Will insurance co. replace whole suite or just part that's damaged?

[clam]

We had a minor fire on Sunday evening when a napkin caught alight from a candle and has badly damaged the table. We have accidental damage cover on the contents insurance, but the table matches the sideboard, and both have a simple inlaid pattern on. Highly unlikely that either is still available to purchase as bought 4 years ago.
What's the norm here? Will they just agree to replace the table, in which case we will have a non-matching suite? Or the whole lot?

It depends on the assessor?

Really does depend on company policy/assessor and weather you can convince him the "suite" should be classed as one item or two separate items. If he doesn't mention it first make sure you point out to him it is part of a set as he may not have realised.

I know the last company I worked for would have paid out but probably not the one before.

Give the loss adjuster plenty of tea and posh biscuits to get him on side - the insurance companies usually heed their advice

Have a look at your policy documents.

sb.. really? does it really work like that? That they can be charmed into or put off approving a claim in that way?
Wow. I assumed there's be some sort of formula or guidelines to follow.
Worth a try, however! Will get myself down to M&S before his visit.

If it is not specifically mentioned on your documents as to how they would treat the situation then yes, the insurance co would normally follow the advice of the adjuster.

(Unfortunately if they do mention that they treat them as individual items there isn't much you or the adjuster can do - sorry)

Oh, should point out that if the damage can be repaired they will do this rather than replace the table. I dealt with a case similar to yours (one of those scented oil candle thingys had burnt the table) and although the damage looked quite bad was repaired easily by french polisher.

God, I am obsessing about this now trying to think if there's anything else I should let you know but too tired and can't think (also brain has turned to much since becoming sahm!).

If I do come up with anything else I'll come back.

Have you checked those docs yet?

Thanks for your advice. I haven't had a minute to check them in detail (teacher - end-of-term, Christmas, going away......!) but am off tomorrow so will take a close look. Contrary to initial call-centre's advice, they're going to send a form first. In the Christmas post. Which we fill in (going away for a fortnight on Monday), return - in Christmas post to an office that mey well be closed for the duration anyway. Is going to be a long-haul, I think!