Is this legal? Home Insurance

Dodger1967

Hi All,
My first post on here - I'd really apprecaite your feedback, as I'm a bit peeved.
Background KwikFit Insurance - building and contents cover.
Last year I noticed a few cracks in the inside and outside wall on the front of the house. I was looking to replace a large bay window - so for peice of mind I called the insurers to see if I should be concerned about it. They suggested a structural survey - which I agreed to (excess £1000) but I thought if it was a true problem it was worth sorting before it got any worse.
To cut a long story short the surveyor came and said it wasnt a problem - just natural settling.
Now I get my annual insurannce quote and it's doubled - and they have stated on the policy that I have made a subsidence claim.
If I look to go elsewhere now - they arent going to touch me with a barge pole?
Any thoughts welcomed please?

Roj

huckster

Did you or the Insurers pay for the structural survey?

If you paid for the survey and no claim was actually made, then speak to the Insurers about this, with a view to getting the claim removed.

If the Insurers paid for the survey and this found no works necessary, it will remain on record. You can shop around elsewhere for cover, but you will have to declare the claim details. Be prepared to have to supply a copy of the structural survey, so Insurers can see that there was no subsidence problem. This will limit the way you can shop around for cover, as you won't be able to get quotes or cover online. You will be restricted to speaking to Insurers or brokers, so you can run through the information.

Dodger1967

Thanks Huckster,
The insurers paid for the survey, but never mentioned the cost or any option for me to pay it.
I guess I shoould have realised that someone would have to carry the cost - but as they never mentioned it, I guess I wrongly assumed they would absorb it.

Roj

dunstonh

The insurers paid for the survey, but never mentioned the cost or any option for me to pay it.

There is the problem. Effectively you have made a claim by using the insurers. If you had employed your own surveyor and paid for the structural survey yourself and the outcome was normal settling, then you wouldnt have needed to declare it to the insurance company. Instead you made a claim on the policy and the insurer paid.

huckster

Dodger1967 wrote: »

Thanks Huckster,
The insurers paid for the survey, but never mentioned the cost or any option for me to pay it.
I guess I shoould have realised that someone would have to carry the cost - but as they never mentioned it, I guess I wrongly assumed they would absorb it.

Roj

If they have incurred costs, the claim will stay on record. BUT if this does turn out to be subsidence and the survey was wrong, you can re-open the claim within a reasonable time frame.

If you have not got a copy of the survey, ask for one, as you will need this when you approach other companies for quotes. You will always have to declare, as the shared claims database Insurers use CUE, will note the subsidence claim.