Help Please. Should I appoint my own Loss ADjuster?

[The Oldman]

A car has smashed into our bungalow resulting in our kitchen being damaged and will require the outside wall to be taken down, rebuilt and the inside redone including part of the built in kitchen furniture.

A friend has suggested the we need to appoint our own loss adjuster and not rely on our house insurer (Natwest). Any one have any experience of using one.

Any advice greatfully received.

 

[Deleted User X18H]

You need to suggest or sudgest to Natwest that an independent Loss Adjuster is appointed. They are not obliged to accept this as they are the indemnifying company. I expect they will use one of their own panel. You can appoint your own guy at your own expense of course.Although Natwest may dismiss thier findings. Try Crawford and Son they have an office in Bond Street Brighton. I am sure Natwest are as fair an insurer as they are banker though....ahem!

 

[Jamon Jamon]

Max Branning

 

[The Oldman]

You need to suggest or sudgest to Natwest that an independent Loss Adjuster is appointed. They are not obliged to accept this as they are the indemnifying company. I expect they will use one of their own panel. You can appoint your own guy at your own expense of course.Although Natwest may dismiss thier findings. Try Crawford and Son they have an office in Bond Street Brighton. I am sure Natwest are as fair an insurer as they are banker though....ahem!

Thanks Tim

 

[The Oldman]

Max Branning

S'funny you should say that. That was part of my nightmare!

 

[corkster]

A car has smashed into our bungalow resulting in our kitchen being damaged and will require the outside wall to be taken down, rebuilt and the inside redone including part of the built in kitchen furniture.

A friend has suggested the we need to appoint our own loss adjuster and not rely on our house insurer (Natwest). Any one have any experience of using one.

Any advice greatfully received.

well if you need any windows or doors replaced, im your man

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

I would ring Natwest first and ask what their process is, document it all (photos) and challenge anything you see as improprer. Lots of insuers do this stuff all the time so as long as the apoint the right people at the right time you may be okay.

One trouble you may have is the current rain and storms as insurance companys and their suppliers get deluged.

 

[The Oldman]

I would ring Natwest first and ask what their process is, document it all (photos) and challenge anything you see as improprer. Lots of insuers do this stuff all the time so as long as the apoint the right people at the right time you may be okay.

One trouble you may have is the current rain and storms as insurance companys and their suppliers get deluged.

Thanks for that. I did phone them on Friday when the incident occurred. Chap was reasonably helpful but he did not seem to understand the extent of damage. I have got in the structural engineer and a local builder who both agree it's a big job. Am awaiting their reports so I can submit to the insurer. A friend said I would be better of hiring my own loss adjuster, who work on a % of the final settlement as they would get a better deal for me particulary at this time when the insurers are busy with the problems up north.

Does it really work that way?

 

[Kylies Stunt Arse]

Thanks for that. I did phone them on Friday when the incident occurred. Chap was reasonably helpful but he did not seem to understand the extent of damage. I have got in the structural engineer and a local builder who both agree it's a big job. Am awaiting their reports so I can submit to the insurer. A friend said I would be better of hiring my own loss adjuster, who work on a % of the final settlement as they would get a better deal for me.

Does it really work that way?

Only if your insurer agree to it, otherwise it will come out of your pocket as you're unlikely to get a cash settlement from the insurer. Under no circumstances should you appoint anyone without getting the insurer's authorisation as they could refuse to take any notice of their recommendation and certainly refuse to foot the bill.

 

[The Oldman]

Only if your insurer agree to it, otherwise it will come out of your pocket as you're unlikely to get a cash settlement from the insurer. Under no circumstances should you appoint anyone without getting the insurer's authorisation as they could refuse to take any notice of their recommendation and certainly refuse to foot the bill.

I understand I would have to pay if I hired my own loss adjuster but according to my friend ,and looking at the websites of Loss adjusters they take over the submission of the claim and usually get a better deal.

Just would love any advice from anyone in the insurance game or who have resolved a claim in this way.

 

[Kylies Stunt Arse]

I understand I would have to pay if I hired my own loss adjuster but according to my friend ,and looking at the websites of Loss adjusters they take over the submission of the claim and usually get a better deal.

Just would love any advice from anyone in the insurance game or who have resolved a claim in this way.

I do work in insurance.

I'm not sure what you mean by a better deal. I mean if you have structural damage, and need things rebuilt and replaced then that is exactly what your Natwest should get done for you. All the major insurers have a panel of suppliers/builders etc that they use for claims. An independent adjuster won't be able to deviate from this. They will only be able to claim up to the limits of your policy anyway.

I suggest you wait until the Natwest adjuster has been round and see what they have to say.

 

[bhaexpress]

Tell 'em that you can't use your kitchen so you have to move into a hotel which as your insurers they will have to pay for.

 

[Kylies Stunt Arse]

Tell 'em that you can't use your kitchen so you have to move into a hotel which as your insurers they will have to pay for.

Provided it's covered in the terms of the policy.

 

[bhaexpress]

Provided it's covered in the terms of the policy.

Obviously. However if it is might them get a move on although I doubt it.

 

[sydney]

turn the fuckin cooker on in the middle of the night ,don't light it of course and then go for a long drive, somewhere like portugal should do , by the time you get back you'll be up for a new house...!!!

 

[The Oldman]

I do work in insurance.

I'm not sure what you mean by a better deal. I mean if you have structural damage, and need things rebuilt and replaced then that is exactly what your Natwest should get done for you. All the major insurers have a panel of suppliers/builders etc that they use for claims. An independent adjuster won't be able to deviate from this. They will only be able to claim up to the limits of your policy anyway.

I suggest you wait until the Natwest adjuster has been round and see what they have to say.

Thanks. Sounds sensible advice.

 

[glasfryn]

we used a loss adjuster appointed by the bank and he was fqqking useless fell on their side which was to be expected ........we sacked him and got our own and had no problems after that.................the claim came to about 55k so it was not peanuts and our guy made sure that the periodical payments for the builder were done on the day and we got our claim for all new equipment

 

[Super Steve Earle]

You need a loss assessor to work on your behalf if NatWest won't pay for anything to put you back to where you were before. I insure with NatWest, but still used a loss assessor to act on my behalf with a big claim to ensure everything I needed was met. Not sure how it works, but cost me nothing. Adjuster works for insurer, assessor works for you.

 

[drew]

Seem to be jumping the gun a bit. Having worked as a claims handler for a commercial broker (ie acting on behalf of the insured) and having been an adjuster, it's not often you don't get what you're entitled to. In this case, you will no doubt have a new for old policy however your insurers will also have to pursue a claim against the insurers of the car causing the damage. In my experience, most adjusters deal with claims fairly and, in many cases now, particularly domestic claims, they don't even have to refer back to insurers, they just arrange settlement as and when works are completed. Periodic payments are the norm on big claims however, don't expect a cash settlement up front based on estimates. They will want to see the work is done! As for assessors, bear in mind you are paying for them, not the insurer. If they take 5% of the claim, say yours is 60k, that's £3000 grand you will have to cough up. It could be more. As for professional fees, these will relate to surveyors and architects fees necessarily incurred and should be covered under the policy.

At the end of the day, with an insurers like Nat West, my (unpaid) advice would be to get their adjuster in as soon as possible so that he can agree costs before you incur them. If you go and appoint architects without them knowing, they could exclude the costs!

 

[The Oldman]

Thanks for all the advice. At the moment doing everything through the insurers so have got structural engineers report and builders quotes coming in to submit to Natwest as instructd to do.