Council Contractors Damaged Property

Omnitude

Hello,
I had contractors from the council come to my flat recently and they maliciously damage my clothing items. I have the whole encounter recorded on my phone as a voice clip. 
I reported them to the council who put my in charge with the council's insurance department. The council have got back to my with a compensation about that is inadequate citing that this is due to me now being able to provide receipts for the damaged items. I didn't ask these workmen to come to my flat and damage my property. 
There's photos of the items being damaged, I have a recording of the workmen admitting what they did and saying they will pay for everything.
I am not happy with the compensation offer and even more angry they have cited that because I am unable to provide receipts of the items that is what they are offering me. I did provide estimates of what I bought the items for.

Is there any where else I can go to with this problem? It's pretty open and shut case. Damage done, fault accepted but compensation inadequate.

Thank you!

princeofpounds

You can try small claims court. However, bear in mind that you will not get compensated new-for-old. A one year old T-shirt is not worth much compared to what you may have bought it for. That may be at the root of your disagreement. 

Of course you may well not have receipts, but if you can prove which items were damaged, and e.g. provide values for similar items at a charity shop then you may have more of a case. You may also be able to gain some minimal compensation for your time in replacing the items as well.

The question is, how different is that figure to what they are offering? It may well not be worth the trouble, but that's your choice.

AdrianC

Omnitude said:
The council have got back to my with a compensation about that is inadequate citing that this is due to me now being able to provide receipts for the damaged items.

On what basis?
Are they refusing to pay new-for-old?
Or are they querying the valuation of what you claim were expensive items?

I could claim that I paid £200 for this pair of jeans. It's not unreasonable for them to ask for some proof, else they'll value them as a normal £40 pair.

What sort of difference in value, across how many items, are we talking about?

Chandler85

They maliciously damaged them, but also said that they'll get them paid for and replaced for you.  Sounds more like an accident.

You'll need to provide some form of receipt or proof of what they cost, there is a difference between a Hermes handbag and a £10 one from a high street shop for example.  If you have no proof, they'll be some set amount they offer.

I once got £75 for a damaged suitcase from an airline as I couldn't prove how much it cost.  I told them via email it cost about £40 and was happy with that, and the reply I got was, the minimum amount they offer is £75, so they'll send me that, if my suitcase was £125, then I'd have lost out.  Can't complain, you win some you lose some.

greatcrested

Are they offering to pay new for old? If so, just get a quote for a new whatever-it-was.

Or are they offering market value? eg a 10 year old £50 whatever is no longer worth more than maybe £10.

But either way it's not unreasonable for them towant to know what the items cost.

newsgroupmonkey_

My gripe with any of this is that you can't replace a secondhand t-shirt with a secondhand t-shirt.

I mean you could, but someone else wearing it isn't the same as you wearing it!

hazyjo

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

My gripe with any of this is that you can't replace a secondhand t-shirt with a secondhand t-shirt.

I mean you could, but someone else wearing it isn't the same as you wearing it!

But it's not necessarily about replacement, it's compensating you for a loss and you're under no obligation to replace.

Obviously you may choose to replace.

Bit like with a car - if it's written off, you won't get the cost of a brand new car.

AdrianC

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

My gripe with any of this is that you can't replace a secondhand t-shirt with a secondhand t-shirt.

I mean you could, but someone else wearing it isn't the same as you wearing it!

I've got a whole load of t-shirts that are clinging to life. If they got damaged, would I be due a brand new replacement?

Omnitude

Alot of it is designer stuff I'd bought over the years

martindow

Omnitude said:

Alot of it is designer stuff I'd bought over the years

If you go to Ebay you should be able to find completed sales to give you an idea of the values.  Designer clothing and accessories can only be replaced second hand - you can't buy a new designer bag from a 2010 collection for instance.

It would be helpful if you could tell us how much the council have offered and how much you think the items are worth.