Asprea + Norwich Union Buildings Insurance

Jesstiggs

beccus wrote: »

Hi

I just wanted to let you know that Asprea are one of our approved suppliers and we do have a formalised feedback system in place - if and when we recieve negative feedback we do act on it.

I don't think this is necessarily the answer you were after, but i just wanted to pop on and try and put your mind at rest! I hope this helps and good luck with the claim.

Becca

How do people who are insured with NU access the formalised feedback system?

I am so not happy with Asprea, I am still waiting after 4 months for my house to be restored, in the meantime your company is paying my rent and kenneling fees for my animals who are all showing signs of stress unsurprisingley!

[Deleted User]

Jesstiggs
Do you want to email me the details of your claim and I'll see what we can do? My email address is [EMAIL="rebecca.sibley@norwich-union.co.uk"]rebecca.sibley@norwich-union.co.uk[/EMAIL]

Becca

JollyJim

Aprea come along and survey the job and then submit a report to NU and also to your self. Unfortunately the survey does not fully cover the work needed. You can if you wish obtain your own quotes and submit these. NU will then explain that you can use your own contractors but they can only pay the amount Asprea quote them. This is usually about 50 or 60% less than your proper quote. If Asprea's contractors do the job they will have to keep going back and forth to cover the shortfalls in the survey and estimate. The survey that they send you is not a fully priced quote and the only price information you receive is by the advisor on the telephone. I assume they tell the truth. If you do decide to settle and use your own contractors they can not go back to NU for any extras. Obviously Asprea's contractors can. It seems that NU have got this all wrong and should allow you to use your own contractors without it costing you thousands of pounds. Surely a couple of independant quotes would sort this out. I am not sure whether Asprea's poor surveys and quotes are down to the inexperience and understaffing of this new company or it is just their policy as they are realistically going to get the job.

Stantheman

I had some dealings with them via NU after a flood. To be honest they did muck about a bit regarding appointments etc. but once the dates were set they came and did all the work to a great standard so no real complaints.

Adelaidebound

I have worked for Asprea and my recommendation is avoid them at all costs! An asbolute shower of a company. And the contractors aren't any better. Get your own quotes and use your own contractors, you will then be able to control quality of work and timescales. Use Asprea and suffer the consequences. The surveyors are NOT qualified in the main but are a straggle of failed tradesmen that think they can survey with NO qualifications to carry out the role. Even the idiot they use to train their Peterborough staff has no surveying qualifications. The contractors are given a limited schedule of works for which they get paid. Asprea are paid to reduce that scope and the contractors are constantly trying to increase it to get more money! Internal fighting is common so just play safe and get a qualified trade to do the work for you. Norwich Union in my experience are as professional as you would expect, just avoid Asprea!

Insco

Avoid having to use Asprea if you can

mattymoo

Insco - is that short for Ins Company - care to elaborate on why not to use Asprea.

One thing does annoy me with insurers these days, and I speak with 20 years experience in the industry. If somebody refused to use one of appointed repairers (bodyshop, contractor, supplier whatever) for whatever reason, we had alternative arrangements in place and could accomodate their wishes in 9 out of 10 cases. The exceptions tended to be the client who wished to use say the local BMW garage when we knew full well they subbed their bodyshop work to our preferred company but then slapped on their own mark up.

Fast forward 15 years and I am now out of claims. Had cause to claim on motor insurance and they wanted me to use their approved firm. Last time I used this firm they failed to replace the bonnet catch correctly and 5 miles down the road, at 60mph, the bonnet flew up. You can understand why I refuse to use the firm again.

The call centre person just would not budge from the script or listen to what I was saying. It really was a case of "computer says no" and they did not have the training or initiative to expand the search parameter and find the next nearest repairer.

haguiera

hi guys, i too have just been appointed asprea after WelshWater flooded my home from beneath my kitchen floor by turning on a valve which had been closed for over 40yrs! Asprea have come and surveyed the damage and want to completley rip out my kitchen and bathroom, replace the damaged flooring and put all the old stuff back in on top! do u think this is fair or am i being a bit greedy in wanting new? also, if i wanted to use my own builders (and after reading about and meeting asprea, i certainly do!), how do i go about it? thanks.

OJ_Simpson_in_innocent

Hi I work for asprea, in order to use your own builders you need to advise your insurance company that you wish to cash settle. You will then need to use your copy of the surveyors report to show contractors what needs doing and get a quote from them.
Submit your quotes to the insurance company and they will decide which is the more cost effective option.
If the quotes are accepted then you will be paid out by the insurannce company for the cost of the work. Arrange start dates with your contractors and off you go!!

Insco

Asprea said they could do the works for £1700 - when they were independently audited the claim was settled for £8000