Lightning Damage and Damage reports for insurance

karnuffel

karnuffel

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OK so I got home from my week away only to discover that my ADSL router is dead. I soon realized that my wifi router, home PC and Micro Server all was damaged.

My insurance, Santam, wants a damage report but both the matrix stores and the Incredible connection stores gave me the same response "We dont do damage reports any more".

What should I do now? Matrix gave me a quote to replace my PC but it feels way too much to replace my PC.

Any suggestions? How do I go about getting quotes for the same hardware? I wont be able to replace it since it is a couple of years old.
 
jouda said:
OK so I got home from my week away only to discover that my ADSL router is dead. I soon realized that my wifi router, home PC and Micro Server all was damaged.

My insurance, Santam, wants a damage report but both the matrix stores and the Incredible connection stores gave me the same response "We dont do damage reports any more".

What should I do now? Matrix gave me a quote to replace my PC but it feels way too much to replace my PC.

Any suggestions? How do I go about getting quotes for the same hardware? I wont be able to replace it since it is a couple of years old.
Click to expand...

Try local PC shops, not chain stores.

Most of them willing issue a report for a testing fee.
 
Gnome said:
Surely they need to tell you where to get this report?
Click to expand...

Thats what I said. They seem to make it my problem. It feels quite unfair that I have to go through all that effort to get proof that my equipment is damaged.
 
Keigo said:
Try local PC shops, not chain stores.

Most of them willing issue a report for a testing fee.
Click to expand...

The local PC shop didn't even understand when I said they need to keep in mind that my WIFI router is a dual band router so I am not extremely confident in their ability to provide info to my insurance.
 
I have written lightning damage reports, once had a loss adjuster query my report and express doubt about whether the equipment really was damaged. I had seen the PoE and router that was blown away from the wall at the customers house and had no doubt it was lightning. That kit was replaced by the Wisp and i didn't have it to prove the damage. The motherboard of the pc was dead, but no visible damage. Idiot adjuster claimed that there would be damaged components and tracks on the motherboard and he could not see any. I know better than that as it does not require much to damage electronics and there won't always be visible damage. I left it for the customer to fight it out with insurance and it eventually was sorted amicably.

OP I suggest you keep all the damaged kit together to give to insurance and ask them to arrange it. I have learnt that if I issue a report, it is better to state that the equipment is dead or not functional (if any lights come on but it doesn't work). Don't say it was damaged by lightning in the report as you cannot prove that.
 
jouda said:
The local PC shop didn't even understand when I said they need to keep in mind that my WIFI router is a dual band router so I am not extremely confident in their ability to provide info to my insurance.
Click to expand...
So make report by yourself, just mention that you are professional (assuming it is true).
 
Electron1 said:
I have written lightning damage reports, once had a loss adjuster query my report and express doubt about whether the equipment really was damaged. I had seen the PoE and router that was blown away from the wall at the customers house and had no doubt it was lightning. That kit was replaced by the Wisp and i didn't have it to prove the damage. The motherboard of the pc was dead, but no visible damage. Idiot adjuster claimed that there would be damaged components and tracks on the motherboard and he could not see any. I know better than that as it does not require much to damage electronics and there won't always be visible damage. I left it for the customer to fight it out with insurance and it eventually was sorted amicably.

OP I suggest you keep all the damaged kit together to give to insurance and ask them to arrange it. I have learnt that if I issue a report, it is better to state that the equipment is dead or not functional (if any lights come on but it doesn't work). Don't say it was damaged by lightning in the report as you cannot prove that.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. I spoke to the lady handling my claim and asked her to get me someone that can provide the relevant documentation. Sad fact is no one what to deal with them anymore.
 
sajunky said:
So make report by yourself, just mention that you are professional (assuming it is true).
Click to expand...

I unfortunately dont know enough to compile a report. Frustrating to say the least.
 
Interesting to note that the lady handling my claim stated: "It is your responsibility to prove that you have a valid claim". WTF, am I the only one that thinks thats a bit unfair? I am the paying customer after all.
 
Place the onus on them to provide you with a list of their "approved" service providers.
 
Amazing .... Santam must be a shyte insurer. (No offence intended to the OP)

I am with Discovery .... I claimed not so long ago for my router.

In fact, I bought one first, then claimed, and the lady sent someone to collect the copy of the invoice and the old one, and the cash was in my account next day.

With a laptop that got damaged, all they required was a report on a letterhead of a registered business really.
 
Where do you stay Jouda?
Maybe a forum member can recommend someone to you?
 
jouda said:
Interesting to note that the lady handling my claim stated: "It is your responsibility to prove that you have a valid claim". WTF, am I the only one that thinks thats a bit unfair? I am the paying customer after all.
Click to expand...

This is how insurance works. You can't expect them to prove you have a claim.

You advise them of a claim, and then they advise on the necessary action you need to take. Getting a lightning damage report isn't having to take a full day's leave from work to ensure an assessor has access to your house and you have no idea when they're coming. The fee for the report can be recovered from your insurer.

Additional to the report stating that the damage was most probably caused by lightning, you can ask the company preparing the report for a quote on equipment of similar specifications to the damaged equipment which you can attach to the report.

I've generally advised people to go to ComputersOnly in Midrand for lightning damage reports.
 
jouda said:
I unfortunately dont know enough to compile a report. Frustrating to say the least.
Click to expand...
Then let them do damage report and complain later. :)

You need at least two quotes for the equipment replacement with similiar functionality.
 
jouda said:
I unfortunately dont know enough to compile a report. Frustrating to say the least.
Click to expand...

the problem comes in when components are compromised, and only stop working a few weeks later.

I'd rather quote on replacing the whole PC, else replace both PSU and mobo if either are damaged. But best is to change the whole, coz damage to parts sometimes only show later as latent damage. So quotes needed for unit and transfer of data. you could request to have your programs loaded(licensing permitted), but that could involve a charge...
 
Venomous said:
the problem comes in when components are compromised, and only stop working a few weeks later.

I'd rather quote on replacing the whole PC, else replace both PSU and mobo if either are damaged. But best is to change the whole, coz damage to parts sometimes only show later as latent damage. So quotes needed for unit and transfer of data. you could request to have your programs loaded(licensing permitted), but that could involve a charge...
Click to expand...
Yip, it happens frequently that components do not fail immediately, but in next few months when claim is already settled.
In this case I am pretty sure that motherboard is not working, as strike went through the LAN cable. If computer is old, replacement is (at least) mobo, CPU and RAM.
 
Does anyone know if they will accept a claim for a failing hard drive, on quite a new drive there shouldnt be any smart errors but there is, sometimes it does click and whine.

When the PC boots I get a BSOD and cannot enter windows. Im tying this via MiniXP (Hirens Boot CD)
 
can anybody tell me if it's possible that the graphics card is blown but the motherboard is OK?

after a lightning storm.
 
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