HELLO From New Zealand

Pippilongstocking

Oh Chev I'm so sorry I've not caught up properly but I'm not surprised you are gutted. I'm with others on solicitor advice and search here (although I'm sure you've done both) I hate small print.

It needs it's bum smacked. Huge hug from here, not alot of use, but comes without any nasty surprises. X

Sorry no use at all.

Karmacat

chevalier wrote: »

MORAL OF THIS STORY ALWAYS CHECK THE FINE PRINT ON YOUR INSURANCE POLICY. We should NEVER Have been sold ours, as it specifically didn't cover oils escapes. But all too late now.

So bearing in mind that this has been dragging on since 2007 what does anyone think they might take as a settlement.

I am thinking the max offer should be the actual costs they have incurred and NO interest. That would save us nearly 10k right there. But what about a minimum offer?

Oh Chev ... you poor thing. This must be absolutely horrendous.

Only a couple of things stand out, I'm afraid - the bit up there in the quote that I've bolded - if that can be proven, then don't you have a misselling claim? You might not have the heart to want to go through with something like that, but its a h*ll of a lot of money

As to a minimum ... people work with percentages and/or round figures when bargaining on house prices... what about 40% of the max offer you're thinking of? What would that be like for you if you then ended up meeting somewhere in the middle of those two figures?

starnac

chev i wish i could offer you really good advice but i can't so I'm just going to send you hugs ((((((((((())))))))) and echo what the others ^^^^^^ have said so far.

Keiss_21

Hya Chev :wave:

I have just popped over from Pippi's thread and read this page...so sorry to hear your troubles ...have no experience with anything like this, so sending you lots of ((((((hugs)))))) is my way of helping.

I did start to read this diary from the start, but have too many jobs to do today...so saving it for another time...NZ is high on our list of places to visit, or possibly even live...after Orkney ofcourse :rotfl:!

Hope things work out better than you are dreading xx

chevalier

Hi all thanks for the good wishes and sympathy. It does mean alot it really does.

We have one last shot if the insurance company have an off day and decide to go for it. Can you see this happening (where is the flying pig smiley when you need it). So then we just have to work out starting offers etc and the way to play out the offer.

One of the interesting things with this situation (and we have only just twigged this DOH) is that it has always been the owners of the property persuing us NOT an insurance company. So my guess is that they didn't have buildings insurance:eek::eek::eek::eek: for the property that got damaged!

I am keeping my fingers crossed that this means they might be more amenable to a lower offer, cos it isn't some big conglomerate that we are facing. One of the frustrations about all of this, is that apparently they don't have very much supporting paperwork for their claim, so it is all a bit paper thin anyway. And yet without the after the fact insurance it is too dodgy to continue! SIGH.

So now we just have to figure out a good strategy if we have to settle. I know not to make your last offer first, (though my OH just wants to make an offer and be done with it:eek::eek:), so then we just have to work out a starting point. I know what I want to offer as my LAST offer though, that is what they actually spent on the remediation without solicitors or interest costs. That would still save us at least 14k!

Of course anything less than 47k is a bonus.....this is what the work cost.....

And THEN in other news, we have found a house that we can move into, that isn't a pit, and though it has no land has enough room inside (just) for all of our stuff. Better still we can have pets and it is $200 a WEEK less than what we are now paying!. So on top of everything else I now have to pack up and try to sell as much stuff as possible, IN THREE WEEKS. Now bear in mind it took us 3 MONTHS to pack from England! and we don't have that much less stuff! Still it will take my mind of the above LOL.
chev

ps never rains but it pours!

chevalier

So a list for today
Strip Bed done
In washing machine done
sweep floors
list items i already have photos for
photo some more
take boys to cinema at 2pm done smurfs is funny!
try and look at android programmes for recording book details - anyone know one?
pack up some clothes or something. packed some photos up. also printed off photos for grandparents so can send them with new address details!
put a box of computer bits up on freecycle.
and the sofa as well. again.

also cooking lasagne and spag bol to get a bit in front.

GreyhoundAngel

chevalier wrote: »

Hi all thanks for the good wishes and sympathy. It does mean alot it really does.

We have one last shot if the insurance company have an off day and decide to go for it. Can you see this happening (where is the flying pig smiley when you need it). So then we just have to work out starting offers etc and the way to play out the offer.

One of the interesting things with this situation (and we have only just twigged this DOH) is that it has always been the owners of the property persuing us NOT an insurance company. So my guess is that they didn't have buildings insurance:eek::eek::eek::eek: for the property that got damaged!

I am keeping my fingers crossed that this means they might be more amenable to a lower offer, cos it isn't some big conglomerate that we are facing. One of the frustrations about all of this, is that apparently they don't have very much supporting paperwork for their claim, so it is all a bit paper thin anyway. And yet without the after the fact insurance it is too dodgy to continue! SIGH.

That sounds very likely Chev ... if an insurance company was involved, I would almost certainly expect the correspondence to be coming from them, and then perhaps their legal bods ... to my mind, it wouldnt be usual for it to be the "people". Bit like a car accident... it's always the insurance company who do the paperwork
Worth a shot, and re lack of paperwork from them for their claim... surely that must work in your favour not there's ... after all - they'd be expected to be able to back up their facts & figures.

chevalier wrote: »

So now we just have to figure out a good strategy if we have to settle. I know not to make your last offer first, (though my OH just wants to make an offer and be done with it:eek::eek:), so then we just have to work out a starting point. I know what I want to offer as my LAST offer though, that is what they actually spent on the remediation without solicitors or interest costs. That would still save us at least 14k!

Of course anything less than 47k is a bonus.....this is what the work cost.....

I'd be inclined to perhaps work out 5 "offer levels" ...

* your lowest / opening offer (can but hope ) - they're bound to automatically counter this one regardless of the amount you offer.
* the counter offer - half way between the 1st and the next offer lol - they'll probably counter this one too.
* the half way offer - what it says really .. and often the one people will settle on if you hold your nerve.
* the gruding uplift counter offer - reluctantly if you have to in order to clinch a lower outlay
* your maximum offer - the one you wont go over unless forced by a outside influence (ie court or something)

Hopefully somewhere along the way,,, their nerve will break before yours :rotfl:

chevalier wrote: »

Hi all thanks for the good wishes and sympathy. It does mean alot it really does.

And THEN in other news, we have found a house that we can move into, that isn't a pit, and though it has no land has enough room inside (just) for all of our stuff. Better still we can have pets and it is $200 a WEEK less than what we are now paying!. So on top of everything else I now have to pack up and try to sell as much stuff as possible, IN THREE WEEKS. Now bear in mind it took us 3 MONTHS to pack from England! and we don't have that much less stuff! Still it will take my mind of the above LOL.
chev
ps never rains but it pours!

Ooooh Well done on the house find Chev :T, I know it's tough timescale wise - but that's a heck of saving each month :eek:
Should put you under less pressure financially and job hunt wise too
I'm still surrounded by the boxes & furniture that came out of storage weeks ago
Angel xxx

Karmacat

Ooh, I like what Angel wrote on the gradual raising of offer .... thats excellent.

Chev, I'm glad you've found somewhere you like, *and* thats less money - good luck with the packing - I thought I'd done so well with my house move last year, turned out I was absolutely rubbish! But you've got one in your really recent past, so thats good.

xxx

hypno06

Happy Packing!!!

Keiss_21

Good luck with everything Chev..hope it all goes well.

Suspect it's bit crazy today/tommorow after the All Blacks win ...congratulations to them too. :T:beer::T