Payment of excess question

mwddrwg

Morning all,

Hope someone can advise on this one.

We have had to make a claim on our home insurance for the first time ever this week due to flood damage in our garage. Numerous electrical tools were damaged and a sofa bed, rabbit hutch and corner cupboard that were also in there. Our stated excess on the policy is £100.

Had a phonecall from Independent Inspectors who have booked an appointment for 08/12/12 but had another call this morning from a tool supplier who wanted the model numbers of the lost items and a cheque for the £100. I was under the impression that the excess comes off the total value of the whole claim and that we didn't have to pay upfront. Is this common practice and is there any way of objecting as scarping £100 together is going to be difficult at this time of year.

Any advice appreciated. Thanks

dacouch

You will only need to pay the contents excess once* assuming it's just one incident.

Suppliers are often told their bill will be paid minus the excess so they request it from the client. If you're asked more than once it may be a mistake.

* A decent Building and Contents Policy will normally charge one excess for a claim say a flood that encompasses both building and contents. Cheaper companies tend to ask for the excess for both contents and buildings in the same circumstances

lisyloo

It sounds like the tool supplier may supply you with tools or perhaps a voucher.
It sounds like you were expecting a payout.

kingstreet

My contents claim in 2009 was partly handled by the insurer and partly by Homeserve. I paid Homeserve the £100 excess.

mwddrwg

lisyloo wrote: »

It sounds like the tool supplier may supply you with tools or perhaps a voucher.
It sounds like you were expecting a payout.

No, I wasn't expecting a payout. Thought that they would settle the bill with the goods supplier and provide me with replacements worth £100 less than the estimate of the damage (if that makes sense!?). No matter, £100 to supplier it is then.

lisyloo

Thought that they would settle the bill with the goods supplier and provide me with replacements worth £100 less than the estimate of the damage (if that makes sense!?)

No it doesn't actually make sense.
The contract is for them to replace your goods (which they sometimes do with vouchers or money rather than goods) and for you to pay the £100.

I guess if you're really skint then you could ebay some of the tools which would be brand new.

rs65

The excess is simply the first part of a claim which you pay.

You could ask your insurer to deduct £100 from one part of the settlement. Just explain this isn't the best time of year for having £100 spare. They may say no though.