Megapolis Insurance

In the unfortunate event that you have a substantial second home insurance claim, it is likely that your insurer will appoint loss adjusters. Alternatively, the claimant might employ a loss assessor.

These are two largely separate functions, performed by qualified professionals and you typically would only encounter them in the context of a large claim.

But what is the difference between the two?

What is a loss adjuster?

At Schofields we pride ourselves on providing a fast, efficient, courteous and fair claims handling service. For larger claims (usually over £1,000) we appoint what’s called a loss adjuster to co-ordinate the resolution of the claim for us.

The loss adjusters first role is to establish the cause of the loss and whether it is covered by the insurance policy. Their role varies considerably depending upon the size and nature of the claim, but they are there primarily to help us ensure that you receive the speediest and most effective resolution possible to your claim.

This will typically involve the loss adjuster visiting the property to assess the damage, determine how much the claimants settlement amount should be and advise on the most suitable way to carry out repairs.

Contrary to some popular myth, loss adjusters do not exist to try and find ways to reject a claim. Nor does the involvement of a loss adjuster mean that your claim is being viewed suspiciously.

They are there to help us to help you through your insurance claim though, of course, they are acting on our behalf and are paid by us.

What is a loss assessor?

Loss assessors are typically professional companies and individuals that will negotiate on the policyholders behalf to progress a claim to resolution. It could be said that they offer a claims management service for you, meaning you don’t have to spend time dealing with the insurer – the loss assessor will typically do this.

They will look at the damage, assess the costs involved and they may then take over all discussions on the claim with the insurers or loss adjusters concerned.

As you employ them, they are acting exclusively to protect your interests. They will charge a fee for their services, which may be a percentage of the claim value or other such arrangement.

It is moderately unusual to see loss assessors involved in smaller claims.

The reality

In cases where a claim is made under our second home insurance policy, it is our objective to resolve it very quickly and in accordance with the policy’s obligations.

That does not mean simply paying up without further consideration. To protect the interests of all parties, we are under a professional obligation to ensure that the claim circumstances are covered by the policy and that the claim itself is reasonable and proportionate.

We also, of course, must check to ensure that the claim is legitimate and not fraudulent.

All of this is perfectly normal practice in the insurance industry and should not be cause for concern to holiday home insurance policyholders. Our objective is to make sure that settlement of the claim to the satisfaction of all parties.

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