To start a Go Fund Me

[RainbowSlidders]

Our home was flooded in October 2023, again in January 2024 and April 2024, we lost everything from the ground floor and damp got upstairs and ruined things up there to. The material things are an inconvenience and expensive to replace but nowhere nearly as bad as the loss of the sentimental things. I have never felt stress and hopelessness like it, I would wish this on my worst enemy,

We have insurance they’ve been ok, traced and tracked the issue, made us water tight and dried us out (12 weeks of hell with dehumidifiers, fans, heat pads, suction tunnels etc). Thete are lots of things I stupidly didn’t claim for as it just didn’t register at the time that I needed to, the insurance company sent an adjuster but they only add what you request, this was an expensive mistake and my stupidity is adding up fast. Furniture replacement was through insurance mandates, they never seem to fully cover the cost of replacement. We currently have zero furniture because of this as we just don’t have the money to add. Carpet/vinyl/wood was a mandate for CarpetRight had to pay £350 extra on top for that as well, ordered it all in June paid with the mandate and then topped up in cash as requested, 8 week wait was due to be fitted this week. Had three letters in the post start of the week from the administrations they’ve gone bust!! I rang my insurance company how won’t help as they’ve paid CarpetRight, not sure how much more I can take.

But if it's new for old and you're not under insured, then it should cover all the costs needed for any damage from this if it's covering the claim.
So I'm wondering what the reason they've given is for not giving enough for the furniture?
Cos you said it wasn't enough for the furniture

@purpleme12 I don’t know, maybe I should have negotiated with them and not accepted what they offered, first ever claim so yes I’ve made stupid mistakes.

@Bemusedandconfusedagain I will be doing that tomorrow I thought once the offer was accepted that was that.

@StillSeekingResponsibleAdult we have legal cover on our insurance So something to explore. The insurance have found the developer liable and are trying to recover costs from them including our £500 escape of water charge.

Well the first thing I would do is go back and ask why they've not given enough for the furniture.
Depending on your answer you can see device whether you can challenge this or not. Or perhaps they'll reconsider when you bring it up.

You could mention about the other stuff in your OP as well

The content cover on our policy is £500K more than enough for a 4 bed property, we have new for old, matching sets, full accidental cover including pets and children etc etc so my policy is not the problem, I think my inexperience has been. I will be contacting them to question this first thing as it just seems wildly unfair.

You can try, nothing to loose in trying. I set up a go fund me for a medical test I should have been able to get for my disabled son on the nhs but it was refused multiple times. Just to warn you I got zero donations. Not even from siblings or parents. In the end I had teo charities pay the majority of the cost. The test was life changing

Just note that just because the figure on the documents for the contents are more than your actual contents, doesn't mean you're not under insured. It depends how you set it up.
It might be fine. It might be one of those policies that say 'please make sure this figure is enough' and don't ask you for a figure, in which case that's fine.
However some companies when you set it up, ask you to provide a figure, then put that figure in their system, and that's one of the things they base the price on. But the documents will still say up to whatever figure (not the figure you gave them). So if they come out they will still go by the figure you gave them and if they decide that figure is too low then they'll say you're under insured and not pay out for the whole claim.
Which might not be relevant to you but I'm just saying

That's really not what they're for, and will be viewed as such.

GoFundMes can be got anything.

OP you can set one up if you wish, anyone can. Whether you meet your target or not, who knows.

@RainbowSlidders if developer is at fault then definitely use your legal cover to find out what else you can claim for. Definitely look into it. Negligence if it’s happened 3 times in 6 months.

OP has the claim been closed now? If not you can still go back to the loss adjuster with a revised list of what has been lost. Write everything down and tell them that more things have come to light as you go on.
The other thing to consider is you don't have to accept their deal for furniture etc from a set place or whatever. You can request a settlement figure lump sum and go and source your own furniture from wherever you want. You don't have to settle for what the insurance company says, you often have to fight them to get what you are due. I've been there myself after a house flood, and I know how these insurance companies can behave and how stressful it all is dealing with them.
I wish you good fortune with all of this and stay strong

To me this falls into the category of people who don’t take out travel insurance or pet insurance and then pull on the heart strings to get people to donate when things go wrong.

I am so sorry you are experiencing this - and I understand it was a stressful time.

but I wouldn’t donate in these circumstances- would you be hoping that friends and colleagues would take pity on you? To be honest I could never go so public with my personal finances like that.

I wouldn't. I'd replace stuff you need to cook and clean with second hand and free sites. Then take your time replacing the rest as you are able.
Try not to stress out, I know what torture it is living with those noisy hot fans, but that was the worst of it. The workers covered the floor with cardboard until we were able to match what was left of our hardwood to new wood. Suddanly we had ants!

I was so happy the day the floors (and ants) were finally done.

Remind yourself, at least the house is shelter, even if it is temporarily a mess.

Why don't you just go back to the insurance company?

I know some take issues with people setting up Go Fund Me's, but I don't see the problem.
Go for it.
If people want to donate, then that's up to them.
If they don't, then fine.
Just don't donate if you don't want to.

You can try OP, only one way to find out if it works. However I also wouldn't donate to someone who hadn't bothered to claim for everything on their insurance, that's on you, and is not for others to sort out. Surely you can buy some stuff second hand?

Go back to your insurers with a list of things you’ve not claimed for - it’s not unusual for people to forget things like shoes or books or cooking stuff when you’re starting from scratch pretty much. In terms of the furniture and carpets, loss adjusters aren’t valuers, they’ll make a guess at costs but if you go and can’t get a like for like replacement for their value go back with a quote for the replacement and they should honour that. You can also ask for a lump sum cash settlement but be aware that will usually include the discounts they get from suppliers, so it’ll be less than the quotes you give them.

Insurance can be tricky but assuming you’re not underinsured (and they would tell you if you are) you should be put in the same position you were in before the loss.

We had a house fire we went through and listed everything damaged then the loss adjuster arranged a restoration company to do the same. They offered a quote based on new for old. So we got the price our items are worth today. The quote they offered was low so we did our own research showed examples of cost to replace items. And gave them a quote 10k higher which they agreed to pay. We didn't replace everything but had enough

And so I did.

I found "We see people use GoFundMe to raise money for themselves, friends and family, or even complete strangers in random acts of kindness. People raise money for just about everything, including medical expenses, education costs, volunteer programs, youth sports, funerals & memorials, and even animals & pets. We’re always amazed at the ways people use GoFundMe to raise money."

And under the bit which says "can I raise money for myself" I found "yes", and a reference to examples of why people might do this, which included natural disasters.

Unless I have misread, it isn't the OP didn't have insurance, it is more than she was not aware how to claim properly and has had some poor luck.

Sounds like Go Fund Me would be perfect for this?

I think to try again with the insurers is a good idea, and also to follow some of the other ideas here, but in relation to GFM I have found some of the answers to seem to go out of their way to put you off and some are even shaming, which has me frowning in confusion as surely it would be kind types who would normally donate to any causes?! If you wanted to set up a fund I think that would be fine, and how successful you will be will depend on how well you have explained your situation, who reads it and whether they personally want to donate, and luck, it is as simple as that, so be prepared to fail or succeed. I don't think you should let the "honest" posts put you off.

Some people with a lot of money enjoy giving, sometimes in secret, to people who have not had as much luck as they have had. Getting money this way is just as valid as any other way. Think to yourself - would you contribute if the shoe were on the other foot? If yes, go for it.

Your situation sounds very stressful, and I am not surprised that you made mistakes in the midst of the stress. Personally, in your shoes I would be looking to move if possible as the thought of it happening again would be even more stressful!

Of you're OK with asking randoms for money, then go ahead. People will either contribute or they won't. The people on here aren't much of a guide as a lot of views will be coloured by whether people approve of this sort of thing on principle, and whether they approve of your choices. People who donate to these appeals don't seem to have such qualms, they'll either feel sorry for you and give or they won't. You have nothing to lose but your pride!

People who donate to these appeals don't seem to have such qualms

"no qualms" means not being worried that what they are doing is "wrong" in some way. Do you think that people who donate money are doing something morally wrong then?

That all sounds horrendous! Why aren't the developers liable for the cost of everything if it was their plans that went awry?

Look for British Heart Foundation furniture shops?
presumably other charities have furniture shops as well.
At least you get to see what your purchasing.

Freecycle might be worth looking at too,

You are getting a hard time @RainbowSlidders you can absolutely do this. I see many people asking for donations for all sorts on Facebook too.

Inecho the council for hardship fund. And see if there are any other charities who might be able to help.

Also British heart foundation sell some good second hand furniture and I believe they deliver too.

Hope things become easier for you soon.

The PPs judging, I hope nothing awful happens to you, to have no sympathy

Surely it's the developers fault and therefore their insurance would pay?

I'm surprised that your insurers aren't chasing the developers, as it's actually their fault and they should pay? Shouldn't be coming out of yours at all, really