My clothes burned at the laundrette

Matangi

Hi,

I need advice. My flatmate took our laundry to the local laundry shop, left it over night, asking the stuff if they can dry it for her, and when she returned to pick it up next morning, the owner told her there was the fire in the shop and our clothes are burned. We calculated and approximate lost was over £480. She went following day to ask to be reimbursed for the lost, and first the owner refused, and after she said she will search legal advice, the owner told her he can offer her £200. We were trying to contact citizen advice bureau, but didnt hear back from them yet. Any advice how to proceed with that.

Many thanks

Mupette

was there a fire in the shop, go back take pictures, and claim off their insurance

Fosterdog

Can you provide receipts to back up that you had £480 of clothing there? How long have the items of clothing been owned and how many times have they been worn?

The clothes are no longer new so no longer have a retail value of £480 but are second hand and are valued as such, £200 with no proof seems very generous.

Matangi

Yes there was fire in the shop, there was not much damage in the shop as fire brigade arrive quickly and took the remaining of the burned clothes. The owner doesn't want to use his insurance as it costs him more. Whom I should claim to?

Mupette

Matangi wrote: »

Yes there was fire in the shop, there was not much damage in the shop as fire brigade arrive quickly and took the remaining of the burned clothes. The owner doesn't want to use his insurance as it costs him more. Whom I should claim to?

its just too bad that he doesnt want to use his insurance, thats what it is there for, damage was in his shop so his insurance pays out

Matangi

Fosterdog- I don't keep receipts. Some clothes where new some not. I have though receipt of the things I had to immediately buy after the incident.

ThumbRemote

Matangi wrote: »

Fosterdog- I don't keep receipts. Some clothes where new some not. I have though receipt of the things I had to immediately buy after the incident.

Make a list of what items of clothing were destroyed, their original cost, and their date of purchase - as accurately as you can remember.

Then produce a current value for each item, based on original price and age (maybe assume a 2-year lifespan for everything if you're female, or 25-years if you're male!). That becomes your claim amount.

transient

Good offer, snatch their hand off

ThumbRemote

transient wrote: »

Good offer, snatch their hand off

Without any knowledge of the age of the clothes, how can you decide it's a good offer?

paddyrg

It's up to them if they want to involve their insurer, it's not your problem. Justify pressing for more with a quick list as above. If they resist paying that, small claims court.

transient

ThumbRemote wrote: »

Without any knowledge of the age of the clothes, how can you decide it's a good offer?

Because based on what the op has posted.