Insurance Loss Adjusters - any experience/advice

[snowaddict]

Hi, weve got subsidence - looking very much like it is caused by trees- in which case we would have cover for.

The loss adjusters are coming this week. Anyone had experience with the procedure. thanks

I had a loss adjuster visit after contractors had said an insurance claim would cost more than they could automatically authorise - so in a very different circumstance.

I was very worried as my dad put the fear of God in me about how they'd be looking to 'catch me out' and disprove the claim etc etc, but I found the lady lovely (relieved emoticon!). She had a list of what the contractor had said would need doing, and looked round checking what she could see against the written list, saying 'ok, ok, yes, that seems reasonable'. She was here for about 30 minutes (much of it chatting) and it was all really straightforward - I hope yours is as easy! :)

In my experience, if they can see you are an honest claimant and not trying to pull a fast one, or get your whole house rebuilt and redecorated at their expense, they are perfectly agreeable to pay for what has been insured. They have seen all the dodges before.

I had a claim at the beginning of the year, and had a very clear idea in my own mind of what I wanted (e.g. damaged Victorian ceilings had to be restored, but I was quite happy to have the walls decorated with emulsion instead of an expensive paper) so I was able to make the point that I was giving a bit in some areas as long as I got what I wanted on others.

The actual builders needed more supervision than they got, though. Some of the workmanship was shoddy. When the adjuster's boss and the builder's manager came round after completion to sign it off (the insurers had paid for a proper job) I pointed it out and the builder was embarrassed and offered to come and do those bits again. The insurance boss actually took photos of some of the unsatisfactory work. My view was that they should have done it properly in the first place. The claims handler was not very good and I had to complain about him to the insurance co I was disappointed that I had not been able to manage them better earlier, especially as I have experience in a comparable business.

hi,

thanks for passing on your experiences. That is reassuring to know. I was also told that the loss adjuster would only be there looking for ways of reducing the possible cost to the insurance company. We are honest and has you can imagine pretty upset. Just hope they don't make situation worse/more stressful than it already is. I will update on here - hopefully with good news.

with a subsidence claim, I have heard they sometimes try to take the cheapest option, or say "leave it for a bit and see if it gets worse." My old gran had a leaking-drain subsidence claim, and in her case (RSA) they did a very thorough job. Excavated the wall to the foundations, propped up the roof, demolished and rebuilt the front wall, redecorated all the affected rooms, replaced distorted door frames, rebuilt the porch, relaid the paving. Must have cost them a fortune. But if you are in doubt, and they can't convince you, for such a major job it might be worth engaging a Structural Engineer to assess the damage and proposed solution. It will be at your cost though

To be honest the issue is going to be affected by who your insurance is with.
A decent insurer simply wants to confirm that the damage is as described and want to get the job done by a reputable tradesman - often someone they have a working relationship with.
They have no milage in getting it done on the cheap because they will then have to pay again if the job isn't up to scratch. Same as you or I to be honest.

If you have shit insurers then they will try to keep costs low.

Mine was with Legal & General, they paid out fine. Gran was with Royal Sun Alliance, they did very well. I'm told a satisfied customer is worth a lot of money to insurers.

Thanks again. my mums is with Saga. Fingers crossed that we get some good news today.

Well, the appointment went well I think. The man was very reassuring. Next thing to be done is holes to be drilled in and outside to check soil content under house. But he does also believe the weeping willows to be the problem.