Urgent - Flooded and making an insurance claim

Haver

Would much appreciate some advice from someone who knows about these things... on Friday morning we had a massive flood in our top floor flat. We're in the process of having a new kichen put in and it looks like a valve failed when the hot water boiler kicked in. Our builder- we now discover is not insured, but we are, and our insurers were great and had an emergency team round within the hour to pump up the water.
My question is... am I in big trouble for using a builder who is uninsured? (He is reputable, was recommended to us by our local estate agent who use him for all their repairs).
Also, loss adjustors have been appointed who have a terrible reputation on the internet. Should I go to a Claims Management service to handle it for me? Anyone had experience of these. Many Thanks...

FlameCloud

Whats the loss adjustors called?

There should be no issue, although there will be an exclusion for loss or damage caused by poor workanship which may apply here- it will really depend on the loss adjustors.

I wouldnt appoint a loss assesor, it will only cost you money and they, contrary to what they say, rarely manage to increase the settlement beyond what you are intitled to any way. If you pick the wrong company as well it will delay your claim- several insurance companies outright refuse to deal with certain loss assesors after the problems they have caused.

Haver

Many thanks for your response. Loss adjustors are Cunningham Lindsey The Claims management company that looked attractive are called Morgan Clark. Frankly their website made me panic and think I can't go it alone...
Your further thoughts would be most appreciated!

FlameCloud

Cunningham Lindsey are not that bad as people make them out to be. Like all loss adjustors they were under huge pressure from the floods, which is where most of their bad reputation (in recent times) comes from. Plus, they are a indpendant adjustor so theoretically more willing to spend cash than internal ones.

The loss assessors websites are designed to make you think that you cannot possibly claim without one. They will charge either a % fee (sometimes around 30% or a fixed amount). As long as you present the claim as it is, list every single item that has been damaged or lost you will be fine. The biggest problems with assessors come from the fact that the builders they deal with are VERY overpriced. (indeed, one claim involving assessors they submitted quote for a normal sized living room to be skimmed and painted, for a grand total of over £4,000!) As a result, there is usually delays whilst the adjustors and assessors argue the price. The assessors want the higher rate simply because their pay is based on %, the adjustors dont want to pay more than market rate for the job.

What should normally happen is that the insurance company will take action against the builder (in your name) to try and recover their money paid out, known as subrogation.

Haver

Once again, thanks a million! I'm utterly convinced by you that loss assessors is not the way to go. I'll give C.L. the chance... they are working through my insurers who have been great from the word go.
Very best wishes!

jonesMUFCforever

Who are the insurers?
We're pretty quick to have a go at anybody on these boards so lets give some praise to somebody for a change.

HillClimb

Haver - Sorry to reawaken a 4 year old forum thread, but your situation and players involved strike a lot of bells with ours. We've just had a burst pipe which went unnoticed for a few days as we were away. Substantial damage to most of a 5 bed house so quite a big claim and home is currently uninhabitable. Insurance Loss adjustor is Cunningham Lindsey about whom I have read loads of negative feedback (but of course most people do not document the claims that were settled well, so its tough to guess whether the criticisms are typical of most claimants experiences or the unlucky 1%) and we too are trying to decide whether appointing a Loss Assessor (of which Morgan Clark are being considered) to work for us will achieve a faster, less stressful and higher-quality/more-thorough reinstatement of our home. So apologies for raisning this 4 years later, but from your experience:
- Are you happy with what Cunningham Lindsey did - in terms of leaving them to determine the value to be paid/work to be done. Having CL expedite the schedule of works. Having CL select and manage the tradesmen etc.
- Were CL reasonably communicative and responsive ?
- In hindsight, do you wish you'd paid the 5-10% for Morgan Clark to pursue all of the above on your behalf ?

jzimelstern

Not all assessors are equal so I would suggest that you seek references from Morgan Clark and speak directly with some of their domestic clients.

As an assessor myself, the issue of fees is always contentious & I take the view (and drum it into my team) that we must add value to the client. Accordingly you must determine what 'added value' you expect from Morgan Clark - is it increase in claims value, less or no involvement in the management of the claim or efficiency in processing matters.

As for Cunningham Lindsey, they are probably 1 of the better loss adjusters out there, albeit the standard is pretty low. They had also made redundant a number of back office support staff just before the recent spate of bad weather meaning they are really stretched.

I would recommend that you meet CL first & establish if the adjuster appointed is someone you feel comfortable with & is not going to just add you to their claims pile & processes. Also agree some clear objectives that must be achieved within particular time frames. If these are honoured you may not need an assessor (again dependant on what you perceive the added value is). That said an assessor will always be able to do a better job for you if you appoint them earlier in the process.

Finally, as with any party you engage, if you have any doubt as to whether someone is working for your claim or their own interests, teen do not engage them.