Calm down dear - it's only home insurance
Discussion
Spot of trouble with a well known company (can you guess who it is yet?)over my home insurance. Looking for advice.
I'll keep it short.
Few weeks ago came home to find water dripping through the ceiling. Had a leak from the hot water cylinder. House is 4 years' old. Get plumber to fix it - cost around £1000 all in which I have paid. Claim sent into insurance company - now saying that they won't pay a penny because the damage, whilst being due to accidental pressure on the pipework from towels in the cupboard where the tank is (airing cupboard), was not due to a single incident but occurred over time.
Have already told them I'm going to the Ombudsman and not renewing my policy but I reckon they are well practiced in using this clause.
Whaddyathink?
I'll keep it short.
Few weeks ago came home to find water dripping through the ceiling. Had a leak from the hot water cylinder. House is 4 years' old. Get plumber to fix it - cost around £1000 all in which I have paid. Claim sent into insurance company - now saying that they won't pay a penny because the damage, whilst being due to accidental pressure on the pipework from towels in the cupboard where the tank is (airing cupboard), was not due to a single incident but occurred over time.
Have already told them I'm going to the Ombudsman and not renewing my policy but I reckon they are well practiced in using this clause.
Whaddyathink?
, the damage occured due to the original leak, problem is proving this happened within the policy period simpo two said:
I was lucky to spot my hot water tank leaking from the bottom before any damage was done. House was only about 11 years old...
I got a plumber in to fit a new tank and the bill was about £250 IIRC; however it never crossed my mind to claim.
Might be an idea to get a British Gas home service scheme, about £11 a month. Gives your boiler a service once a year, free call outs and under the scheme I have had two water tanks and 5 radiators replaced. My place was built in the mid 70's so a bit older than yours.
Thanks for the replies and offers of help. What bugs me is;
1. The leak was sudden and fairly severe with no warning so I was expecting insurance to cover it.
2. Plumber no doubt made a meal of it. I provided the replacement cylinder but it was a slightly larger inner heating coil so plumber had to cut some new piping. He took all day to do the job.
1. The leak was sudden and fairly severe with no warning so I was expecting insurance to cover it.
2. Plumber no doubt made a meal of it. I provided the replacement cylinder but it was a slightly larger inner heating coil so plumber had to cut some new piping. He took all day to do the job.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
(Thanks for your interest - hope your head is OK after your rather more exciting post re London cabbie playing cyclist eater.)
It was all in situ. There are no shelves. The cupboard base is about 2 feet off the ground and the cylinder sits at the back of it. We use the front half as an airing cupboard. The problem has been caused by the towels pushing on the cold water feed pipe. The tank was also corroded inside according to the plumber but the insurance people were especially willing to tell me that they were not interested in wear and tear.
>> Edited by rfisher on Friday 15th July 21:29
Heres a copy of the policy from what I assume is the offending company.
www.esure.com/pdf/esurehome_policy_nov04.pdf
The relevant bits are on pages 10 & 11.
Excludes 'Wear and Tear' and 'any gradually operating cause' both of which are pretty normal terms on household policies Im afraid.
Was any aspect of the claim for damage caused when the cylinder finally leaked ? That should still be recoverable from the insurer.
www.esure.com/pdf/esurehome_policy_nov04.pdf
The relevant bits are on pages 10 & 11.
Excludes 'Wear and Tear' and 'any gradually operating cause' both of which are pretty normal terms on household policies Im afraid.
Was any aspect of the claim for damage caused when the cylinder finally leaked ? That should still be recoverable from the insurer.
£1000 for repairing this kind of damage?
Unless he also repaired the ceiling plaster, you've been had mate, sorry.
As for the insurance, a pipe is either leaking or it isn't? I don't see how a pipe can be a 'gradual failure' in quite the same way as a garden wall can slowly fall over if not pointed....
Unless he also repaired the ceiling plaster, you've been had mate, sorry.
As for the insurance, a pipe is either leaking or it isn't? I don't see how a pipe can be a 'gradual failure' in quite the same way as a garden wall can slowly fall over if not pointed....
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