Is it worth making a claim. Sewage leak.

TooDee

Yesterday the drains down the side of the house over flowed to such an extent that water seeped in through the wall.
We've only been in the house just over a month and this is the first time I've ever had house insurance having lived with parents before. Its totally ruined one carpet and got on another both in quite small rooms.
Is it worth claiming? Or should I just put in a claim anyway to see how much it would be. Our house is pretty old anyway so our house insurance is already quite high.
The water company are going to give us some money to but i'm not sure how much that will be yet.

TooDee

Mmm well I appear to have answered my own question. £250 excess and they wont replace the carpets only clean them. Bit late I've already chucked the one carpet into the garden. :-/

vaio

Did you get that from the policy or by ringing them?

If you rang then it's likely it has gone on the database so you will need to disclose it to future insurers

TooDee

Disclose what? That I called them or put the carpet in the garden? Gawd I'm regretting calling them already. The Severn Trent guy told us to take pictures then throw the carpet out.

vaio

Disclose that "you suffered an incident, whether or not it gave rise to a claim" (standard question on every insurance proposal)

This and the fact that you rang, means they now know that you are the sort of person who has incidents and thinks about claiming. This makes you more of a risk and you are likely going to get a premium increase for the next 3 or 5 years as a result.

I'm sure you won't but don't even think about not disclosing as it will be on the database which all insurance companies have access to so you will get found out.

TooDee

!!!!!!!? All the advice says ring and see how much you might have to pay before deciding to make a claim. I shouldn't have even rang? Oh my god. Really the past 24 hours can't get much worse. I didn't even want to call but did it for my bf's piece of mind.

DCFC79

Lesson learnt im afraid OP, its the same for car insurance where you have to declare an incident even if your not making a claim.

TooDee

I think the only insurance i've ever had before is mobile phone. Don't drive and don't own much of value so never seemed much point. Lesson learned indeed. House insurance is pointless to claim on unless its for something major.

DCFC79

TooDee wrote: »

I think the only insurance i've ever had before is mobile phone. Don't drive and don't own much of value so never seemed much point. Lesson learned indeed. House insurance is pointless to claim on unless its for something major.

Car insurance was an example but you get the idea.

societys_child

Insurance isn't really to cover your misfortunes, it's to take as much as possible from you and then screw you if you try to claim.

Archergirl

What did the water company say? They may be your best bet. Don't be too worried about having phoned the ins company.