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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think they could just pay for the sink?

54 replies

kitchenemergency · 09/12/2018 22:33

To cut a v long story short following a (fairly ineptly handled) insurance claim I am getting a new kitchen. So the whole room has been plastered and redecorated, all new cupboards, worktop, splashbacks etc. My appliances are the existing ones but that's fine as all are in good working order.

The contractors advised my insurers that although there was no damage to my sink or taps, by the time they are disconnected and reconnected and all the sealant properly stripped and redone it would be quicker and cheaper to give me a new sink.

My insurers have refused.

So despite spending £££s on the new kitchen, plus the cost of storing all the contents for over 6 months AND the very expensive temporary alternative they have given me, they're arguing over £200 odd for a new sink and tap!

AIBU to think this is crazy and they really should just cough for the cost?

OP posts:
ViragoKnows · 10/12/2018 09:27

I think you’ve misunderstood moor.

Original poster
kitchenemergency · 10/12/2018 09:30

I have bought the sink myself.

It's not just a case of the old sink is fine. It's a lot harder to refit a 'used' sink well than it is to instal a new sink. Plus the cost of putting the old sink back is actually higher than replacing it with new!

I've already had to pay 50% of the cost of worktops as only part needed replacing (it was either that or I would have had 2 different worktops in my kitchen) so I hardly think I can be called grabby. If anything I think having had no kitchen for over 6 months I'm being pretty reasonable Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
kitchenemergency · 10/12/2018 09:32

I've not been paid anything. £200 is what the contractors have quoted insurers for removing the sink and that cost has been approved.

OP posts:
RB68 · 10/12/2018 09:38

Sorry your contractor is talking utter shite and being lazy.

Honeyroar · 10/12/2018 09:40

Quite agree - you've got a lazy or useless contractor. We've refitted plenty of things, including sinks.

Travis1 · 10/12/2018 09:42

I'm actually howling at the up in arms folk about OP being grabby for wanting the insurers to pay for something which costs less than the cost already approved. Xmas Grin

YANBU OP here's hoping your kitchen is sorted soon.

Original poster
kitchenemergency · 10/12/2018 09:44

The contractor isn't saying it can't be refitted. Only that it isn't quick or easy to refit it well. The existing sink has been in situ for some time and is thoroughly silicone sealed, all of which would need to be removed before it could be refitted which is time consuming no?

OP posts:
Regnamechanger · 10/12/2018 09:46

I'm wondering if people actually read what Op posted. Very odd replies. She's trying to save the insurers money.

Blobby10 · 10/12/2018 09:46

Insurers always a maze me with their lack of logic tbh. YANBU OP!

Nanalisa60 · 10/12/2018 09:48

I would just pay the £200 to get the kitchen I wanted!!

Nanalisa60 · 10/12/2018 09:50

But you are wright insurance companies are sometimes very odd!!

cdtaylornats · 10/12/2018 09:52

You have to be careful here - if you pay for a replacement sink that costs less and still claim for the £200 they offered then you could be guilty of insurance fraud.

oh4forkssake · 10/12/2018 09:52

Goodness me. Claiming you have whiplash when you don't is grabby. And the number of people who asked me if I was going to claim for "extras" when we were burgled absolutely astonished me but this is plain common or garden sense!! The labour involved in refitting something like this is certainly in excess of a new one.

I get where the insurance company is coming from but YANBU OP. The insurance company are being silly.

And without knowing the background, it very much sounds like you weren't doing this renovation project for fun!!

Original poster
kitchenemergency · 10/12/2018 09:56

I'm not claiming anything. The contractors were engaged by the insurance co not by me and no money is being paid to me.

OP posts:
nikkylou · 10/12/2018 09:59

I can kind of see how it's more expensive to refit an old one.

The time (and therefore money) in taking it all out properly without damaging it could cost more than a basic new sink. The alternative removal method being disconnect the water and rip it out in a much less delicate manner...

But I can also see how the insurer won't see it

The bill might look like:
Removal of old kitchen and sink x 8 hours labour - £800
Refit new kitchen and old sink x 4 hours - £400
Etc.
Or
Removal of kitchen x 6 hours - £600
Install kitchen and new sink x 4 -£400
New sink - £100
Etc.
All the insurer may see is the "extra" 100 On the sink but not the £200 saving on the labour. So they say, no new sink...

Just let them get on with it, unless you are particularly keen on getting a new one, in which case buy it yourself to save the hassle.

Will the contractors fit a new sink at your request and bill it to the insurer in how they want. So everyone gets what they want. You get a new sink, the insurer gets a saving and on paper believes you didn't get a new sink?

DGRossetti · 10/12/2018 10:01

The contractor isn't saying it can't be refitted. Only that it isn't quick or easy to refit it well.

Is that all the contractors that quoted, or just one ?

We had a succession of contractors tell us something "wasn't possible" when we had our heating fitted. Turned out it was, just a bit more work (which we paid for without complaint). 16 years later, it's still working perfectly.

BlueJava · 10/12/2018 10:05

I don't think I'd be making a fuss - I'd simply buy my own new sink and taps!

m00rfarm · 10/12/2018 10:07

I’ve not misunderstood. The insurance company will pay the amount of 200. The op has purchased a new sink. What’s not to understand?

Original poster
kitchenemergency · 10/12/2018 10:08

Nikkylou I think you are spot on, I am sure the insurers are just looking at the extra cost of the new item and not at the actual figures. I've bought the sink and tap now anyway.

DGRossetti the contractors were appointed by the insurance company, so I've not obtained any quotes. The insurers just use one contractor from their panel of 3 in my area (the other 2 contractors on the panel were previously involved but kicked off the job, but that's another story!)

OP posts:
Original poster
kitchenemergency · 10/12/2018 10:10

M00rfarm, I've not had £200, it doesn't get paid to me. Any monies go direct to the contractor as all dealing are direct between them and insurer.

OP posts:
BunsOfAnarchy · 10/12/2018 10:11

Id just pay for new sink (as you have) and be done with.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 10/12/2018 10:19

It's not just a case of the old sink is fine. It's a lot harder to refit a 'used' sink well than it is to instal a new sink. Plus the cost of putting the old sink back is actually higher than replacing it with new

What's to bet that despite you saying this three times now OP that people will still be saying 'just buy the sink' (which you have) by page 6?

Will just 'buy the sink' be the new 'cancel the cheque'?

LaurieMarlow · 10/12/2018 10:28

It's probably to do with the underlying principles of the coverage.

It makes sense to not replace things that aren't broken. And there needs to be consistency in their approach.

In this particular instance, a replacement is cheaper than refitting but that would not always be the case.

Better to have a clear consistent policy and avoid setting problematic precedents. In this particular case the decision might seem illogical, but they'll be focusing on the overall implications, rather than one individual case.

DGRossetti · 10/12/2018 10:29

DGRossetti the contractors were appointed by the insurance company, so I've not obtained any quotes.

So probably the cheapest acceptable Hmm

ArchbishopOfBanterbury · 10/12/2018 10:41

If you've bought the sink, what's to stop the installers installing it? They can itemise it as "install sink" - why do the insurers need to know it's the new one and not the old?