Insurance Claim or not...

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Re: Insurance Claim or not...

I have to agree with apauling's sister the lawyer. Do not pay. It really sounds like this guy is scamming you. I called my insurance agent. He said it sounds like a classical scam. So what if the guy badmouths you. He probably has the reputation of being a blowhard already and nobody will listen. Anyone with common sense will realize his story doesn't add up.

I had a residential customer (from he!!) who requested a certificate of insurance before we started his job. A little unusual. We complied. The following day after the work he called to say the electrician put a dent in his dryer when the electrician dropped his hammer. I asked the electrician--He said no way! The dryer had a blanket covering it. Called the insurance company, they called the customer, read him the riot act about fraud and penalties involved. No claim. No increase in premium.
This is why we have insurance. You are paying them to work for you! Call your insurance company, tell them what happened. Let them deal with it. Tell them you do not want a settlement.
 
Re: Insurance Claim or not...

Just out of curiosity, if you don't mind my asking, how does the customer's "bill" for damages compare with your bill for the work you did?
 
Re: Insurance Claim or not...

Charlie:

I don't mind your asking and I don't mind sharing this with everyone. My bill was for $150.00.

I must say I have been pleasantly amazed at the responses and I do thank everyone. The more I read and think about this I'm going to hold off any correspondences until I'm contacted again.

I have a call into the Plumbing company but I have not yet had a call back.

As always, I'll keep everyone posted, if you don't mind.

Norb

[ February 02, 2005, 02:48 PM: Message edited by: 1793 ]
 
Re: Insurance Claim or not...

"I did some work for about a month ago. He said he wanted to put me on notice that after I did some work in the attic above his garage some a water pipe froze and burst. When it thawed, needless to say he sustained some water damage in his kitchen. "

Hang on here, if it froze up why did he not shut the main off and call a plumber?He acted carelesly in waiting for it to thaw on its own.

Did he give you a chance to view the damage first ? or did he tell you after the repair ? Perhaps the plumber was a friend and just blamed you to help his buddy.Insurance adjusters usually demand to see the damage first.Ask to see a certified copy of check (both side from the bank).I have dought that he paid the bill.
 
Re: Insurance Claim or not...

Just an update: It has been two months and I have yet to hear anything else from this customer. I have done nothing with regard to HIS bill.

It is great to have place where we can bounce off ideas with others.

Thanks

Norb
 
Re: Insurance Claim or not...

Can we assume you collected your bill of $150 ? if so i would figure he is dropping this.If you have not been paid then time is running out to lien his house
 
Re: Insurance Claim or not...

Jim:

I received payment of $150.00 at the time of completion. I received the first call about the problem a couple of months later. The actual bill for repairs was sent one month after that. I'm not planning on doing anything else, except filling this away.

Thanks to all for your input.

Norb

[ April 03, 2005, 07:48 AM: Message edited by: 1793 ]
 
Re: Insurance Claim or not...

$205.00 is a lot of money to spend on a problem which you claim you did not cause. I am too bullheaded to let someone pull this on me. I would put my good name on the line and fight it. If you did nothing wrong and you feel like you can prove it, let him sue you. If at that point you lose, your out $65 + court costs, and a little time that you spent in court. If you really want to get jiggy with it, when you go into small claims court tell the judge that you do not want this to be in small claims division, that you've hired a lawyer and want this to go to district court. I'm sure at this point the homeowner will know your serious and he/she will agree to drop the case. At that point it will cost him $2000+ and he won't want to fool with this matter over fear of losing and having to spend that kind of money. If he knows he's tring to pull a fast one on you, he will not press the issue. This is how I deal with people who try to pull fast ones on me. If you think you caused it, fork it up however, otherwise don't let him punk you around.

This is the reason insurance premiums are getting out of hand!

If he starts to slander you after you show him up in court, take him back to court, subpeana the person who said he slandered you, tell it in court. You will win because in small claims it's "who the judge believes 51%". Do this to shut his mouth. Sorry for the assertiveness. :D Yes it may tarnish your name a little but do you want this type of business from people he knows anyhow. Theres an old saying that rats run in a pack.

or

just pay the bill and be an intravert about the whole situation.

Piece, love and electricity!
 
Re: Insurance Claim or not...

I wouldn't send a check without actually having the chance to go back there and let the homeowner show you where the broken pipe is.
 
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