Contents claim sofa

weekazza

Hi

My sofa has been damaged and my insurance company called to say they shall be replacing these, but I've to use a retailer they use.

Not to happy that I'm being limited where I can choose new sofa.
Would much prefer to shop around. Surely I'm not being unreasonable as to wish to have the choice of where I can buy my sofa?

Can anyone shed any light if I can ask for cash settlement to be able to choose my furniture in any retailer I wish and not be "forced" into using their retailer

I've never made a claim on any insurance so I'm in the dark

vaio

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/ombudsman-news/92/92-insurance-claims.html

Spikey1

Hi there,

The insurer has simply provided you with one of your options. The policy will confirm what other options you have. It is highly likely that you can claim a cash settlement BUT that the policy allows the Insurer to deduct the discount they would have received if their own preferred supplier had been used. I wouldn't worry too much about that though. These suppliers never give the Insurer their "sale prices". So if there is a sale at any of your own preferred outlets you are sure to pick up the sofa at a cost well within the settlement you receive.

Don't go to the FSA...just ring your insurers and ask the question. They will be happy to help.

Good luck

InsideInsurance

Spikey1 wrote: »

Don't go to the FSA...just ring your insurers and ask the question.

Especially as the only FSA now is the Food Standards Agency, they probably dont know much about insurance or sofas.

You will always have the option of a cash settlement however as has been pointed out the insurer can reduce the settlement by their discount they receive from their supplier.

If you speak to them it wont take them long to come up with a cash offer and you can then decide which path you want to take.

vaio

some would say the old FSA didn't know much about insurance either (or sofas)

weekazza

I.ve spoken to the insurance company and to be honest I'm still in the dark. One person has told me they use a company called cavalier carpets, then today they mentioned a company called re-newed validation???

I'm so confused. I.ll wait and see what happens next.

They state that the company will call to take my excess then inform me of the sofa they have chosen!!!!! But surely I can choose my own from where I want.

I'm not paying no excess until I know my options.

New to all this maybe I'm being naive but can't they just settle with a cash sum minus the excess and I can go choose my own.....

InsideInsurance

weekazza wrote: »

New to all this maybe I'm being naive but can't they just settle with a cash sum minus the excess and I can go choose my own.....

No, but they can just settle with a cash sum minus the excess and minus their preferred supplier discount.

Obviously up to you if losing ~30% of the value is worth having free choice of where you buy whatever it is you want.

weekazza

Hi, I think it is if the company they use don't have anything I really like. I bought a sofa for my wee snug online. It came and well it's so uncomfy wish I had shopped about locally first to try my options out. Lesson learnt I think from this experience.

I think a sofa is a personal choice and they all look lovely in pics - but if I can't actually go view and try their chooses then I'd much prefer take the lesser cash and if need be out my own cash towards buying one that I actually like and is comfy.

Spikey1

Mate....ring the Insurer and ask them about your options. They'll be pleased to help you.

Don't pay your excess to their supplier until you are clear on your options and which settlement route you wish to take.

The supplier will not select a new sofa for you. They will however, value the one you have at the moment...in other words they will assess the cost of replacing it with a new one. This figure will form the basis of any cash offer made to you by the Insurer (less any discounts & excess of course).

If you DO decide to use the Insurers supplier to replace the sofa you will probably be giving a spending limit....but the choice of the actual sofa they supply to you will be your own.

Cheers

weekazza

Well I have been offered just over 1049 in vouchers to replace my sofa!!! The Company are sending out a booklet where I can use it - but think the only retailers near me are argos and homebase!!!!!!!

So I am getting half of what the sofa cost to spend in a retailer that normally I wouldn't use to purchase this kind of item.

Being new I said yeah that's fine.....but started looking at said companies and thought "why the hell am I even contemplating this".
I phoned up my insurers voicing my grievance. They are gonna get back to me.

So looks like I.ll be getting even less than 50% of what sofa cost me or I will have to "make do" with a sofa from one of their companies.

I'm not happy. Would have been fine if some of their preferred retailers were near me but doesn't look great

The way I see it is yes your insured - new for old!! But only new if your willing to use our retailers and if not your even more out of pocket to replace sofa with one that you would have bought.

I don't mind adding but not the same again to buy what I would class as a like for like replacement

InsideInsurance

weekazza wrote: »

Well I have been offered just over 1049 in vouchers to replace my sofa!!!

<snip>

So looks like I.ll be getting even less than 50% of what sofa cost me or I will have to "make do" with a sofa from one of their companies.

Ok a little confused....

How much did you pay for the sofa and when/ where?

Did you buy just 1 sofa or is it part of a suite? If its a suite, are all the items damaged or just one sofa?

If £1,049 is their offer, net of your excess, for vouchers/ their approved supplier then what is their cash offer?