Flood Damage

[wakeover]

Following last years flooding, I'm nearing returning to my home but have come up against certain issues. My damaged back boiler was replaced with a combi-boiler and new downstairs radiators however the loss adjuster wont stump up for the uptairs radiators which the gas man wouldn't connect because he says they are too old for a new combi. And the caravan I'm in on my garden is making a mess of the garden which, again, they refuse to cover (re-turfing etc). Do I have a case to argue?

[Rtaxron]

wakeover,

I hope so and I would try every avenue to not only get compensation for your upstairs radiators and garden, but more important for the mental inconvenience you have had to suffer over the past year.

The floods was not your doing and if it hadn't happened you would be still in your home with the same heating etc, and your garden intact.

Living in a caravan is OK for a week on holiday, but the time you have been in one, you deserve a medal.

I don't think I could have coped, good luck.

[lindapinda]

I've had to deal with insurances companies after flooding,wakeover,and my friend used to work for one. In my experience and my friend's,the main object is to avoid paying out on claims as much as possible. My friend actually left the job cos she couldnt morally cope with how they were advising the staff on the best way to reject the claim. Your best bet...is to involve the media or contact one of those columns in the papers,where they intervene on your behalf.

[snow.maiden]

Well - I would've said that the insurance company'd replace like for like. If you hadn't a combi boiler in thee first place, then why expect them to fork out for an upgrade? I've also lived in a house that got flooded, and the terrible mess and inconvenience was so bad that no amount of money really made up for that. If your policy covers you for "new for old" then you have a right to complain, but I know folk who've tried to claim for far more than they were entitled to, simply seeing the cheque as a way of sprucing the place up. If you feel that you're getting a bad deal, then yes, contacting a newspaper might wake the insurance company up.

[wakeover]

Many thanks, we actually moved into the van early November and it's totally unsuitable being a two berth for four adults and a dog. I'll contact my local paper and see if they can put a little pressure to bear. If only we could engage a claims manager, (if they exist), to ensure 'victims' of such incidents are treated fairly. Once again thanks.