Contents claim

lizada

How long is a reasonable time to wait for items to be replaced. I was robbed and my house virtually stripped while I was away. Assesssor has agreed claim but up to now ( 4 weeks later) I have only had 4 items replaced, 2 by them and 2 I managed to get an interim payment for. All I get is that he has told his suppliers its urgent but they havent even contacted me! Would I be unreasonable to ask for a cash settlement so that I can get them myself? Its really getting me down that on top of the burglary I have to do without things we have worked so hard for.

Dark_Star

Have you tried dealing with the actual claims people rather than the assessor? They may not understand the urgency/need if the assessor is dealing with you...

Some companies will arrange for items to be replaced themselves, some will give money & others a bit of both.

What does your policy say?

Hope it gets sorted quickly.

geri1965_2

When I was burgled, my contents claim was pretty much done and dusted within a week - the loss adjuster discussed a figure with me at the visit and I had a cheque a few days later.

Buildings claim took a bit longer as I was arguing with him over the figures.

lizada

Thanks for replies, the assessor is the claims manager and when he came he said that they preffered to use their own suppliers and gave me the impression that a cash settlement would be a lot less that the value so I agreed. I have seperate cover for 2 valuable rings that went and I have been offered a voucher to replace them which I am disputing but again they have told me that the cash value would be almost half of their value.
Geri1965 did you get the full replacement value in cash?

InsideInsurance

The FOS has ruled it fair that insurers reduce cash settlements to represent the discount they would have received from their preferred suppliers. There are two stated exceptions to this:

1) Where the suppliers are unable to provide suitable replacements - so if you had a £20,000 Channel ring stolen, H Samuels are just never going to have something similar

2) Where the item was pure sentimental - eg grandma's engagement ring that had been in the safe for the last 20 years untouched

Whilst you shouldnt have to do it the best thing is to chase from all angles. Find out who the preferred suppliers are and chase them as well as the insurers. Many of the larger more common suppliers (eg Jessops for cameras) have a dedicated team that deals with these things.... talking to them saying that your disappointed with their company and you'd expect better from Jessops/ John Lewis/ Beaverbrooks/ WhoEver etc can result in a grunt but it can also result in them chasing the insurer if they havent received instruction yet etc

pinkteapot

Also, tell us who your insurer is so we can all avoid them!

lizada

Thanks Inside Insurance, the rings where my mother in laws and where well over 70 years old, I was saving them for my granddaughters, so its good to know that I can argue that I want full value, I cannot replace them so want to put money in savings account for when they are older and can pick something themselves. Will get in touch with Davies and try and find out who their suppliers are.

The insurance company is Saga and the loss adjusters are Davies.

InsideInsurance

lizada wrote: »

the rings where my mother in laws and where well over 70 years old, I was saving them for my granddaughters, so its good to know that I can argue that I want full value

It is not just that they are old but that they are purely sentimental - ie if you regularly use them etc then they are not purely sentimental.

Obviously would never advocate fraud but some would question if an insurer would know if you wore them or not (unless of cause the claim is for a mugging )

lizada

InsideInsurance wrote: »

It is not just that they are old but that they are purely sentimental - ie if you regularly use them etc then they are not purely sentimental.

Obviously would never advocate fraud but some would question if an insurer would know if you wore them or not (unless of cause the claim is for a mugging )

Never worn them, they where too small for my fat fingers, apart from the fact they where a bit old fashioned. As I said I was saving them to pass on as my mother in law wanted so yes they where purely sentimental.