Wednesday night I was out with my daughter doing first dressage test with new pony, all went well so we returned home in good moods! However, as I turned down my road I saw fire engines....what's gone on thinks me.....spot both boys and hubby......and see dogs in garden.......then realise it's my house that's been on fire........bathroom gutted, (faulty shower). Horrendous smoke damage all upstairs. Phone insurance company who say will phone you in morning. Uncomfortable night, five of us plus dogs in front room, no electric other than sockets, no hot water.
Next day phone insurers again, told someone will contact me......4pm phone again and told company will come Friday, I say what about electric, gas, broken windows? They say, oh you have to call people out, pay them and submit receipts. Why did they not tell me that before.......frantic phone calls, get gas board and window firm to come out but no electric man till Friday.....(I'm sat here waiting for him, he's late). Another night on the floor.
All insurers can say is go stay in a hotel.........I say I can't cos of four dogs, two cats plus chickens, please get your folks to crack on.........I've got pups due in a few days.........aaaargh! Bloomin useless. And now I've been told that the loss adjustor hasn't had details of my claim yet and will not come till next week..........Why do insurance companies mess people around so much, thank god it's summer so can all bath in paddling pool.......surely it's cheaper for them to crack on with the work, you'd have thought they would be happy that we are willing to stay here and so save them the cost of hotel and kennels.
And it's my birthday today :( :(
Moan over!
Anyone got any ideas/advice on how long this will take until normality returns?????

Oh no, what a terrible thing! It must be awful. Thank heavens nobody was hurt at all. Hope the insurance pull their collective fingers out and get on and help. In the meantime, I hope your birthday improves. {{{hug}}}

Oh awful!!  So glad everyone got out OK.

Oh my goodness, I thought I had had a bad week!

Firstly - Very pleased everyone is OK.
Secondly - Happy birthday! :D
Thirdly - As soon as all of this is sorted change your insurers! We have just had a leak (caused by my son) from the bathroom down to the kitchen, it is all sorted, our insurers firstly sent a sparky out to make sure the water hadn't gotten into the electrics, which it had so they changed a few bits and pieces, and just this morning the assesser has been out and made detailed notes of the damage, and we are now waiting to hear what he thinks needs doing (if anything). We haven't had to pay a penny (yet) and the only company we have had to ring was the first call to the insurers to say we had a leak! Personally I will be very surprised if they say anything more than to redecorate the kitchen will be needed. Our insurers are Endsleigh, I would definitly recommend them :D
Forthly - I hope everything starts coming together soon enough for you, and that the pups are OK :D

Good luck :D

Depends on what the insurers find.

If, for example, the fault was down to the shower and it had been put in by yourselves post the new wiring regulations you may not be able to make a claim at all.

Also, insurers need to ascertain the cause, damage if any to structure before they can estimate cost etc, outwith loss of chattels etc

Sometimes it is a good idea to read what you must do before you actually need to do it......

Thanks everyone for your support.
Tohme - the shower was in before we moved in, I had all electrics checked by qualified electrician who told me that wiring had been re-done and he put in an up to date fusebox. This was only a year ago. And the policy book states that they take care of everything........shame the girl I spoke to hadn't read it. I've been told this morning that my pets aren't covered for alternative accomodation but my policy book says they are........
just had a visit from the builder who says that the cleaning company should come in today and make it habitable because of the situation regarding the pregnant bitch being due in the next few days......fingers crossed they get a move on!

Oh dear :(

We were very lucky when we had our flood in Jan as they had somebody out the next day to rip all the flooring and get the dehumidifers and fans started for the drying out. That took six weeks then we had to get two quotes which took a few more weeks then after that after a few calls and discussions over the final settlement figure they authorised it !

They were all in all very good and would recommend them to anybody especially as the whole claim went over £10k we got a bonus cheque for £1K Don't ask me how or why but we did and have never really got to the bottom of it !

I do hope that they sort things out for you asap and you can get back to normal :)

Lucy
xx
ps Happy Bday !

Keep ringing the insurance company untill you get the answers you want. They can be known to drag things out :rolleyes: Thankfully everyone is alright.

My top tip for dealing with insurers is to write a very nice letter explaining how you need to be able to live in the house because of the dogs etc and you will be aranging for all of this work to be done BUT since you dont have the cash it will be going on the credit card and you will be claiming interest charges - normally works a treat ;)