British Gas/Home Insurance

aamadami

Last year British gas engineer came to do power flush at parents home and by mistake he bust one of the water tank in the loft. Water caused damage to ceiling, carpet, bed, mattress and other stuff in the bedroom. Engineer asked me if I have home insurance and told me to make claim against that. I called British gas and they told me to do the same thing.

I reported to my home insurance and they change wallpaper, colour the ceiling and some other stuff. I did not have content insurance so they did not do anything about bed, mattress and carpet.

Problem:

When I first called my insurance company (West Bromwich building society/ Norwich union) they said I will get my £100 for the access money back once claim goes threw. I called quite often and they said it's still in process. now they saying I have to claim it back from British gas. When I called British gas they said I have to claim it from my insurance. Now no one is prepared to give my money back.

What shall I do? Any advice? I am not sure if i can get my access money back.

mattymoo

There is some sound advice in that lot but also some dross so lets sort it out.

First of all, BG were correct to tell you to go to your own insurers. You are covered new for old. If you had claimed from BG, they are only liable to pay what something is worth so if the decor was old and peeling off the walls, you would not get much.

So anyway, you got the building fabric sorted and paid a £100 excess. This needs to be claimed back from BG (WBBS correct, BG incorrect) along with a claim for the uninsured contents, bed, mattress and carpet.

This is something you need to do yourself although you might have legal expenses cover with your WBBS policy in which case, the legal expenses cover will appoint a solicitor to handle the matter for you. If you do not have it with WBBS you might have cover through trade union membership or some premium bank accounts.

The upshot is, a claim needs to be made to BG for the £100 excess, bed, carpet etc. I suspect that a claims handler within BG (or their insurers but I suspect they are self insured) will say they need to inspect the damage. I also suspect you will have long since got shot of the damaged items since it would be unhealthy to store wet items in the house. You need to be firm with BG and explain that they had the opportunity to do this when the claim was first submitted to them but they chose to redirect you to your own insurers. It is therefore not your problem.

They will ask for details of the replacement costs and the age of the items replaced. They will then make an offer based on this.

Good luck.

dogbot

Hi, The above is correct, but bear in mind that your insurer will be subrogating against british gas. This means they too will be claiming back some of their outlay.

You should ask your insurer for the details of who is dealing with the matter at BG - it will be their third party liability insurer.

aamadami

Thank you for both reply.

I have spoken to my insurance and they have got their money back (decorating and colouring). they have asked me to sort out access by myself. I will write letter to british gas and see what happens from there.

I never thought about the legal expenses. thank you for advise, I go home and check my T & C.

dogbot

Definatly check for legal expenses cover, it will help a great deal.

You insurer should be happy to provide the details - claim number and contact details - for whoever dealt with their claim since your claim for uninusred loss will form part of the same claim.

aamadami

I have just received call from british gas field engineer manager regarding this claim. he said that I have already made claim and BG has paid money to my insurance company. I am making criminal offece by asking access money. I asked how and he said asking for access money is like making another on the same incidence. he said I shouldn't have made another claim for it.

I am confuse now. I don't want to take legal action for small amount but they are trying to put all blame on me. first they sent me letter saying it wasn't british gas engineer's fault. water tank was installed incorrectly. my parent leaving in that house since 2000 and tank has never caused any problem.

mattymoo

BG Engineer manager is talking out his backside.
The payment they made to your insurers is proof that they have admitted liability. You are now claiming for the excess (not access as you have stated) - this is a bog standard uninsured loss recovery claim and insurers / BG will deal with thousands of these every week.

You need to get past this muppet and speak to the department that handled the claim from your insurance company. If for some reason these claims are handled by the manager you've spoken to (and I hope not because he doesn't have a clue) then you need to call his bluff.

What you are doing is not illegal, you are entitled to recover your excess and the cost of the other uninsured items. Speak to him again and if he refuses to budge ask him for "the department name and address to which court papers should be served?"

Then go along to your local county court or use the moneyclaim website to commence a claim under the small claims procedures, used for amounts up to £5k.

Hopefully you shouldn't need to as the jobsworth will reconsider his position.

dacouch

You may have found BG paid your Insurance company for the money they paid out AND your Excess.

Try ringing your own Insurers to ask if by any chance BG paid their losses and your excess and if so can they send you a cheque for your excess.