Residential building insurance reduces payout

Hello everyone,

our blinds were replaced after hail damage. At that time, an expert was also on site. The invoice was approved. The work was supposed to be carried out with proof. The work has now all been completed and billed. The invoice exactly matches the approved offer. Unfortunately, work time reports were missing, which, after being criticized, were subsequently submitted. However, these are not accepted due to the timing, and the insurance therefore refuses to pay me a significant part. I find this pure harassment. I was present during the entire work because the expert had also asked me at the time to keep an eye on the duration of the work. I did that and also assured him of this in writing. But the insurance is being obstructive. Of course, I could now also say that I don’t care and just pay the window fitter with the deduction and the same argument. But I would find that really unacceptable because they did their honest work, and I cannot take responsibility for that. On the other hand, I do not see why I should bear the costs with a premium residential building insurance with high premiums.

Does anyone here happen to have more experience?

How old were the blinds?

A little more than 1 year. So basically new.

It's not about the material costs, but rather that the insurance thinks the billed hours for the installation are too high.

Was there no cost estimate and what damage amount did the expert determine?

That craftsmen like to take advantage of insurance claims is no secret. The painters also charge insurance companies 280 euros per working hour.

Of course, this is not granted to the roller shutter maker. He is allowed or supposed to charge only 46.50 euros per hour.

There was a fixed offer. At that time, it was approved, apparently also under the condition to provide evidence of the scope accordingly. Now there is an issue that I did not sign and only submitted the timesheets after being requested to do so. The window manufacturer charges his usual hourly rate, which we have also been charged for wage work during the house construction. The issue is that the insurance company thinks there are too many hours.

For my understanding, it is like this: the craftsman makes a binding offer for the insurance, they approve it, and off we go. In the end, the invoice is paid.

If there is extra effort, it must then be clarified additionally with the insurance. Even a damage appraiser on a car cannot see everything, and additional costs often arise during the repair.

Concrete question. How much does the actual invoice deviate from the offer?

Everything here is vague.