Slow house insurance claim holds up remortgage for divorce.
Discussion
Hi,
Just wondering if anybody has any suggestions where I stand. I will be getting legal advice but that is likely to take some time too - does anybody know a good lawyer for this in the Cambridge/Suffolk area please?
Going through the process of a divorce on having the house valued the estate agent pointed out there was some subsidence between the house and utility room (a later extension). On his advise I called the insurance company.
A significant time later (May last year) they sent an assessor out. He gave some nonsense about tree roots, this is unlikely due to the trees being silver birch and quite a long way from the house. In any case that's of low relevance as they agreed the claim is still covered but they need to do more investigation - this was expected around September.
I'm trying to remortgage and the finances are there but the bank want a structural engineer's investigation and report as detailed by the insurance company.
In the mean time I am incurring costs of interest to my wife and as this is dragging on be forced to sell the house significantly below market value.
The Insurance Act 2013 was amended to include a section where insurance companies are required to settle in a reasonable time frame. I am wondering if there is a way I can hurry them up?
It might be I can get an independent survey and it be enough for the bank though whether I can claim this as a reasonable expense.
Any thoughts please? I've been paying the same insurance company since buying the house in 1999 (I know...) and this is the only claim I have ever made.
Thanks
Just wondering if anybody has any suggestions where I stand. I will be getting legal advice but that is likely to take some time too - does anybody know a good lawyer for this in the Cambridge/Suffolk area please?
Going through the process of a divorce on having the house valued the estate agent pointed out there was some subsidence between the house and utility room (a later extension). On his advise I called the insurance company.
A significant time later (May last year) they sent an assessor out. He gave some nonsense about tree roots, this is unlikely due to the trees being silver birch and quite a long way from the house. In any case that's of low relevance as they agreed the claim is still covered but they need to do more investigation - this was expected around September.
I'm trying to remortgage and the finances are there but the bank want a structural engineer's investigation and report as detailed by the insurance company.
In the mean time I am incurring costs of interest to my wife and as this is dragging on be forced to sell the house significantly below market value.
The Insurance Act 2013 was amended to include a section where insurance companies are required to settle in a reasonable time frame. I am wondering if there is a way I can hurry them up?
It might be I can get an independent survey and it be enough for the bank though whether I can claim this as a reasonable expense.
Any thoughts please? I've been paying the same insurance company since buying the house in 1999 (I know...) and this is the only claim I have ever made.
Thanks
Ok...so the industry is in the middle of a subsidence 'surge'. Claims volumes up 200% etc. 2018 was the first event year in about 10 years...most loss adjusters have not invested in subsidence and there is a massive skills shortage in the industry. Most adjusters were made redundant and I know lot's who have emigrated.
This has created a problem. The companies traditionally dealing with claims are no longer fit for purpose. Up to 8 weeks for initial visits etc. Should be no more than a few days!
Then the adjuster arrives and has a huge case-load - do they investigate correctly and make a decision spending considerable time explaining the outcome to the customer (majority of claims are not subsidence - it's thermal movement or similar. Claim not covered, but great news...no subs!). Or do you accept the claim, start monitoring (a nice quick 20 min appointment...queue a long protracted experience for the customer) and carry on with finishing off the rest of the appointments the office have oversubscribed you for that day.
You see the issue. All I can say is kick up a huge stink with the insurer. It's a rubbish situation and I do feel for you.
This has created a problem. The companies traditionally dealing with claims are no longer fit for purpose. Up to 8 weeks for initial visits etc. Should be no more than a few days!
Then the adjuster arrives and has a huge case-load - do they investigate correctly and make a decision spending considerable time explaining the outcome to the customer (majority of claims are not subsidence - it's thermal movement or similar. Claim not covered, but great news...no subs!). Or do you accept the claim, start monitoring (a nice quick 20 min appointment...queue a long protracted experience for the customer) and carry on with finishing off the rest of the appointments the office have oversubscribed you for that day.
You see the issue. All I can say is kick up a huge stink with the insurer. It's a rubbish situation and I do feel for you.
guitarcarfanatic said:
Ok...so the industry is in the middle of a subsidence 'surge'. Claims volumes up 200% etc. 2018 was the first event year in about 10 years...most loss adjusters have not invested in subsidence and there is a massive skills shortage in the industry. Most adjusters were made redundant and I know lot's who have emigrated.
This has created a problem. The companies traditionally dealing with claims are no longer fit for purpose. Up to 8 weeks for initial visits etc. Should be no more than a few days!
Then the adjuster arrives and has a huge case-load - do they investigate correctly and make a decision spending considerable time explaining the outcome to the customer (majority of claims are not subsidence - it's thermal movement or similar. Claim not covered, but great news...no subs!). Or do you accept the claim, start monitoring (a nice quick 20 min appointment...queue a long protracted experience for the customer) and carry on with finishing off the rest of the appointments the office have oversubscribed you for that day.
You see the issue. All I can say is kick up a huge stink with the insurer. It's a rubbish situation and I do feel for you.
Yes, last years long hot summer will have caused a lot of trouble.This has created a problem. The companies traditionally dealing with claims are no longer fit for purpose. Up to 8 weeks for initial visits etc. Should be no more than a few days!
Then the adjuster arrives and has a huge case-load - do they investigate correctly and make a decision spending considerable time explaining the outcome to the customer (majority of claims are not subsidence - it's thermal movement or similar. Claim not covered, but great news...no subs!). Or do you accept the claim, start monitoring (a nice quick 20 min appointment...queue a long protracted experience for the customer) and carry on with finishing off the rest of the appointments the office have oversubscribed you for that day.
You see the issue. All I can say is kick up a huge stink with the insurer. It's a rubbish situation and I do feel for you.
I might have to pay to get my own report done though will need to find a suitable surveyor/engineer in the Ely area.
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