It's official, my insurance co won't pay ref oil leek OMG

chevalier

I just can't believe it, after everything that has been done, my insurance company have decided 6 MONTHS after the event that they will not be covering the costs of the oil leak and subsequent contamination of mine and my neighbours land.

I am absolutely devasasted and feel physically sick at the prospect of how much this might cost us. Could be ten of thousands of pounds. They say that the leak was from the base of the tank (true), and that is was clearly visible (not true, the gap from the floor to the bottom of the tank is only two house bricks width, and you would have had to get down virtually on the flat of your stomach to look under).

I think they think that because it is on a path, that we would be going by it every day, so should of noticed. But we hardly use the path at all. And when we did use it, it isn't as if we had seen a puddle of liquid across the path, and then ignored it. Even when the leak was discovered there was no obvious stain on the path or anything.

They are saying that we should have known that rusted steel is structurally safe, well yes, but the tank is less than 10 years old and surely must have a longer life expectancy than 8 years?

I am gutted. Not only does this mean we might have to find the money, but that we can't do our move to New Zealand until it is all sorted which I am sure could take months.

I really don't need this. I was just getting up the other side of hole that has been my depression for the last 18 months, and was even going to ask my Dr to lower my medication this month. Now I am worried that this will knock me right back down into the pit again.

Is there a lawyer in the house?

God I feel wretched, and yet still have to go on with the normal things like making lunch for my child, and being all happy at fire works tomorrow.

I don't expect much in the way of concrete advice, but need to vent somewhere, and you my friends are it

chev

Fortheloveofmoney

Don't really know what to say but wanted to offer a hug or 20.

immoral_angeluk

:grouphug:

Helonearth

Hi there,
You may want to look into employing a loss assesor rather than a solicitor. You employ them rather than the insurance company, so they work for YOU. This is different to a loss adjustor (your ins co may have sent one of these around) who works for the insurance company. Try http://www.lossassessors.org.uk/The%20Institute.htm

Otherwise, you have my best wishes, and if you need any advice give me a shout. I'm one of those evil insurance underwriters. Sorry!

Hel x

chevalier

thanks for the hugs guys, really need them at the moment.

Helonearth, thanks for the link, will have a look at it with OH when he gets home.

What I really don't understand, is how they can
appoint a loss adjuster
who then appoints decontamination firm
who does the testing
who submits the report to the loss adjuster
who agrees the work
the firm starts work
it is nearly completed (certainly our side don't know about neighbours)
(this has taken from June until now as well - have been loads of delays, bad communication between loss adjuster and decontam firm)

AND THEN they decide they are not going to cover it. And all the time we have been told that whilst replacing the tank isn't covered (wear and tear they said so we thought fair enough), they would cover the remediation work (both sides) and pay us the cost of the oil lost.

If they has said AT THE BEGINNING it isn't covered, then the whole scenario would have been very different. For a start off we wouldn't have needed the loss adjuster firm, I knew of people who could have professionally done the remediation work with me project managing (I used to work in transport logistics as a manager, where I was always chasing claims, paperwork etc so wouldn't habe been difficult, and couldn't be worse than the management that the loss adjuster has done) as I have been studying this year so have been at home during the day.

I suppose the thing now is to ask for a copy of their grievance procedure? To see what we have to do? Conveniently that wasn't mentioned in the letter.

thanks again for the support
chev

Spirit_2

Hi Chevalier

No advice to offer just sympathy for what is a terrible bit of financial news.

Spirit

peb

OK - def not my field. However; if you can get a free half hour preferably with a specialist (not just a litigator but an insurance litiagtor) then get them to look at the policy. go to the Law Society Website and use the find a solicitor tool; that way you may get someone local who knows about this.

Sorry I can't help and lots of hugs

rayday2

Have you looked on your insurance companies website to see if they have information on how you can appeal, I have no idea re insurance but surely there is some way of being able to state your case as to why you think they should pay now they have given reasons why they think they shouldn't?

OliveOyl_2

I can't really offer any more support and/or advice than other posters.

But, if you checked on the web-site for the supplier of an oil tank like the one that went wrong, it might have a "relax for the next 25 years, your oil will be safe in our super-duper tank" type remark?

Kevicho

If all this fails set up a website with whats happened, called whateverthecompanyiscalled-sucks.co.uk

At least the bad press it will receive will get some form of revenge.


Also if you do this through quidco and microsoft live youll get 5 pounds for the privilidge.

im currently doing this at the moment

Seaxwyn

Oh chev, I'm really sorry to read that, what a terrible blow and how gut-wrenching to think of your move being postponed.

It sounds like this is not the end of the story, though, and people here have good advice about things like loss assessors and consulting solicitors.

Sending hugs and really hoping the outcome is better than it looks at present.