| What
to do
If your property is getting damaged then do all you can to prevent the damage
getting any worse. You should not have to refrain from having temporary work carried
out, as most insurance policies will cover you for this. Check with your insurance
company if you are unsure if you will be covered for this, preferably before an
incident occurs.
Some UK home insurance companies have emergency helplines and they will give
you advice in case of trouble. Make sure that this number is in a safe and accessible
place. The last thing you want to be doing in a time of crisis is searching frantically
for a piece of paper that might not even exist.
You should know your policy details before an incident happens, and be aware
of which situations are covered and which are not. If you are not sure then refer
to your policy to check that the damage or loss you have suffered is covered by
your UK home insurance policy. Next, decide which policy- either buildings or
contents- you need to claim under. Usually it will be quite obvious; Buildings
will cover the structure or your home, any fixtures or fittings and Contents
will cover possessions. If, however, the situation in question does not appear
to slot easily under either category then contact your insurance company to ask.
If you have separate insurers for both home and contents then contact both.
In the case of an emergency or incident you will need to telephone your insurance
company as soon as you can and advise them of your situation. It is important
to get your priorities straight, however. If you have been the victim of a burglary
or an act of vandalism then contact the police first and get them involved. If
you have had credit cards or chequebooks stolen then contact your issuers and
tell the company to cancel them.
When you telephone your insurance company tell them what has happened, as they
may be able to provide advice. Then clear up any queries you might have with them
and ask for a claim form. The claim form should be filled out and sent back as
soon as possible with estimates for the costs of repair or replacement. If estimates
are difficult to obtain with haste, for example, in a time of regional flooding
when professionals will be under a heavy workload, then return your claims form
as soon as possible regardless, advising your insurance company that you will
forward estimates when you can.
It is important to keep any damaged items as they will be important as evidence
in the case of a claim and your insurance company might want to see them. If you
have sodden or burnt items that you don't want to keep inside then arrange alternative
shelter for them or keep them in an outhouse or garage.
After your insurance company has received your claims form and estimates it
will do one of three things. Firstly, they could just pay your claim. Secondly,
they could send a claims inspector round to call on you or arrange an appointment.
He or she will arrange with you the basis on which your claim will be settled
and clear up any queries that there might be. Thirdly, the insurance company could
send for a loss adjuster to handle your claim. The loss adjuster will be an expert
in his or her area and will advise on repair or replacement, also recommending
to the insurer the way in which the claim should be handled.
Have all your evidence close to hand, as your insurance company will want to
see it. Damaged items, receipts, warranties and other documents proving ownership
will all be relevant. You should keep receipts and the like in a safe place with
your policy documents so that they can be quickly and easily accessed in a time
like this.
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