Advice Please - Time Scale for Insurance Claim

KeithGinty

We are currently going through an insurance claim for our old house which had a major fire in it about 11 weeks ago, we to this day have still not had a penny from the insurance company and we are starting to get a little annoyed at the whole thing, we have had to get a new house (we rent) and get new everything for us and it. Is this right or should we be at the insurance company to get things moving.

dunstonh

Has a loss adjuster visisted yet?

Have you discussed this with the insurance company?

KeithGinty

Yes the losss adjuster was out about a week after it happened and instructed us to go ahead and get the house cleared at our expense.

I am not sure if I should be discussing it with the insurance company because I have no idea how long is a long time in the insurance world.

mattymoo

Are we talking about a contents claim here?
The building will have been insured by the owner of the property. The buildings insurers will not be interested in your contents.
Who was the loss adjuster working for?

courtjester

If it was a major fire and you lost 'everything' in terms of your personal possessions and furniture, it is reasonable to expect an interim payment so that you can buy essentials to live whilst the final figures are sorted.

The loss adjuster should be handling this (assuming the loss adjuster is acting for your contents insurers). If the loss adjuster was for the building, then he/she will be dealing with the owner's of the building, not you.

You need to chase the contents loss adjuster first and find out the situation. It is not necessary to chase the insurance company unless you have a complaint about inaction on the part of the loss adjuster.

Have you formalised a claim for your contents - i.e. made out a list of the lost items and priced it up? Have you actually made a claim for an amount of money or are you waiting for some advice /response from the loss adjuster?

What do you need *now* - evaluate your needs into a basic 'emergency' figure and ask the loss adjusters for an interim payment for that amount - if it is reasonable, it should be possible to get a cheque from the insurers within a week and then move on to finalise the rest of the claim.

Note, you probably have to chase up the LA and make a nuisance of yourself - most loss adjusters are under-staffed, under-paid and over-worked so tend to respond only to those kicking up the most fuss. If that's not you, then your claim will get left until you do.

mattymoo

courtjester wrote:

Note, you probably have to chase up the LA and make a nuisance of yourself - most loss adjusters are under-staffed, under-paid and over-worked so tend to respond only to those kicking up the most fuss. If that's not you, then your claim will get left until you do.

Especially at this time of year as well.
Round about now the adjusters are all schmoozing the insurance company claim handlers with drinks parties - touting for business for the next year.

Astaroth

mattymoo wrote:

Round about now the adjusters are all schmoozing the insurance company claim handlers with drinks parties - touting for business for the next year.

Surely that doesnt happen

I just fear the length of our marketing teams corporate gift declaration form given that they have had daily deliveries from Harrods/ Fortnum & Masions etc

Obviously choosing to work in strategy was a bad mistake, only had 1 "gift" so far (and no parties) and then I think they included me by mistake as only the marketing senior managers received anything from this company.

Tustastic

Astaroth wrote:

Surely that doesnt happen

I just fear the length of our marketing teams corporate gift declaration form given that they have had daily deliveries from Harrods/ Fortnum & Masions etc

Obviously choosing to work in strategy was a bad mistake, only had 1 "gift" so far (and no parties) and then I think they included me by mistake as only the marketing senior managers received anything from this company.

As a strategist Astaroth I feel sure you can come up with some way of letting your marketing colleagues and their supplier contacts know that you feel left out - and that you therefore might have to throw a spanner in the works before the next season of gift-giving.;)
It reminds me of my happy days working in communications. The cleverest suppliers always included me in meals and drinks together with the marketeers.:) NB I always complied in full with the ethical policy on gifts etc.