Loss of earnings / small claims / property damage

[steve99]

A home delivery van reversed into my property causing damage, liability has been accepted by their insurer but we have a problem about quotes for the repair and loss of earnings.

Some four months ago when this began the delivery company offered to send two companies (of their choice) to assess the damage and quote for repair. We accepted this proposal, took time off work, and it appears that quotes were produced.
The delivery company never supplied us with a copy of the quotes despite being asked to do so on a number of occasions.
Due to the cost of repair the delivery company have passed the matter to their insurer who are now requesting that I supply the quotes, which I still do not have.

The insurance company will not progress this matter without quotes and as the delivery company seem unwilling / unable to produce them it appears I need to take further time (unpaid) time away from work to repeat the process of obtaining quotes.

I would assume that I could simply make a few calls, find out who quoted, get some contact details, get copies of the quotes, etc.
Unfortunately having dealt with the delivery company for four months now it would likely be faster to get two local firms to just come and requote for the work; either way I'm going to have to take time off work to sort this out.

Can I reclaim the loss of earnings that I will incur by taking time away from work for a second set of quotes? It seems unreasonable that I should suffer financially due to them loosing the paperwork.

[PipinHull]

I've always found most tradespeople will come in evenings/at weekends to do quotes if you ask, which may mean you don't need to take time off at all. Much easier than adding time off work to the bill and fighting it out.