I won't name the insurance company but I had a claim for house insurance following a storm 9 months ago. Claims adjuster agreed the damage the next day. I submitted an estimate (13K) and it was accepted. So far so good.
Then they took 3 months to issue a cheque. The cheque was only for 85% of the amount. They said they were retaining some of the amount until the restorative work was complete so that they could see receipts for work carried out and inspect the results. I told them if they didn't pay me in full I would not consider the claim settled and would ask my builders to let me know whenever they discovered any additional costs as they did their work. They accepted this in writing.
Anyhow, here I am 9 months after the storm, receipts submitted and I am still owed 2K. I have written several letters to them, called them on many occasions and even met a claims manager in their offices at one point. They are asking me now to arrange with the claims adjuster for another site visit so he can inspect my builders work.
This process must have cost them a fortune. It has certainly wasted my time and money. Naturally they have lost my custom. This policy was paid up for 40 years without any claim other than the odd broken window.
Is this normal carry-on for home insurance claims? I don't doubt they are going to pay me eventually because they told me in writing they would 9 months ago. Would it not have been easier to cut me a cheque on day 1?
Then they took 3 months to issue a cheque. The cheque was only for 85% of the amount. They said they were retaining some of the amount until the restorative work was complete so that they could see receipts for work carried out and inspect the results. I told them if they didn't pay me in full I would not consider the claim settled and would ask my builders to let me know whenever they discovered any additional costs as they did their work. They accepted this in writing.
Anyhow, here I am 9 months after the storm, receipts submitted and I am still owed 2K. I have written several letters to them, called them on many occasions and even met a claims manager in their offices at one point. They are asking me now to arrange with the claims adjuster for another site visit so he can inspect my builders work.
This process must have cost them a fortune. It has certainly wasted my time and money. Naturally they have lost my custom. This policy was paid up for 40 years without any claim other than the odd broken window.
Is this normal carry-on for home insurance claims? I don't doubt they are going to pay me eventually because they told me in writing they would 9 months ago. Would it not have been easier to cut me a cheque on day 1?