Storm damage claim refused

Trouble1

Hi
Storm Dudley ripped the felt roofing material off the flat roof extension.  The insurer said storm conditions were not sufficient (wind speeds of 45mph rather than 54mph).  Presumably this is an average figure and does not include gusts.  
Is there a website where I can check windspeeds in my area on a specific date, including gusts?
Cheers

TELLIT01

This seems to be a standard way for insurers to avoid paying out.  They will have figures from fairly local weather stations, but will not be able to take into account very localised events, or gusts.  Have you tried appealing their decision or going through their complaints process?

It may also be worth considering whether or not it was worth making a claim based on the cost of repair work and the policy excess.

Sandtree

The first step is to read your policy wording to see how a storm is actually defined, some are very prescriptive and others are very loose.

Secondly, check where the weather station your insurers have used is and consider if there are any mitigating factors as to why it may have been different to your local... eg you are on the top of a hill but the weather station is in the leeward valley below

Finally, register your complaint, the FOS website has guidance on how the deal with complaints around storm claims but it is highly subjective to your policy wording.

TELLIT01 said:

This seems to be a standard way for insurers to avoid paying out.  

A slightly disappointing attitude from a seasoned forum member.

You buy a policy that states the conditions under which the policy will payout. That wording enables the insurer to estimate their claims and so set the price. Due to sites like this people think price is king and as such insurers tighten their wording, reduce the amount that is covered, reduce what they will payout and so reduce the price. People then buy policies without reading what it covers because its the cheapest price they find and the complain that the cover is more limited... that's how the cheapest price was achieved.

If you want something that will payout in all circumstances then buy an all risks policy from the likes of Hiscox but for many people that could be adding a zero to the end of their premiums.

There are bad apples in every industry but by and large the majority of insurers payout what they promised to, just customers hoped the promise was bigger. The stats from the FOS on upheld complaints shows its an industry much more plagued with miss-buying than failure to deliver and there is no point perpetuating the urban myth that its the later. 

TELLIT01

Sandtree said:

TELLIT01 said:

This seems to be a standard way for insurers to avoid paying out.  

A slightly disappointing attitude from a seasoned forum member.

A concern born from many instances I've seen both here and on other broadly 'consumer support' forums, news reports etc which tend to support that view.  Many people are unrealistic in what they believe should be covered, but others have been fobbed off by insurers.