Need URGENT help

skirky_dave

Hi everyone. Not been here in a while and my son is in a desperate situation. If THIS POST IS IN THE WRONG PLACE,i'm sorry but i'm panicking for him.
Yesterday morning whilst my son was at work, a pipe burst in his loft. The bathroom ceiling and wires have collapsed, the bathroom floor has let water through the bathroom and into the kitchen below and the kitchen ceiling has also collapsed, again with cables dangling. Bathroom floor is ruined so is the kitchen floor. There's wet plaster ALL OVER the place. It's such a mess.
He phoned the Halifax Insurance as soon as we turned off the water and the electricity supplies.
After a VERY lengthy conversation with a woman at the claims dept, she said, ( which we find very annoying ), " You need to contact a plumber in your area, get him to fix the leak, PAY HIM, then send us the bill and we will then reimburse you!!" ).
We thought afterwards,...hang on a minute , that's why he pays an excess on his policy. The plumber/ heating engineer probably would want the Electrics sorting first , OH hang on a minute the electrician would probably want paying also, That's TWO lots costing hundreds of pounds BEFORE the insurance company pays out.
The insurance phoned him this morning and told him an assessor is coming tomorrow at 2pm.
He doesn't have savings like that and i'm sick with worry for him.
I can't help him because i'm on benefits.
My partner told me that when her ceiling collapsed in the same way, she paid the excess and got 3 quotes from people.The insurance then settled the bill with the builder etc and all she paid was the excess. She told me,..that's why you pay the excess, NOT PAY THE BUILDERS, PLUMBERS, ELECTRICIAN ETC, and then claim it all back. WHO HAS £5-10 THOUSAND POUNDS SPARE.
Can someone PLEASE read this and give us advice PLEASE.
We are in a desperate situation.
Many thanks
David.

pinkteapot

People more expert will be along shortly, but....

Did the woman you spoke to simply mean that you should get the leak fixed ASAP to prevent further damage, and they'd reimburse for that? Ie not that you had to fund and re-claim for the repairs afterwards (which will be significant).

If your son has the Home Emergency Cover add-on, they would have arranged for an emergency plumber to come and fix the leak. I'm just wondering whether your son misunderstood, and she was just saying that he doesn't have that bit of cover so he needs to get the leak fixed himself.

The loss adjustor (assessor) is sent out for large claims. They will look at the damage, decide what needs doing, etc. Normally, the insurance company will then arrange for repairs.

Important for your son to stay as calm as he can and get the loss adjustor to fully explain the process. Ask as many questions as necessary.

skirky_dave

Hi Pinkteapot, thank you so much for getting back to me so quickly.
At the moment i'm washing loads of my sons clothes and trying to get them all dried for him.
Errm, i have no idea regarding the emergency side of the policy.
He does know a few people who have friends in the building trade so i shall have to go through things with him...SLOWLY!!.
He's beside himself at the moment.
Once again thank you
David.

Quentin

It sounds as though the house is not fit to live in


He should ensure any alternative accommodation cover he has is discussed with the adjuster and actioned

skirky_dave

Quentin..
At the moment he's going to his girlfriends house. Her mum has been so understanding and kind. But... i shall make a note of what you suggest and talk it through with him. I have no idea as to the type of cover he has in place. We don't have a lot of experience with these sort of things. However,..i shall ask him and see if we can dig out the policy.
Thanks Quentin

Quentin

Yes - get this sorted before the adjuster arrives.


If he has sorted his own alternative accommodation and his policy covers this then should he not want them to provide accommodation they should give him a daily allowance to pay for his alternative private arrangement of alternative accommodation

skirky_dave

Judging by the policy it looks as though he Might.. be covered for most of the things apart from having to find a plumber to stop and fix the leak. More expense, but he knows someone who knows a plumber that might do it for mates rates, we shall see!!!.The water is off at the stop tap so no more flooding. We just have to get hold of his friends mate.
Cheers Quentin.