Claiming on contractors insurance policy?

bill_on_line

Hi Group

I am trying to find out if i can make a claim against a contractor's insurance policy for the damage done to my home when the contractor carried out the work.

The damage did not come to my attention, for some considerable time after the contractor carried out the work and the contractor/ltd company is now dissolved.

The contractor's insurance company has come back and said the contractor must make the claim. I cannot make a claim against the contractor's insurance policy.
Is this true?

The insurance company suggested i make a claim against my own home insurance policy.
1, I suspect this may also reach another dead end as my home buildings may exclude damage caused by workmen/contractor etc.
2, And I do not wish to loose my claim free history on my home insurance and excess etc.

Any thoughts and advice welcomed

Bill

Quentin

If the contractor was negligent and your insurer is able to get the third party insurer to accept liability then you will be able to get your excess back off the third party insurer along with any other uninsured losses.

Irrespective of whether or not you make a successful claim off either insurer you will have to disclose this loss to your existing insurer at renewal time and any other insurer you approach for quotes

bill_on_line

Quentin wrote: »

Irrespective of whether or not you make a successful claim off either insurer you will have to disclose this loss to your existing insurer at renewal time and any other insurer you approach for quotes

Leading me to think,
that i might as well pay for the repair work myself and not put in a claim if the cost is acceptable.

I have an additional question, i would like to ask
Do insurance companies have access to a database that would hold the details of the contractor's insurance policy if i give them the contractor's company name only?
I believe something like this exists for motor insurance if you have the other parties vehicle reg and they have insurance its possible for your insurance company to find out the details of the other parties motor insurance. or am i totally wrong?

Quentin

bill_on_line wrote: »

Leading me to think,
that i might as well pay for the repair work myself and not put in a claim if the cost is acceptable.

I have an additional question, i would like to ask
Do insurance companies have access to a database that would hold the details of the contractor's insurance policy if i give them the contractor's company name only?
I believe something like this exists for motor insurance if you have the other parties vehicle reg and they have insurance its possible for your insurance company to find out the details of the other parties motor insurance. or am i totally wrong?

You have the loss to disclose irrespective of whether you pay for it yourself or make a successful (or unsuccessful) claim.

There's no database like the one you describe. But in your OP you say you have those details??

paddyandstumpy

Try ELTO.

Normally EL and PL are sold together, so tracing the EL insurer may lead you to the PL insurer.

bill_on_line

Quentin wrote: »

You have the loss to disclose irrespective of whether you pay for it yourself or make a successful (or unsuccessful) claim.

Hi Quentin
I realize it is a requirement to report all damage to my insurer, or potential insurers. However, in my case, it could easily be seen as fair wear and tear of the buildings rather than damage which i am sure it was.

There's no database like the one you describe. But in your OP you say you have those details??

Out of interest, Is there no insurance database for motor insurance as well?
The whole system of insurance leaves people to being conned, for example, the contractor does not have insurance and the insurance company will not confirm or deny this, but the contractor shows you a fake insurance document.

I am going through a learning curve as far as insurance and contractors working on my property is concerned.

I spoke to a legal advice line and the adviser said my "home insurer has ways to find out and claim of the contractor's insurance". whoever they are
This lead me to think that there might be a database and a solution. But not knowing how insurance claims are dealt with lead me to this forum.

Quentin, you are correct and very observable, i did say i
knew who the insurer was and policy number. However, I thought if i said that in my original question that I did not know the contractor's insurer, i would be told no hope and not learn anything.

However

I known, the contractor should have had insurance as it was a requirement of their membership of their trade body which they were members of. I am trying to extract this insurance details, from the trade body but so far with no success confidentiality etc.
Would my home insurer have ways to find out the contractors insurer from the Ex-trade body?
As the trade body also provides insurance i am chasing this as a suspect.

lisyloo

There is one for checking your own vehicle here
https://ownvehicle.askmid.com/
From what it says you can't (legally) use if for finding out about another vehicle but your insurance broker could.

bill_on_line

paddyandstumpy wrote: »

Try ELTO.

Normally EL and PL are sold together, so tracing the EL insurer may lead you to the PL insurer.

Thanks PaddyandStump
I have checked out with the ELTO, comes up with Hiscox and policy number as the EL.
The trade body Insurance to my surprise has also now told me the insurers name as well, confirming its Hiscox.

I now appear i have the PL insurance details to hopeful make a claim against the contractor's insurer, be the claim it directly from myself or via my home insurer. Another workmanship insurer has "confirmed" the damage in a report was due to the contractor's work but says its excluded from cover as it is not part of the installed works but my home. what a laugh.

thanks for every bodies help
Bill