Home Flood damage/Insurance Claims

D

dewdrop

Registered User
Messages
1,298
I am sure many AAM viewers may be affected by flooding. It can be a very difficult emotional time apart from the money aspect. People can be confused as to what steps they should take in the midst of all the damage around them. Would some kind person set out what action a person should take in the case of an Insurance Claim apart from notifying the Comany.
 
I've been in your situation, and got a pay-out sufficient to cover the damage.
1. Notify insurance company that claim pending - get forms, etc.
2. Record the damage (photos, description, etc.) & check if you impacted neighbours, etc.
3. Get 3 reputable written quotes to fix the damage (don't say its for an insurance quote, as otherwise they'll take the mick!)
4. Be very clear on your explanation as to how it happened (an assessor will call out and physically check the damage, and query how it happened).
5. Contact your insurance company again and register the claim.
 
1/Notify Insurers asap
2/Appoint a good builder or qualified surveyor/Architect/Engineer
3/Dont appoint an unqualified or unregulated Assessor
4/Dont dispose of anything until insurers loss adjusters see it
5/Flood water is dangerous..lots of bacteria etc..use gloves etc
6/Get water sodden contents out of house..these retain moisture
7/Get electrican to isolate electrics
8/If you can get dehumidifiers, get them in asap
9/If house uninhabitable, avail of Alternative accommodation.. this will be covered
10/Get Insurers to give an interim payment to assist in meeting immediate costs
11/Ask the loss adjuster lots of questions..they are there to help and advise you.
12/be patient..you wont be back in your house before xmas if flooding serious
13/even if not directly affected by flood water..get furniture into storage asap
14/remove any valuable items if you move out of house
15/check with Loss adjuster before incurring any costs
16/ask the loss adjuster if it would be of benefit in appointing specialist restorers
17/Talk to your broker for cover details and claim advise

This list is not exhaustive and relates to serious flooding to a home. The most important thing is to remember that Insurers role is to assist you. Ask the Loss Adjuster whatever you need to know. An experienced Adjuster will know what needs to be done in individual cases and will have dealt with many cases of flooding in the past. Loss Adjusters are bound to deal with your loss under the terms and conditions of your policy. If you feel you need a loss assessor (appointed by policyholder rather than by insurers), whatever you do, DO NOT appoint somebody who is not registered by the financial regulator. If they are not registered, then they have not satisfied the regulator that they have the minimum level of competency to deal with your claim. Many assessors will not add any value to your claim and most builders will provide you with a better service. Assessors will also charge you for what your builder will do for free and remember that Assessors fee are NOT COVERED by your policy.
 
Last edited:
Claimsman said:
1/Notify Insurers asap
2/Appoint a good builder or qualified surveyor/Architect/Engineer
3/Dont appoint an unqualified or unregulated Assessor
4/Dont dispose of anything until insurers loss adjusters see it
5/Flood water is dangerous..lots of bacteria etc..use gloves etc
6/Get water sodden contents out of house..these retain moisture
7/Get electrican to isolate electrics
8/If you can get dehumidifiers, get them in asap
9/If house uninhabitable, avail of Alternative accommodation.. this will be covered
10/Get Insurers to give an interim payment to assist in meeting immediate costs
11/Ask the loss adjuster lots of questions..they are there to help and advise you.
12/be patient..you wont be back in your house before xmas if flooding serious
13/even if not directly affected by flood water..get furniture into storage asap
14/remove any valuable items if you move out of house
15/check with Loss adjuster before incurring any costs
16/ask the loss adjuster if it would be of benefit in appointing specialist restorers
17/Talk to your broker for cover details and claim advise

This list is not exhaustive and relates to serious flooding to a home. The most important thing is to remember that Insurers role is to assist you. Ask the Loss Adjuster whatever you need to know. An experienced Adjuster will know what needs to be done in individual cases and will have dealt with many cases of flooding in the past. Loss Adjusters are bound to deal with your loss under the terms and conditions of your policy. If you feel you need a loss assessor (appointed by policyholder rather than by insurers), whatever you do, DO NOT appoint somebody who is not registered by the financial regulator. If they are not registered, then they have not satisfied the regulator that they have the minimum level of competency to deal with your claim. Many assessors will not add any value to your claim and most builders will provide you with a better service. Assessors will also charge you for what your builder will do for free and remember that Assessors fee are NOT COVERED by your policy.
Click to expand...
 
Hi Claimsman,

Whilst you are correct in stating that assessors fees are not covered insurers do pay for supervision of the works and the assessors fee is covered in that regard.
I agree with your point regarding unregistered assessors.
In any flood damage claim I have handled I have more they justified my fee because in most cases the insured does not know what they are covered for and in my experience adjusters tend not to be very forthcoming to an insured in respect of advise regarding what is covered.
 
"Many assessors will not add any value to your claim and most builders will provide you with a better service. Assessors will also charge you for what your builder will do for free and remember that Assessors fee are NOT COVERED by your policy. "

I had a horrendous experience with a Loss Assessor after the Drumcondra floods, for an aged relation. Granted, he was busy with the multitude of claims but he agreed figures with insurers (without agreement with claimant) that did not come close to covering damage and repairs and,when I stepped in and got the insurers up to realistic figures, based his fee on the increased figure I had negotiated.

I would not use an assessor after that but would use a good builder instead.

mf
 
Ed054 said:
Hi Claimsman,

Whilst you are correct in stating that assessors fees are not covered insurers do pay for supervision of the works and the assessors fee is covered in that regard.
I agree with your point regarding unregistered assessors.
In any flood damage claim I have handled I have more they justified my fee because in most cases the insured does not know what they are covered for and in my experience adjusters tend not to be very forthcoming to an insured in respect of advise regarding what is covered.
Click to expand...

Hi Ed,

An important point to note. Not all Loss Assessors are qualified to supervise building work. Many Insurers will only make an allowance for supervison carried out by a Qualified Surveyor, Architect or Engineer ( i am subject to correction as to whether Engineers are included in the Act) as defined by the Building Control Act 2007 and if Insurers are presented by a supervision Invoice from an Assessor who doesnt meet the criteria as set out in the Building Control Act 2007, they will not meet this Invoice cost.

My experience is somewhat different to yours insofar as in my experience, Loss Adjusters do fully advise policyholders of what they are covered for. They are bound by the terms of the policy and contrary to what most people suspect, Loss Adjusters do not make more money from reducing the claim. Infact, the opposite is the case. Loss Adjusters have a duty of care to both Insurers and the Insured and must make the policyholder aware of their rights and entitlements. I would however be foolish to state that this is always the case and no doubt there are some exceptions.
 
Last edited:
Hi Claimsman,

You are correct where it comes to The Building Control Act.

As regards loss adjusters in my experience if I presented a claim to ten different adjusters I will end up with ten different settlement proposals.
Some are very good in explaining things some are not.
 
Ed054 said:
As regards loss adjusters in my experience if I presented a claim to ten different adjusters I will end up with ten different settlement proposals.
Some are very good in explaining things some are not.
Click to expand...


The same can be said if not more so for Loss Assessors as the rates they claim for work are rediculus across the board given that they are paid a % of the claim.

Have a look in the golden pages and see how many are actually qualified to carry out the works they are doing. It is an area that requires a massive review and further regulation.
 
I don't think you can tell from the Golden Pages if they are qualified or not.
What does surprise me is there are a number of assessors who are opperating who are not regulated and the financial regulator has taken no steps to correct this.
As regards your comment about loss assessors rates being ridiclous across the board-that is a bit sweeping
 
Ed054 said:
I don't think you can tell from the Golden Pages if they are qualified or not.
What does surprise me is there are a number of assessors who are opperating who are not regulated and the financial regulator has taken no steps to correct this.
As regards your comment about loss assessors rates being ridiclous across the board-that is a bit sweeping
Click to expand...

Sadly the financial regularly has been found wanting in this regard.

If your rates are not ridiculous, then you are in a minority of one!! The comment that Assessors rates are ridiculous is in my professional opinion and on the basis of my extensive experience, fair comment and this can be verified by reference to any claims settled where assessors are involved.

I know of many loss assessors where the level of settlement in claims submitted by them is regularly less than 50/60% of what they are claiming! Infact, it is seldom the case in my experience that Loss Assessors claims settle for more than 70% of what they are claiming.How this can be considered as providing a professional service to the policyholder is beyond me.
 
Claimsman said:
Sadly the financial regularly has been found wanting in this regard.

If your rates are not ridiculous, then you are in a minority of one!! The comment that Assessors rates are ridiculous is in my professional opinion and on the basis of my extensive experience, fair comment and this can be verified by reference to any claims settled where assessors are involved.

I know of many loss assessors where the level of settlement in claims submitted by them is regularly less than 50/60% of what they are claiming! Infact, it is seldom the case in my experience that Loss Assessors claims settle for more than 70% of what they are claiming.How this can be considered as providing a professional service to the policyholder is beyond me.
Click to expand...

Hopefully with the changes over the past few months this situation will improve but I try to be as fair as possible to both the insurer and the insured.
I have no interest in overstating the scope of works and I generally have no dificulty in agreeing the costs with loss adjusters.




agnor
 
Ed054 said:
Hopefully with the changes over the past few months this situation will improve but I try to be as fair as possible to both the insurer and the insured.
I have no interest in overstating the scope of works and I generally have no dificulty in agreeing the costs with loss adjusters.

Hi Ed,

My comments were not directed to you. I am pretty certain that i have seen your claims...and in fairness to you, you are in that minority of one. Sad part though, no matter how professional you are in your dealings, you are all tarred with the same brush. I can only imagine how frustrating that can be.
Click to expand...
 
Hi Claimsman,

What I am finding now is that some of the insurers are paying my clients claims (up to about €2,500) without passing them on to loss adjusters.
This is of great benefit to policyholders and the insurers know that I am being straight with them (it would be easy enough for them to check)

Whilst it is a pity that I am being tarred with the same brush I find that I am getting a lot of business from word of mouth from satisified clients.

My reputation is the most important thing and I have no interest is selling it for the sake of a larger fee.
 
Claimsman said:
Sadly the financial regularly has been found wanting in this regard.

If your rates are not ridiculous, then you are in a minority of one!! The comment that Assessors rates are ridiculous is in my professional opinion and on the basis of my extensive experience, fair comment and this can be verified by reference to any claims settled where assessors are involved.

I know of many loss assessors where the level of settlement in claims submitted by them is regularly less than 50/60% of what they are claiming! Infact, it is seldom the case in my experience that Loss Assessors claims settle for more than 70% of what they are claiming.How this can be considered as providing a professional service to the policyholder is beyond me.
Click to expand...

couldn't agree more with this as in my opinion and ongoing experience this is 100% correct
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top