thoughts on patching vinyl flooring? house insurance insisting on it

bugsy2009

ormus wrote: »

they should be renewing the whole floor covering not patching it up.
however they maybe entitled to charge you betterment, depending on your policy.

Hi, what is a betterment?

bugsy2009

bob_a_builder wrote: »

name and shame ins company please - we would like to know who to avoid !

3xd insurance

Horseunderwater

First thing to do is read the cover of your house insurance. Sounds daft I know, but do you know exactly the wording used? Does it state new for old or does it use replace items based on wear and tear? Start from there. If new for old and accidental on the policy - comes under buildings and fittings or should do. The cooker may be under either contents or buildngs look at what is defined as being covered under buildings first. Once you know that, you know what to do when you ring insurer direct.

Mrs_Arcanum

bugsy2009 wrote: »

Hi, what is a betterment?

The difference between used second hand price and new replacement.

bugsy2009

Horseunderwater wrote: »

First thing to do is read the cover of your house insurance. Sounds daft I know, but do you know exactly the wording used? Does it state new for old or does it use replace items based on wear and tear? Start from there. If new for old and accidental on the policy - comes under buildings and fittings or should do. The cooker may be under either contents or buildngs look at what is defined as being covered under buildings first. Once you know that, you know what to do when you ring insurer direct.

Thanks. I know my cooker is covered as the insurance have already told me as its a freestanding cooker if a hob would be under buildings and i rent so don't have that. Was also told the vinyl was covered as well both under accidental. In the booklet i have for the insurance there isn't a great deal of wording at all. just says the most i can claim for one item is £5000 and if over £500 may ask for receipt or proof of purchase.
under what is covered it just says Accidental damage to contents of your home. Doesn't specify new for old(was told when i took it but my fault for not reading stuff clearly) but also doesn't say what they will pay out. On the form i had to put where i got the items from and price of course couldn't actually remember the cost of the flooring but the insurance told me that wouldn't matter as i was getting quotes to replace it.

To be perfectly honest if they don't pay out on the flooring won't be happy but will buy myself, its the cooker i really need. I would buy it myself(although can't afford it) but then what would be the point in forking out house insurance every year!

ormus

always be careful when claiming off the insurance for fairly small amounts.
ie you could buy a new cooker for about 200 quid.

but your insurance quote for next year could easy rise by that much.
and god help you if you try another insurance company, and you have to tell em that youve claimed within the last 5 or 10 yrs.

generally i reckon that no claim under say 1000 quid is worth it.
similar to car insurance, with your excess and NCB etc...

bugsy2009

ormus wrote: »

always be careful when claiming off the insurance for fairly small amounts.
ie you could buy a new cooker for about 200 quid.

but your insurance quote for next year could easy rise by that much.
and god help you if you try another insurance company, and you have to tell em that youve claimed within the last 5 or 10 yrs.

generally i reckon that no claim under say 1000 quid is worth it.
similar to car insurance, with your excess and NCB etc...

yes i did umm and arr over whether to claim or not and i could get a cooker for that but i paid £700 for mine, haven't put in for that as you can now buy it for £600 so sent quote in for that.
Flooring quotes range around the £250 mark(replacing the quality i have down now) and to be perfectly honest i don't have this kind of money at the moment.
Only renewed last month so have 11 more months before dealing with the rise.

bugsy2009

well got someone round monday to look at the vinyl and they won't patch it but have given me a quote that i emailed to the adjuster. just got an email and they are now sending their own contracters round to assess the damage and I will hear from them in 24-48 hours to make arrangements to view, then get another email telling me that she had actually contacted them on the 13th asking for this and had i heard from them.
Of course i haven't and emailed stating that i am getting worried as i have children, small kitchen and the cooker is getting knocked and glass is falling off. Now been told she will ring again and i will hear in 24 hours, this is my only day off until next week and to top it off i've moved it(wanting electric if have to buy own cooker) to check behind for electric box and put a damn hole in the vinyl myself, give me strength lol! So as it stands if i hear from them its going to be end of next week before they can come as i can't afford to take time off work unless they do evening visits and will have to drop the vinyl claim as i've ruined it now myself lol

just looked up who they are sending sbs insurance and they're in staffordshire, I live in cumbria!

bugsy2009

Really really had enough now wish i hadn't started a claim.

Told on the 18th they were now sending their own contractors SBS insurance to view the damage and they had contacted them on the 13th. As not heard on the 18th was told they would chase them up. Still not heard on 23 so rang insurance who said they would chase it.
Finally got a call(on answering machine and had to ring back on 0844 number) from sbs on 24th at 1.30 and they said the first they had heard of it was at 1.05 that day.
Anyway they then said they would pass it to their contractor to come and view the damage and if i still wanted to claim on the flooring then 3xd would need to contact sbs for them to arrange a flooring contractor, in the end he said he would ring them to find out but not heard anything yet.
Anyway message from yet another contractor on phone today to ring back, costing me a pigging fortune! Only in my area on a Thursday anywhere between 8 and 5. So can come on 3 may, this making it nearly 5 weeks since start of claim. I'm at work and explained its not convenient so my options are
take the day off work which i can't afford to do and its not that easy as i work for 3 jobs that day(different employers)
have someone sit in all day and wait, have no one to.
if i take the appointment and miss it i will be charged for it.
Really have had enough!

Have rang them today well the claims line who told me to ring customer services who told me to ring another number who then told me to ring back the claims line to try and find out how i stand if i cancel the claim.
No one seems to know if i cancel the claim does it go against me as having a claim. Was then told that it is classed as a claim if any costs have been incurred which would include the letter i received from the loss adjuster!


So looks like i'm stuck with it!

cattie

I've heard of people phoning up just to enquire about making a claim and not actually pursuing it, only to find sometime later that this enquiry was considered a claim and their insurance increased as a result!.

What a nightmare you've been going through with your claim and it is so horrendous when you try to phone people only to end up being passed from pillar to post & running up a sizeable phone bill in the process.

I hope for your sake it's sorted out asap after 3rd May.