What counts as a claim?

krishna

Our roof collapsed last year and we filed a claim on our buildings insurance. The insurance company rejected the claim after a visit by the loss adjuster. Does that still count as a claim when we renew our insurance, or would we keep our no claims bonus?

FlameCloud

It would could as an incident, so yes it would. Your NCD should be unaffected though, altough your premium will go up.

Sooperted

Yes, even though your claim was repudiated by your insurers it would still count as a claim.

Just out of interest, why was the claim repudiated? What reasons did thye give for it?

Was it a roof or ceiling?

PasturesNew

Maybe it was the roof and now she has to admit it was under the weight of Santa and 10 Reindeers, with 20,000 twinkling lights and a sack of presents that they erected on the roof for Xmas

FlameCloud

Roofs collapsing are usually maintance issues or happening over a long period of time, so the reason probably was a lack of an insurable peril.

Sooperted

FlameCloud wrote: »

Roofs collapsing are usually maintance issues or happening over a long period of time, so the reason probably was a lack of an insurable peril.

I would imagine so. Sounds like gradual deterioration but was just looking for a bit more info from the op

krishna

So if I am ringing other insurance companies for quotes and they ask if we have had any claims in the last 3yrs/5yrs/whatever else they say. Do I say yes but there was no payout?

Our renewal docs arrived today. Premiums have gone up from £398 to £471 not sure if that is due to the roof or a general rise in premiums for everyone.

It was the roof that collapsed. Actually two roofs. The original slate tiles (victorian house) had been replaced with concrete tiles, probably in the 1980s. We bought in 98. Surveyor noted the increased weight but said that it looked like it had been sufficiently strengthened. After the collapse we had a roofing report done. The roofers said that there was insufficient support put in. Also the roof on the rear addition was being supported on the ceiling joists!

One roofing firm suggested we put in a claim anyway, which we did. But it was rejected as it is not an insured risk. They suggested we might have a claim against the surveyor. Another surveyor who has looked at the original survey report and the roofer's report reckons we have a case too but wants £1k to write the expert report! Haven't fully decided whether to go ahead with that. Though we would get it back if we won the case. And of course there is the £16k worth of roofing work we could recover. Hmm....

FlameCloud

Yes, I believe you would as the question would be 'claims, incidents or losses'.

The CUE database contains claims not paid out on, so it come up if you hadnt declared it.