Urgent Insurance Help Needed Following Burglary

Boca_Seniors

Hi,

My house was broken into earlier this week, and we are having problems with the insurance company.

Our door (which was smashed to pieces) has been secured, but the insurance company wont send anyone out until next Friday to assess the damage, and sort out a replacement (which I imagine wont happen until the week after. :mad:

The door has been screwed into the frame to secure it, and we cannot open it. This concerns me greatly, as is a significant fire hazard. We have two young children (who are now a number of presents down for Xmas), and if anything ever happened that prevented us from getting to the back door, we would have a big problem getting out of the house.

I've explained the situation to the insurers, but they don't seem bothered about this. I'm not bothered about the items that were taken (as they are replaceable), but our children's safety is a big concern.

Is there anything we can do to speed up the process, or anyone else we can speak to?

Thanks

Astaroth

You most likely can get the door repaired, pay for it and then claim back the cost from your insurers (they will probably as you to get 2 quotes and go for the cheapest) but obviously clear it with your insurers first

Boca_Seniors

Thanks for the reply.

I've already tried this. I contacted them, and they said that they can't guarentee that we can claim the costs back through the insurance if we don't use one of their recommended contractors. However, they need to assess the damage (next Friday) before they will arrange for one of their contractors to come out.

Astaroth

They will be understandably cautious on the basis you could get someone to do the job using 24ct screws costing £10k to do it and so unlikely to give an upfront full authorisation but they should give a reasonable response that they would cover reasonable costs on a like for like replacement.

Mrs_pbradley936

That is a dreadful service. I think I would get it done keep the receipt and argue about it later saying to them everything you have put in your post. This happened to a flat I own, it was not a break in as such but access to the flat was needed because the flat below was flooded and the tenant was out. The police and the firemen were called and they broke in. The said they would send a report to the insurance people to confirm but advised us to get it fixed immediately.

gazza975526570

I imagine they are waiting for the door to be ordered/delivered therefore all they can really do is secure the property. If your concerned i see no reason why you cant reaplce yourself and submit the reciept. All insurers will say they cant guarantee they will reimburse until they see sight of the invoice.

impy78

It's not congregational and general is it?

Manty

I'd be interested to know who the company is as it sounds awful to me.

If it was me, I think I'd get it fixed by a reputable local firm asap, the way I see it, your family comes first... the way they might see it: it would stop further potential breakins, therefore further potential claims, etc... as that's the only language they seem to understand.

courtjester

Take some good photographs of the door and the damage and go ahead with the repairs - its your house, not the insurance company's. Provided you are reasonable about choice of repairer and estimates and can show that the door has been replaced like-for-like, they cannot really justify not paying your claim.

It's a matter of urgency and if they can't move their a**e quicker when you have explained the health and safety dangers, that's their problem.

You may well get into an argument over the final payment, but what is more important to you?

Alternatively, ask to speak to the senior claims manager over the matter and keep asking to go above them if you don't get their agreement to proceed immediately or someone out immediately. Make a nuisance of yourself (politely but with persistence) as what you are asking for is entirely reasonable.