Insurance claim - do I have to accept like for like?

[Chubbs]

Hi

Have a legitimate claim for some laminate flooring that's had water damage.

Floor has been assessed and they've said it needs replacing, a chemical drying company is coming round next, dreading get the floor lifted for weeks, hoping dehumidifiers will do!

Anyhow, a like for like claim seems the forthcoming outcome.

Whilst I don't have a problem with that I'd rather use my own fitter and use the money towards a real wooden floor.

Can I have a cash settlement instead? How do you ask for one, do In have to accept their terms/resolution?

Thanks for reading.

[flipper321]

Depends what you're contract says.

[Chubbs]

Depends what you're contract says.

Oh bother.

Most likely hidden away with the £600 water damage excess!!

[blacksheep]

They usually have deals with firms to get bikes/TVs/laptops etc at a discount so would guess the same would be with the flooring. You might be able to get cash by accepting slightly less, as for fitters if they don't do the job to standard don't accept it till they do and if they keep failing insist on your own ones. If your fitters are similar price they may well let you use them anyway.

[Scal]

I had a similar issue a few years back when our dishwasher leaked and wrecked the wooden flooring. I had the choice of using some of their flooring or was allowed to go and buy it myself (upto a value of X/per metre) and they would pay me back (which is what they did) - they fitted it and did a great job in all honesty.

[Chubbs]

I had a similar issue a few years back when our dishwasher leaked and wrecked the wooden flooring. I had the choice of using some of their flooring or was allowed to go and buy it myself (upto a value of X/per metre) and they would pay me back (which is what they did) - they fitted it and did a great job in all honesty.

Could you buy more expensive stuff and pay the extra yourself?

[MajorFU]

Your insurance company is likely to get a quote from one of their preferred suppliers and most of the time they are far from the cheapest deal, you should be able to convince your insurers to send you the money to the value of the quote from their suppliers less the agreed excess.

This is what happened when my PC was stolen, they wanted to suppliy like for like so I said I'd rather source the bits myself and agreed the parts they had quoted were comparible or even better so they sent me a check instead of goods/services.

[Over Carl]

Can I have a cash settlement instead? How do you ask for one, do In have to accept their terms/resolution?

Thanks for reading.

Check if your contract has provisions for cash in lieu of repair/replacement.

Even if it doesn't, you don't ask, you don't get.

[doug]

Could you buy more expensive stuff and pay the extra yourself?

in my experience, coming from a property restoration background myself your insurers are likely to prefer giving you a cash settlement and let you get it done yourself. What you chose to replace it with is none of their business as you say if you upgrade you will just have to pay the extra.

The reason for them preferring to cash settle is that it gets the claim off their desk quicker.

My only advice is if you have a concrete/screened floor under laminate make sure it is dried properly (To BS8203) and have a proper damp proof membrane fitted under new flooring (if wood).




Doug

[Chubbs]

in my experience, coming from a property restoration background myself your insurers are likely to prefer giving you a cash settlement and let you get it done yourself. What you chose to replace it with is none of their business as you say if you upgrade you will just have to pay the extra.

The reason for them preferring to cash settle is that it gets the claim off their desk quicker.

My only advice is if you have a concrete/screened floor under laminate make sure it is dried properly (To BS8203) and have a proper damp proof membrane fitted under new flooring (if wood).




Doug

I'll mention that to the drying company, they are coming Wednesday.
Thank you all.