Removals Insurance Query

PuppyDuck_2

I'm after picking someone's brain please...
During a recent house move, our removals company mislaid the bottom rail of our double wardrobe which held the doors on, and the side strut to my daughter's new single bed. The manufacturer can replace neither of these parts individually, therefore the Removal's insurance company has said that the rail or the wardrobe is worth £50, despite the fact I now have a £600 wardrobe that I can't fix doors on to. They have said they are willing to give us £60 as the value of the side bed strut, which we can't replace, also making the bed useless.
I understand that insurers don't replace things old for new, but surely they must at least leave us with items that are fit for purpose, and that are safe??
Does anyone have experience or know where I stand with this situation? I appreciate that insurers policies differ, but just wondered if there is a general 'rule of thumb'

Thanks in advance

huckster

If I were in your shoes, if the Insurance does not cover the cost of replacing the wardrobe or bed, but only the mislaid parts, I would be getting a quote from a local carpenter to make these. A local carpenter would be able to make up the parts fairly easily.

Ask the removers Insurance whether they will cover the cost of a carpenter producing these mislaid items, being that they are no longer available.

dunstonh

Have you considered looking at your home insurance? Many household policies cover house removals. You may get a different approach there.

However, hucker's comment about a carpenter is worth looking at. You will be surprised what a local carpenter can turn out and for quite a low cost.

Astaroth

It has been so long since dealing with a property claim that was going to be settled on an indemnity basis rather than "new for old".

As others have said, see how much to get it made locally before you get too upset about the settlement amount.

In general you would be looking at what the secondhand value of the item was net of the value of what you have remaining (assuming you still have the wardrobe and bed). A quick look on eBay should give an idea but secondhand furniture tends to be very cheap unfortunately.

It is too late in the day for me to say if you could argue parts pricing for something that is no longer made (in a similar way that if you broke a wing mirror off a classic car that they would pay the value of the wing mirror itself not the whole car just because the wing mirror is no longer made)

As dunstonh says, the other option is your home insurance which would normally also cover it but on a new for old basis. Of cause this does then result in a claim and excess and so the associated premium changes going forward

PuppyDuck_2

Thanks for your suggestions. I think I'll look into the 'hiring a carpenter option' as ideally I would just like the wardrobe and bed in use, rather than to go and buy new ones..

Thanks Again