Motor Home Insurance

[Krautman]

In April 2009 whilst in Portugal I stopped to take some photographs, when I re-entered my Motor Home was horrified to see fire below the dashboard and wiring had molten and flames where increasing rapidly. I grabbed my computer and took that out as all my personal details are stored on it, then dashed and got my fire extinguisher and managed to put out the flames.

Now, nearly three months later the vehicle is in Duisburg, Germany as the insurance company decided to transport it to a German FIAT dealer as they said the Portugal FIAT Dealer did not seem to want the repair work.

Now they are suggesting only part or non of the damage is covered, as only fire damage is covered, not electric cables overheating.

Was I foolish to react in the normal way? Should I have let it all burn to a total loss?

I have read the conditions, that are only accessible on the Internet, these seem to suggest the insrance firm has the choice to turn down the claim.

I would welcome readers advice and guidance.

[wishy123]

The insurance company has the right to exclude from the claim the part that actually failed in the first place and caused the fire to start, because this part was damaged by its own breakdown, not by the fire. However they have to show which part it was - they can't just say 'the wiring failed and caused the fire so none of the wiring is covered'. You need to find out exactly what they are looking to exclude from the claim and why - from your question I don't think they have made that clear so you need to ask to see the engineer's report on the cause of the fire, and get them to tell you what's covered and what's not.