Hello All

I hadad a Halifax insurance claim as I was burgled approx 2 years ago and was refitted with UPVC patio doors on the back of my house and they had been forced open to gain access to my house.

The insurance replaced the doors and all was well until a couple of months ago where the brickwork above the doors has started to come loose as it does not look like a lintell has been fitted.

This problem is starting to get worse and I am now concerend the bricks could fall out and drop on me or my kids heads.

Was obvioosly going to get a quote to fix this asap but just been wondering if I should challenge the insurance and try to make them pay for the repair.

Any help or advice would be very much appreciated.

You certainly should do. Just because it was an insurance repair does not mean they can do a substandard job.

You can hold your insurer liable as agents of the repairers. They should send an estimator round. Of course you can get your own person in, but I would wait to see what they say first.

One problem though: When did you know that the lintell was missing? If it was for some time, they could argue that you should have told them earlier as the damage would not have been so bad.

Ok,

These issues are never straight forward. I agree with Gyzmo in that the insurer should be held accountable for the substandard work.

I would write a complaint to the insurer advising of the substandard work including pictures of the damage and two estimates to rectify. Once a complaint has been submitted, the insurer has strict guidelines to follow and times scales to adhere to.

You can try the loss adjuster first, as Gyzmo advises, and hope they understand your position, but i see the complaint process being the natural route.

Although im sure everyone on here would be of help the best action to start with, is to contact the insurance ombudsman technical help line. This helpline basically advises people on how the Ombudsman would deal with the claim if escalated past the complaint process to them. If you not au fait with the ombudsman, please see the link below:

Every insurer is bound by the decisions of the ombudsman. So will near always settle if it thinks the ombudsmans will side against them and you would not believe the types of cases that go against insurers. I feel, after a few years experience, that they side more with the insured then insurer.

Financial Ombudsman Service

020 7964 1400 tech line.

Step 1. Notify insurer of damage and advise require loss adjuster to inspect substandard work.

Step 2. If they do respond await their findings, if not, send complaint letter after discussing with ombudsman if he feels you have a chase(i do).

Let me know what happens next....need any more help just message.

@ singlescale, if you already had patio doors fitted and the insurer installed replacement doors then why would they put a new lintle in as the opening should already have had one?

or have i missed something?