" tradesmen!! I was gobsmacked when he said that! :mad:

Ring your insurer up and tell them exactly what you've said above and demand that they arrange another tradesman who is 'proffessional!

Olias

mutley74

olias wrote: »

Ring your insurer up and tell them exactly what you've said above and demand that they arrange another tradesman who is 'proffessional!

Olias

that was my thought but i did call them and had a good chat with them, tehy said to be honest i need to give them opportunity to resolve matters. o be fair the contractor firm has listened to our views and prepared to fix the matters. fingers crossed its solved next week for a 1 week job were into the 3rd week! Never again will i trust a tradesmen even thro the insurance company, and will make it clear next time i expect clean dust free sheets.

latecomer

good luck!

nickj_2

tell them that you're not happy and then get a quote from a local tradesman and give it to your insurers

mikey72

I've been working in at least two houses, as a private contractor, alongside insurance contractors fixing flood damage.
Polite, excellent standard of service, excellent finish, but there have been underestimations on time, which the insurance have corrected while they were on site.
To be honest I'd probably have put work their way.
The insurance help to the customer was excellent as well, all the way through.

mutley74

i just received the schedule of works approved by the insurance company - even though the job is close to finished. It says contractor is paid to recheck the earth bonding on the pipes and apply fungicide etc. They have done none of this. Also says they are allowed to remove radiator and ceiling light fittings for decorating - the decorator did none of this as he was not competent in these removals! Then the contractor has the cheek to say he is losing money on this job!