Insurance - General Discussion

edduk1981 · 18-06-2007, 14:47

Help!!

Due to the bad weather over the last few days where i live, i get home last night to find my tv, sky box and my media centre have all blown.

I spoke to my neighbour as i was away last week and he told me we had real bad thunderstorms.

I spoke to my insurance company today and they seem reluctant to pay out and want to see the items.

Is this normal practice?

Porcupine · 18-06-2007, 14:49

I think often an insurance assessor would want to see the damaged items, whether it be a sofa, carpet or TV.
Its perfectly normal.

edduk1981 · 18-06-2007, 14:55

thats ok.

Just the lady was quite abrupt and said that with all the bad weather there are people in worse situations and as far as she was aware lightening was not covered.

She said she would arrange for someone to come out and inspect the items, I asked her why this was and she said something about fradulent claims.

I was shocked at first now just angry

uncle monty · 18-06-2007, 14:57

I'd be surprised if an insurance company paid out for anything without checking the claim out first.

Porcupine · 18-06-2007, 14:58

Nah, dont be angry.

Im sure to a woman sat behind a desk, trying to claim for a new TV, Sky and Media Centre WILL sound dodgy.

But when the insurance assessor comes over, explain what happened - and if he needs confirmation of the storm he can ask your neighbour.

sistine · 18-06-2007, 15:00

I'm sure it's standard practice. My mum and dad had a fire in the house a few years ago, and someone had to come out and inspect the damage and verify what they were claiming for.

uncle monty · 18-06-2007, 15:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porcupine

Nah, dont be angry.

Im sure to a woman sat behind a desk, trying to claim for a new TV, Sky and Media Centre WILL sound dodgy.
But when the insurance assessor comes over, explain what happened - and if he needs confirmation of the storm he can ask your neighbour.

Indeed.

And the comment she made about people being in worse situations was probably to do with people who'd been forced out of their houses altogether due to flooding. Which by anyone's standards is pretty horrible compared to being without TV

Porcupine · 18-06-2007, 15:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle monty

And the comment she made about people being in worse situations was probably to do with people who'd been forced out of their houses altogether due to flooding. Which by anyone's standards is pretty horrible compared to being without TV

But, at the same time - everyone pays for their insurance, so they should all be treated fairly and efficiently.

I know if i had storm damage, i would want my claim to be dealt with as quickly as the woman down the street with a flooded lounge.

We all pay for the service, and if need be the insurance companies should put on more temporary people to deal with the demand. After all, home insurance is blummin expensive. Personally i havent claimed once, and yet i must have paid out thousands over the years. So when the time comes that i do claim, i want it to be dealt with quickly and efficiently.

kays_dad · 18-06-2007, 15:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porcupine

Nah, dont be angry.

Im sure to a woman sat behind a desk, trying to claim for a new TV, Sky and Media Centre WILL sound dodgy.

Yeah, she'd probably had loads of people phone up with the same story .. and you can bet a few of them were not exactly, ahem, genuine.

Edit: Have I really posted sticking up for an insurance company? Must be getting old ..

uncle monty · 18-06-2007, 15:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porcupine

But, at the same time - everyone pays for their insurance, so they should all be treated fairly and efficiently.

I know if i had storm damage, i would want my claim to be dealt with as quickly as the woman down the street with a flooded lounge.

We all pay for the service, and if need be the insurance companies should put on more temporary people to deal with the demand. After all, home insurance is blummin expensive. Personally i havent claimed once, and yet i must have paid out thousands over the years. So when the time comes that i do claim, i want it to be dealt with quickly and efficiently.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I don't disagree with that, I was just speculating about why she made the comment about people being in worse situations.

TBH I'm a bit puzzled by the thread anyway, I wouldn't have imagined that anybody would assume that an insurance claim would be paid out with no sort of verification process

Porcupine · 18-06-2007, 15:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle monty

TBH I'm a bit puzzled by the thread anyway, I wouldn't have imagined that anybody would assume that an insurance claim would be paid out with no sort of verification process

Me too - even I (with my very little brain) would assume someone would pop over and check out my nail varnish splattered sofa ...... thats given me an idea ... I could do with a new sofa

edduk1981 · 18-06-2007, 15:11

The reason i asked was because when i told my parents they told me a similar thing happened to them 3 years ago and it was all done and dusted within 14 days no one came out to see them, they received a claim form and were asked to send receipts in if they had them.

I just wanted advice that was all.

uncle monty · 18-06-2007, 15:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porcupine

Me too - even I (with my very little brain) would assume someone would pop over and check out my nail varnish splattered sofa ...... thats given me an idea ... I could do with a new sofa

*Sniggers*
Cheeky

Porcupine · 18-06-2007, 15:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by edduk1981

The reason i asked was because when i told my parents thye told me a similar thing happened to them 3 years ago and it was all done and dusted within 14 days no one came out to see them, they received a claim form and were asked to send receipts in if they had them.

I just wanted advice that was all.

Maybe their claim was a smaller one ? I think the insurance company must look at the cost ... and probably if its over a certain amount, they must check out the damage. Or perhaps you have claimed in the past ? If you have, they might need a butchers at your damaged items.

edduk1981 · 18-06-2007, 15:16

You might be right.

I know back then they didn't have an LCD tv like i have.

I have never claimed in the past, maybe its becuase of all these possible fradulent claims and they have to make sure they are doing it all right.

Thanks guys for your advice i am not so angry now.

uncle monty · 18-06-2007, 15:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by edduk1981

You might be right.

I know back then they didn't have an LCD tv like i have.

I have never claimed in the past, maybe its becuase of all these possible fradulent claims and they have to make sure they are doing it all right.

Thanks guys for your advice i am not so angry now.

Yeah, look on the bright side, you'll have a load of brand new gear once it's all sorted

Yay!

kays_dad · 18-06-2007, 15:21

They're a business: they want to make money. So there's going to be some sort of cut-off point where it's worth their while sending an assessor out to have a look .. to do that costs them money after all, so they won't bother doing it for small claims.

I don't work in insurance, but can guess it will involve them looking at what you're claiming for (type of goods and so on), how much the claim is, (probably) your history of claims and stuff to do with your policy: any excesses you've got and so on.

18-06-2007, 14:47	#1
edduk1981 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Leicester Posts: 725	Insurance Help!! Due to the bad weather over the last few days where i live, i get home last night to find my tv, sky box and my media centre have all blown. I spoke to my neighbour as i was away last week and he told me we had real bad thunderstorms. I spoke to my insurance company today and they seem reluctant to pay out and want to see the items. Is this normal practice?

18-06-2007, 14:49	#2
Porcupine Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Gender: Female Location: In the Pub Posts: 13,368 Blog Entries: 1	I think often an insurance assessor would want to see the damaged items, whether it be a sofa, carpet or TV. Its perfectly normal.

18-06-2007, 14:55	#3
edduk1981 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Leicester Posts: 725	thats ok. Just the lady was quite abrupt and said that with all the bad weather there are people in worse situations and as far as she was aware lightening was not covered. She said she would arrange for someone to come out and inspect the items, I asked her why this was and she said something about fradulent claims. I was shocked at first now just angry

18-06-2007, 14:57	#4
uncle monty Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: In a Martini glass... Services: I'm female, actually...... Posts: 8,871	I'd be surprised if an insurance company paid out for anything without checking the claim out first.

18-06-2007, 14:58	#5
Porcupine Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Gender: Female Location: In the Pub Posts: 13,368 Blog Entries: 1	Nah, dont be angry. Im sure to a woman sat behind a desk, trying to claim for a new TV, Sky and Media Centre WILL sound dodgy. But when the insurance assessor comes over, explain what happened - and if he needs confirmation of the storm he can ask your neighbour.

18-06-2007, 15:00	#6
sistine Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Northumberland Services: SKy +, Bt Broadband Posts: 1,118	I'm sure it's standard practice. My mum and dad had a fire in the house a few years ago, and someone had to come out and inspect the damage and verify what they were claiming for.

18-06-2007, 15:11	#12
edduk1981 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Leicester Posts: 725	The reason i asked was because when i told my parents they told me a similar thing happened to them 3 years ago and it was all done and dusted within 14 days no one came out to see them, they received a claim form and were asked to send receipts in if they had them. I just wanted advice that was all.

18-06-2007, 15:16	#15
edduk1981 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Leicester Posts: 725	You might be right. I know back then they didn't have an LCD tv like i have. I have never claimed in the past, maybe its becuase of all these possible fradulent claims and they have to make sure they are doing it all right. Thanks guys for your advice i am not so angry now.

18-06-2007, 15:21	#17
kays_dad Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,484	They're a business: they want to make money. So there's going to be some sort of cut-off point where it's worth their while sending an assessor out to have a look .. to do that costs them money after all, so they won't bother doing it for small claims. I don't work in insurance, but can guess it will involve them looking at what you're claiming for (type of goods and so on), how much the claim is, (probably) your history of claims and stuff to do with your policy: any excesses you've got and so on.