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Hello,

My gite suffered a lightening strike last weekend.   I'm desperate for help with the insurance company as my French is not good.   So far the electrician has agreed to do a report to say that the wires are burned therefore indicating a strike.   I have no idea what to do next so need someone to help me.   I have guests booked into the gite so they have had letters from me cancelling their bookings.   I obviously need to get up and running asap so I'd like to know roughly how long this process will take - weeks, months?   And what is the process involved.

I'm just north of Agen so someone nearby would be really useful.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Leyla

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This article from Connexion details what you need to do. I wouldn't normally quote Connexion but it seems that it has the procedure nailed.

But first of all contact your insurance company/broker/agent by telephone and follow it up with a registered letter to confirm what you said so they cannot deny it.

https://www.connexionfrance.com/article/Practical/Property/House-in-France-struck-by-lightning-Here-is-what-you-need-to-claim-attestation-de-foudroiement-insurance

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This happened to us when we lived in Bédoin.  There was a fairly major storm that passed through.  Lightening blew a hole in a part of our roof.  More than 10,000€ worth of damages (heating system, loads of electricals, appliances, etc., not to mention the work to repair the roof.

We had (and have) Groupama.  I called them to report the sinistre.  They immediately assign a number to your case (which will be needed for future contact and follow-up).  They then told me an expert would call me within (I think) it was 24 to 48 hours to schedule an appointment to inspect the damages.  I was told very firmly NOT to move or change anything that was damaged. 

I did get the call from the expert the next day.  We discussed briefly what had happened.  He came out about 2 days later (soonest appt. available).  I was never asked to provide anything proving the storm came through.  It was a pretty big storm and we weren't the only ones who had lightening damage.

Long and short of it, they replaced everything with new items.  We were asked to provide receipts for ALL of the damaged things.  Luckily, I keep every receipt I ever get, especially for anything sizeable.  So, I could provide them with them all.  Our policy was a good one and had the caveat that full replacement value would be provided.

They asked me to get several repair estimates - they also provided names of contractor who could provide estimates in my region if I didn't know anyone.

Once the expert inspected the damage and wrote up his report (next day after inspection) things rolled very quickly (for France).  I was without hot water for 19 days and that was rather tough.  But getting the HVAC system repaired required ordering parts from Germany and they took a while to receive.

It was the best (if there is such a thing) insurance claim experience I've ever had.  They (Groupama) also came through for me when an elderly driver hit my car head on when he vired over into my lane.  His fault.  Groupama took care of it all for me.

This is why we still have them now for our home and car.

 

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1 hour ago, Harnser said:

This article from Connexion details what you need to do. I wouldn't normally quote Connexion but it seems that it has the procedure nailed.

But first of all contact your insurance company/broker/agent by telephone and follow it up with a registered letter to confirm what you said so they cannot deny it.

https://www.connexionfrance.com/article/Practical/Property/House-in-France-struck-by-lightning-Here-is-what-you-need-to-claim-attestation-de-foudroiement-insurance

Harnser - thanks for this but I don't get the Connexion so I can only read the first 2 short paragraphs.

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I don't know how to use this software so I'm making a bit of a hash of it.......

Lori, thanks for this lengthy reply.   It certainly helps to have a good insurance company.   I'm with Macif and never made a claim except for the car windscreen (19 years).

All I have so far is an agreement from the electrician to state that I need a complete new supply from my house across the path to the gite.   I don't know if it is going to be above or below ground but as I had a new fosse fitted last year, I'd rather not have any more of my property dug up!   I think I need this before I go any further??   As it's an unoccupied gite, I have only just opened up (open July/August only), and in fact, I was washing down the floor when I discovered the electricity was not working.   The electrician tested everything then said that the wires in the fuse box were burned, indicating a strike and that I would need a completely new supply.   I have no idea when the strike hit which may be a bit tricky with the Attestation mentioned above but there was a jolly good storm 2 days previously during the night.

I have no idea of contractors or if I need a specialist rather than just a home electrician so I'm hoping they will make some suggestions.

I need a lot of help here as I have so many questions.

 

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Harnser, Of course I need someone qualified but I've had a couple of retired electricians here who just changed a fuse.   I need someone with the right equipment - how can I tell the difference?

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You need the insurance company to send out THEIR inspector.  His report is the only one that matters (to the Insurance company).  His report will determine what the insurance company will cover.  In effect, what estimates of works you need.

 

Estimates from contractors are obtained AFTER the insurance inspectors report has been  submitted.

 

 

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If you are going to report the damage to your insurance company as a lightning strike, you will be asked when the strike occurred.  I'm not sure what would happen if you said you didn't know.  I imagine they would ask you how you know it was a strike if you don't know when it happened.

So, if you had a storm over the last few days, use that day when reporting - that is what I would do.  

You say the gite is new.  Is the fuse box also new?  Did you hire someone to install it when doing up the gite or did you inherite it when you bought the house?  Did all the electricity work when you finished preparing the gite?  I ask because if any work was done on the fuse box, it is possible the work might not have been done correctly and that could have caused to fry up.  Just asking because the insurance company will likely ask similar questions.  I'm sure their inspector will when he arrives.

As said by Harnser, you need an l’électricien licencié et assuré.  Here is a brief suggestion on how to choose an electrician.  And there are many other similar sites on the net.  This one gives a very good reminder to make sure whomever you choose does not sub-contract the work out to someone else.  Be sure to get all quotes in writing and make sure you understand them.  Your insurance company can really help with this; assuming they agree it qualifies for a claim.  The inspector will be the one who determines that.  He is your first port of call.  He should also be able to recommend qualified contractors.

 

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If you are going to report the damage to your insurance company as a lightning strike, you will be asked when the strike occurred.  I'm not sure what would happen if you said you didn't know.  I imagine they would ask you how you know it was a strike if you don't know when it happened.

So, if you had a storm over the last few days, use that day when reporting - that is what I would do.  

You say the gite is new.  Is the fuse box also new?  Did you hire someone to install it when doing up the gite or did you inherite it when you bought the house?  Did all the electricity work when you finished preparing the gite?  I ask because if any work was done on the fuse box, it is possible the work might not have been done correctly and that could have caused to fry up.  Just asking because the insurance company will likely ask similar questions.  I'm sure their inspector will when he arrives.

As said by Harnser, you need an l’électricien licencié et assuré.  Here is a brief suggestion on how to choose an electrician.  And there are many other similar sites on the net.  This one gives a very good reminder to make sure whomever you choose does not sub-contract the work out to someone else.  Be sure to get all quotes in writing and make sure you understand them.  Your insurance company can really help with this; assuming they agree it qualifies for a claim.  The inspector will be the one who determines that.  He is your first port of call.  He should also be able to recommend qualified contractors.

 

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Sorry for the double post.  I have no idea how to remove the duplicate..  This site is maddening.  After typing all that reply out, I got an error message when attempting to post it.  Had no idea if it posted or not. 

Really, really frustrating.

Is this how they suggest the forum get tossed in the garbage??  Use the WORST software possible and all forum members will just give up.

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Lori - you are being very helpful - thanks.

It was my electrician who said the wires were burned so therefore, in his opinion, it was a strike.

So........... I need to go to Macif and report the problem and they will send out an Inspector who will assess the damage and tell me what I am covered for?

Then he will suggest various contractors?   In the meantime, I will also have the electrician's report.

I'll use the date of the last storm which was last Monday in the early hours.

The gite is NOT new - I inherited it - (it's possibly 30 years old).   In the loo there is a box on the wall with the main electrics, fuses etc - about 8 of them, also the socket for the water heater which I only plug in for occupancy.

All the electrics worked when I closed up last September.   I was about to start on the green pool last week but no power.   (I think I can see a problem coming here)   I'll have to agree these details with my electrician as I can't say for certain when the strike hit.   However, whenever the strike hit, I am not surely covered anyway??

 

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Yes, really struggling with this software.   I was a member many years ago (Expat France or something like that?) and tried to get back on the site last week but then my password didn't work and I went around in circles trying to change it.   In the end, I re-joined with a different email address.   It's so slow too.   I'm not sure why they "updated" it as it's now worse than before.   (Hope they are reading this!)

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No, don't be so sure you are covered when you don't know when the problem occurred, this would also kind of imply that you don't know HOW the problem occurred.  Unless things have changed, you have a limited amount of time to contact your insurance company to make a claim.  And that time limit is pretty short (like only a few days if memory serves - and it might not - so double check).

And most insurance companies have phone numbers to report a sinistre on any day of the week.  So, if the storm happened last Monday, you want to contact them ASAP.

If it was me, I would set the report from your electrician aside.  I would not want to provide anything that might preclude my claim being accepted by the inspector.  You should do what you feel is right for you, but keep in mind that the insurance company inspector is the one who will make a report detailing what he thinks has happened and that report is what determines if your claim will be accepted or not.  So, to me anyway, I would not want to provide anything that MAY have an impact on the inspector's report.  Even if I think it might work in my favor.  You might be surprised at what could negatively impact an insurance claim.

 

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Also, as a side thought.  If your insurance policy states that your home is a second home, the inspector will almost certainly question when you left the house, when you returned to the house, if it remained vacant during your absence and if you turned off the circuit breaker during your absense.

He will want to know that you were AT the house when the strike occurred.  He will try to determine if it is possible that it occurred during a time when you were not staying there.  Based totally on how you answer his questions.

There are various reasons he will ask all these questions. 

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"All I have so far is an agreement from the electrician to state that I need a complete new supply from my house across the path to the gite."

So, you're saying that the fuse box/circuit breaker that is in the gite (the fried one) gets its power from the circuit breaker in your main house?  If this is so, it seems very strange that a lightning strike hitting the gite breaker would not also impact the main source to that breaker (your main house).

 

 

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Thanks - I've asked a friend to phone just a few minutes ago.   I suppose there may be a 24 hour number so at least the call will be registered.   I was waiting for the electrician's report before I did anything but I suppose that's not an excuse.

It makes me wonder though, if Brits are away when their property is hit, how do they make a claim?

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Most people I know who have second homes in France, turn off the electricity and the water (draining the pipes) before they leave. 

After having suffered a serious water leak beside the below ground water meter (also when we lived in Bédoin - primary residence, not secondary) and having to deal with the enormous problems involved in settling this type of thing with the water company (in this case it was SDEi), we always turn off the water and electricity when we go on vacation.

Most also have neighbors who can keep an eye on the house in the event of problems - break-ins, storm damage, leaking water pipes, fire, etc.

 

 

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I'm so fed up with this software - I've been trying since lunchtime to get into it to respond to you but I get "timed out"/error/server unavailable etc......

However, I'll now try to answer your questions.....

My house is my principal residance (I live here 24/7) and the gite - just 50 yards away is just let out as a gite for 2 months of the year.   It has a pool which I maintain for my own use as well.   It is locked, water turned off but rarely the electricity as I use it as a garage in the winter.   It is open on 2 sides - I'll try to post a photo.

Your next question is a bit complicated.......... the circuit breaker (fitted 18 months ago) is in the house.  When I returned to the house, the electricity had also gone off.   Earlier today I wrote to my electrician to ask him why this happened as surely the CB should have protected my house?   Sorry but I don't understand these things.  So there is just the fuse box in the gite loo and the CB is fitted in the main house.   When he arrived he touched the CB and power was restored to the house, then he tested the gite fuse box with his meter and some other smart gadget to test for power in each one.

Also this afternoon, I've done an on-line submission to Macif reporting the problem - didn't realise that I could do this but it saves me from a visit and now it has been registered.

Lastly, surely, turning off the electricity does not prevent a strike?   Or does this just prevent a fry-up?

Now that I have successfully got into this, I'll keep it open!!

Now for the photo..........

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Yes, the software here is AWFUL.  Makes posting a nightmare.

Good it is your primary residence, that will help.  From what you've written, it sounds like perhaps a lightning strike hit the gite, traveled back to the source of the electricity - the circuit breaker in your main house and tripped that breaker box, but didn't fry it.  A little surprising, but hey, I am not qualified electrician.  The insurance inspector should be able to shed more light on the subject.

And no, turning off the breaker would not stop a lightning strike, but it should reduce the amount of damage if the electrical current to all the things in the house/gite were not active.

I'm glad you were able to put in a claim online.  You're on your way.  Be sure to follow-up promptly if you do not get a proper reply on Monday.

Good luck.

 

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Thanks so much for your help Lori!!

The site said that an Inspector would contact me - are you saying that I should follow up anyway after a couple of days?

I will NOT continue with this site as it's too difficult, too slow, inefficient etc but at least you have given me very important information to help me with this problem.

Best wishes

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Yes, I would follow up with a direct phone call to verify they have received your claim and ask when you should expect to hear from an inspector.  I, personally would do that on Monday afternoon (tomorrow).

I am a member on the site France in Focus, though I have never posted there.  I do look in.  I would post my email here to communicate directly with you, but I figure that wouldn't be wise.  Not sure about posting my cell phone number either, but if you want to speak on the phone, I'm sure we can figure out a private message function to facilitate that. 

If you do decide you want to find me, just check out the Frarnce in Focus forum site.  I believe you can private message there too.

 

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