Query re house insurance closed claim

Carrera74

Can anyone help? I have had a lot of work done after a house fire I had in April 2005. We moved back in in October 2005 and noticed in the Spring of 2006 a dark patch near the bay window on the wallpaper. The windows were replaced after the fire and the whole of downstairs completely replastered and the rest of the house decorated. When the builder came for his final payment I showed him and he said it was a bit of damp/mould and once the Summer months came it would dry out but he would speak to his decorator and get back to me. That was in May last year!!! I have been trying to get him out ever since and have tried via the loss adjuster and the surveyors who appointed him but have had no luck. The same windows have started letting in water at the bottom of the main window so I rang him again, waste of time! The surveyor put something in writing to him asking him to get in touch and said that was all they could do as they have no current jobs with him and there are no monies outstanding!!!!

Early last week I rang him during office hours and actually spoke to him and he said he had been away (whatever!) and that he would come and see me either late last week or early this week. I've not heard from him and rang him last night and left a message on his office line and mobile.

To top it all I've just got in from work and the dark damp patch has spread to the windowsill, it's nearly half a metre long and it's sodden, not just a dark patch any longer.

Surely he can't get away with fobbing me off? I know he got a lot of money for the insurance work he did at my house. Is there somewhere I can complain to? After the fire I just wanted to get back home but if it's not one thing that goes wrong it's something else. The loss adjustor said to contact the surveyor who say it's out of their hands!!

I'm not a happy chappy

Astaroth

Was it an insurance company suggested/ approved builder that did the work or one of your own choosing?

Have they established if the cause is poor repairs or fire related damage that wasnt picked up/ repaired initially?

Carrera74

Hi there

The insurance company instructed the loss adjuster who instructed the surveyor who instructed the builder (what a mouthful!).

The builder hasn't been back to look at the works but the whole window was replaced so I'm presuming it's poor work. I've had other problems were they have done a bad job like the new kitchen units The whole bathroom was replastered and tiled and 2 weeks after coming home the drainage was blocked with what we think was grout not being washed away properly.

Astaroth

As there is a direct thread back to the insurance company and it isnt a builder you chose then go back to the insurance company and lodge a complaint with them as it is their appointed agents that have caused the problem (the advantage of using approved agents over choosing your own when you have subsequent problems)

Carrera74

Thank goodness I chose their people!

Thanks for your advice