Insurance claim on dining table - unhappy with cash settlement offer

duffymojo

Hi all

I recently put in a claim on my dining table as I had accidently scratched it. I sent the claim form away on 13.7.12 and received my letter today 15.8.12.

In it they offer me either a cash settlement of £50 and will allow me to continue my policy until the expiry in 2014, or a cash settlement of £100 but my policy will then be terminated.

I received the table in Feb 2011 and it cost £609. The policy was bought through the store I purchased the table from.

No one has come to my house to look at the table or the extent of the damage, I only sent them a drawing to show where the scratch was and roughly how big it was.

Is their offer really reasonable? There is no explanation on my letter about disputing their claim and I have no idea where to start or if I can even dispute it.

Any advice you can give would be appreciated!

Quentin

Read up the policy terms and find the basis for their offer.

Presumably the offer is after you pay any excess and is a contribution towards repair?

duffymojo

Thanks for your response.

The letter I received today states "As we are unable to complete repairs using replacement parts we are pleased to provide the following options in order to resolve your claim. These are based on the amount you originally paid for your policy and the cost of any repairs had they been possible" and then the offers as I stated above.

The policy itself cost £90.

The policy terms and conditions state " If we are unable to remove a stain from, or make a repair to, the insured item, or if we consider it to be uneconomical to do so, we will, at our sole discretin, offer you:
a) a new replacement for the insured item of identical or similar specification:or
b) a credit note to be put towards a new replacement for the insured items purchased:or
c) a cash settlement."

It also states that " the maximum aggregate amount we will pay under the terms of this insurance shall not exceed the original purchase price of the insured items as shown on your invoice."

I dont think I have any excess to pay.

Quentin

Can it be repaired? (Could you get it french polished)

dacouch

Is this cover you bought from the dining table retailer?

duffymojo

Just looked up what french polished meant!!

I do not think it could be french polished - it is not a "real" wooden table. It is made of cheap wood and then a sort of "skin" covers it. Sorry I do not know technical terms, think of the plastic sort of coating that covers kitchen cabinet doors. It is a very dark colour covering it and since the scratch has gone through this, the underneath is almost white, so it shows up quite clearly on the table, otherwise I probably wouldn't be bothered.

So not sure if it could be repaired. I will find out though!

duffymojo

Yes it is cover I bought from the dining table retailer.

McKneff

Could you put a vase or a bowl over it.

Triangular tablecloth or something.

The trouble is when you take any other insurance out and you are asked 'have you ever made a claim on any insurance' you will have to tell them about this one which will up your premiums for your, say, house contents insurance. Not declaring it can void a policy, not good if you have a fire or a flood.

You paid an awful lot of money for what you describe as a cheapo table.

hugoshavez

To be honest, I really don't think these claims are loaded to CUE.

But, yeah seems the retailer saw you coming.

thegirlintheattic

You will have to declare this to any future insurer. It's not worth it for a cheapo table. Cancel the claim and pop down to a DIY shop, you can get pens in wood colours for filling in such things. Get the one that is a closest match. You'll soon not notice it.

Quentin

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

You will have to declare this to any future insurer. It's not worth it for a cheapo table. Cancel the claim and pop down to a DIY shop, you can get pens in wood colours for filling in such things. Get the one that is a closest match. You'll soon not notice it.

Why do you advise this when the OP has already been offered £100?

(The claim has already been made, so cancelling it won't help over the declaring issue you raise)