AXA won't pay up

SteveT99

Hi 
My ridge tiles blew off my roof in the recent storm and landed on my car which was parked in the drive. AXA are refusing to pay for the damage to the car saying they don't insure the car as it's a house policy but I have said to them they insure the roof and it is the storm event on the roof that is caused the damage and is the proximate cause of the loss. They are standing their ground and refusing the claim, what if anything can I do do in regards to this?
My car insurance has a very high excess and an unprotected no claims bonus so really do not wish to claim on that particularly when the actual damage was caused by the roof. 

Sandtree

They're correct... they don't insure your car and you cannot sue yourself if you claim you were negligent in not keep your roof in a good state (which would result in your Home claim being declined anyway). 

That's why you have home insurance and comprehensive car insurance

Aretnap

They are correct. Your home insurance policy covers damage *to* your home. It does not cover damage caused *by* your home (actually caused by the storm), except in limited circumstances which don't apply here. 

The limited circumstances are that it covers your legal liabilities *to other people* which arise from your ownership of the home. For example if you failed to maintain your roof properly and the tiles fell onto your neighbours car and he sued you for negligently damaging his property, your home insurance will cover any money that a court orders you to pay. However that's not relevant here because you have no liabilities to yourself - you can't take yourself to court for damaging your own property. 

Afraid there's nothing you can do except either claim on your car insurance, or don't claim on your car insurance and pay for the repairs yourself. 

TELLIT01

You will often find that storm damage is not covered by the 'other persons' insurance.  Slightly different situation but our neighbour's ridge tile smashed the roof of our conservatory but we had to claim on our home insurance because it was storm damage.  In the OPs situation they will need to claim off their car insurance.

SaverRate

I would like to point out that you having a high excess and unprotected no claims isn’t AXA’s fault, you have a choice when you took out your car insurance and you chose a high excess and to not protect your no claims 

Jaybee_16

Agree with the other comments. Damage to your car is claimed on your car insurance. Excess and NCD are irrelevant.

csgohan4

false economy with no NCD protection. Insurance is a scam until you need it. Will be an expensive lesson if you claim from your car insurance

Smithcom

csgohan4 said:

false economy with no NCD protection. Insurance is a scam until you need it. Will be an expensive lesson if you claim from your car insurance

Strange way to describe something which you accept might be needed!!

Smithcom

SteveT99 said:

Hi 
My ridge tiles blew off my roof in the recent storm and landed on my car which was parked in the drive. AXA are refusing to pay for the damage to the car saying they don't insure the car as it's a house policy but I have said to them they insure the roof and it is the storm event on the roof that is caused the damage and is the proximate cause of the loss. They are standing their ground and refusing the claim, what if anything can I do do in regards to this?
My car insurance has a very high excess and an unprotected no claims bonus so really do not wish to claim on that particularly when the actual damage was caused by the roof. 

Okay.  You are partially correct, and you're using some relevant industry terminology (proximate cause), however, you're missing some key issues:

1.   You cannot claim from the household insurer (actually the home-owner) as a 'Liability' claim - since you cannot sue yourself 

2.   You cannot claim from the household insurer, under a 'Property Damage claim' as the policy will specifically exclude damage to motor vehicles, and even if it didn't, you would have included a motor vehicle under your Buildings/Contents sums insured/cover.

I think that, as the saying goes, 'a little knowledge is dangerous', in your understanding of the situation.

You'll need to assess whether the cost of damage is worth the cost of a motor insurance claim (re premium increase / loss of No Claims Discount)

SC

Smithcom

TELLIT01 said:

You will often find that storm damage is not covered by the 'other persons' insurance.  Slightly different situation but our neighbour's ridge tile smashed the roof of our conservatory but we had to claim on our home insurance because it was storm damage.  In the OPs situation they will need to claim off their car insurance.

Nope.   The 'other persons' insurance will likely cover liability to 3rd parties.   But if there is no negligence, generally there is no liability, therefore, that's why the 'other person's insurer' will not have paid for the damage to your conservatory.

If there had been negligence, under English Common Law (Tort Law), liability would have been owed to you, and their insurer would have (almost certainly) paid for your damage

SC