Drainage Insurance Claim Problem

paintpot

I have a drainage insurance policy covering me for two internal problems and two external problems per year. I had to call an engineer out for a toilet blockage a while ago, they unblocked the toilet and told me it had nothing to do with the external drains although they didn't inspect them. I then had another toilet blockage and decided to unblock it myself having seen the engineer do it previously so I could save my second chance with the insurance policy for anything else. I was concerned that two blockages have occurred in such a short space of time. However my neighbour has been in touch to say that they have had sewage coming up though plug holes in their bathroom and as they have a policy with the same insurance company they called them out. The insurance company did various investigations including die and cameras down drains and found the blockage is at my property. They told my neighbour to call the water company or environmental health about the problem but the water company said it wasn't their responsibility. I called the insurance company but they say there is nothing they can do because I am not currently experiencing any emergency despite their own engineer having peered down my drain, on my property, without my permission and determining that the cause of my neighbour's problem is a backed up drain on my property! How can they say I don't have a problem when they have diagnosed a backed up drain on my property albeit as a result of a neighbours claim - have I got to wait until sewage starts spilling everywhere before I can make them do anything? My neighbour has a written report stating the backup is on my property - we have shared drains. Advice please?

stevewild31

Hi, I have a simalar problem with my drains, I was told by united Utilities - If you have a 'shared Drain' the drain is owened and maintained by United utilities. This sounds like the situation you are in, I would get in touch with them, they usually do diagnostic work to determine the cause of the problem and determine 'ownership' of the problem for free.
Hope this helps...