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youth_leader

Morning Doc_N, thank you for replying, it feels better just to 'share'.

I still feel a bit shocked and am not my normal business like self, but I managed to find an Institute of Loss Assessor's member (FCA regulated)  company in Tyneside this morning and rang them. 

The man immediately said they don't deal with my insurance company,  or their claims department,  because they are so dreadful and reknowned for their unfair handling of claims and their paltry payouts.  He said the Ombudsman would also not able to help. He said the lack of information and trying to settle quickly was very typical.

 He recommended I write to them to ask for a breakdown of costs, as well as the Schedule of works, and said it was perfectly reasonable for me to ask for these.  He didn't charge me for the advice, and gave me his email address to update him. 

My surveyor has kindly popped in and said he will draft a response for me.  

Thank you Doc_N, I am grateful for your calming advice!

SaverRate

youth_leader said:

Morning Doc_N, thank you for replying, it feels better just to 'share'.

I still feel a bit shocked and am not my normal business like self, but I managed to find an Institute of Loss Assessor's member (FCA regulated)  company in Tyneside this morning and rang them. 

The man immediately said they don't deal with my insurance company,  or their claims department,  because they are so dreadful and reknowned for their unfair handling of claims and their paltry payouts.  He said the Ombudsman would also not able to help. He said the lack of information and trying to settle quickly was very typical.

 He recommended I write to them to ask for a breakdown of costs, as well as the Schedule of works, and said it was perfectly reasonable for me to ask for these.  He didn't charge me for the advice, and gave me his email address to update him. 

My surveyor has kindly popped in and said he will draft a response for me.  

Thank you Doc_N, I am grateful for your calming advice!

Who is your insurer?

Doc_N

youth_leader said:

Morning Doc_N, thank you for replying, it feels better just to 'share'.

I still feel a bit shocked and am not my normal business like self, but I managed to find an Institute of Loss Assessor's member (FCA regulated)  company in Tyneside this morning and rang them. 

The man immediately said they don't deal with my insurance company,  or their claims department,  because they are so dreadful and reknowned for their unfair handling of claims and their paltry payouts.  He said the Ombudsman would also not able to help. He said the lack of information and trying to settle quickly was very typical.

 He recommended I write to them to ask for a breakdown of costs, as well as the Schedule of works, and said it was perfectly reasonable for me to ask for these.  He didn't charge me for the advice, and gave me his email address to update him. 

My surveyor has kindly popped in and said he will draft a response for me.  

Thank you Doc_N, I am grateful for your calming advice!

It sounds as if you're in good hands, but there are some important legal and other issues here, both on the insurance aspects and any contracts with builders.  I'd strongly urge you to take some proper advice before you agree anything with the insurer in case they try to take advantage of the position. 

The CAB  (https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/) would provide it, or, of course, a solicitor (first half hour usually free), but the loss assessor will know what he's talking about, I'm sure.  

What exactly has been agreed with the insurer?  I'm dubious about the whole cash settlement thing in the light of the further information.  Forums like this are fine, but don't beat proper professional advice from experts.

youth_leader

Thank you Doc_N, I will contact my solicitor shortly I think. 

I haven't accepted the cash settlement yet, I have written and asked for the breakdown of costs, as well as the schedule of works - and someone to come and make my roof watertight urgently.  I can't face three more months of this anxiety. 

Doc_N

youth_leader said:

Thank you Doc_N, I will contact my solicitor shortly I think. 

I haven't accepted the cash settlement yet, I have written and asked for the breakdown of costs, as well as the schedule of works - and someone to come and make my roof watertight urgently.  I can't face three more months of this anxiety. 

Taking into account your situation and all these circumstances, and subject to any other professional advice you may receive, I’d think very carefully indeed before agreeing anything with your insurer, particularly a cash settlement.  You’d need to be very certain indeed that it covered everything, and you’d be fully responsible for the work to be done.

Some professional advice would be helpful, but how far that need go depends on the size and nature of the claim. Loss assessors know their business, and would certainly ensure your interests were properly looked after, but whether the fee is worth paying depends very much on your circumstances, the fee, the facts of the case, and the size of the claim.

A lot for you to consider, so I think having a professional to help would be useful. What sort of professional depends, I suppose on the circumstances at the time. 

One small though, probably not relevant, but some people have legal insurance addons to their policies. If you happen to have one, it might be worth a look.

Good luck.

youth_leader

I've just had a one line reply saying they will send me the 'scope of works', should make interesting reading!  Thank you for your support.  I've just phoned the rubbish collection people and they are coming today between 4-5 pm, how they are going to manage in the dark I don't know, I'm going to have to stand out there with my torch. 

youth_leader

Afternoon Doc_N, no scope of works yet, and the waste company instructed by the insurers are now saying they cannot remove the roof, sofa and carpet as they only have 'two person' teams, and I need to arrange it with the claims company.  I've waited in for two days, it's a farce.

To top it all, the dry rot in the front bedroom bay window is actually wet rot and extends two thirds into the room, the surveyor said the whole floor should be replaced.  The hallway and front bedroom and back bedroom are 'wearock'? boards and covered in mould.  The surveyor thinks water is pooling underneath the building somewhere, but it's not a pipe as water would be present now. 

So no lounge roof on the area with a concrete floor, the only one I can use, so I'm going to have to put everything in storage for the work to be done, I gave all my lovely boxes away on Freecycle.    I'd have been better off staying in my listed building, at least they knew how to build them in those days!  Caveat Emptor, again! 

I will say Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you, thank you for your support,your advice did help me a lot. 

Doc_N

youth_leader said:

Afternoon Doc_N, no scope of works yet, and the waste company instructed by the insurers are now saying they cannot remove the roof, sofa and carpet as they only have 'two person' teams, and I need to arrange it with the claims company.  I've waited in for two days, it's a farce.

To top it all, the dry rot in the front bedroom bay window is actually wet rot and extends two thirds into the room, the surveyor said the whole floor should be replaced.  The hallway and front bedroom and back bedroom are 'wearock'? boards and covered in mould.  The surveyor thinks water is pooling underneath the building somewhere, but it's not a pipe as water would be present now. 

So no lounge roof on the area with a concrete floor, the only one I can use, so I'm going to have to put everything in storage for the work to be done, I gave all my lovely boxes away on Freecycle.    I'd have been better off staying in my listed building, at least they knew how to build them in those days!  Caveat Emptor, again! 

I will say Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you, thank you for your support,your advice did help me a lot. 

That sounds horrendous, and I'm really sorry this is all piling up like this.  I hope you get full support from the professionals you're using, and that whatever you decide to do works out for you.

I hope that, despite the very obvious difficulties, you manage to get some peace, family enjoyment perhaps, and relaxation somehow over the next couple of weeks.

youth_leader

Thank you Doc_N, I really appreciated your help, I'm weeks and weeks ahead of where I'd have been if I'd waited until 6 January and I have finally received the scope of works which I've forwarded to my surveyor.  

The customer portal team  don't read my messages properly.  The young lady said 'we cannot instruct your construction workers' - not sure where she got the idea I wanted them to do that from!

As far as Christmas goes I have managed to send both of my children their gift boxes, I've sent all the important cards, and will now rehome some vegetables from the freezer and fill it with Christmas goodies.

Happy Christmas! 

Annemos

youth_leader, I also send you very best wishes for Christmas and for a successful conclusion to this difficult situation.

I am with you in spirit every step of the way.