One of the problems we occasionally come up against is that people don’t understand the difference between a loss assessor and a loss adjuster. Now, this might seem like a trivial distinction for anyone who hasn’t gone through the process of making an insurance claim on their building or contents insurance. Those who have been through this, on the other hand, will realise that confusing them is a bit like confusing an accountant with a tax inspector.

A loss adjuster works for the insurance company you have your policy with, and it’s their job to make sure their employer doesn’t end up paying out money unnecessarily. A loss assessor like Allied Claims, on the other hand, works for claimants like you on a case-by-case basis. Our job, therefore, is to make sure you get every penny you’re entitled to.

That doesn’t mean, of course, that the loss adjuster is the bad guy, any more than the tax inspector is, or the opposing lawyer in a court case. They have an essential job to do and, in our experience, they normally do it professionally and ethically. At the same, however, it’s important to remember that the loss adjuster isn’t on your side. Your loss assessor is.

What Do Loss Assessors and Loss Adjusters Do?

If you have an insurance claim to make, both the loss assessor and the loss adjuster get involved early on. The difference is that the loss adjuster will be involved whether you like it or not, whereas you’ll have to engage the loss assessor yourself. And the time to do that is right away.

This is because a loss assessor can look at the claim you’re making and ensure that there are no errors in it that could give the loss adjuster a reason to reject or reduce the claim. The loss adjuster will look at what you’ve sent and ensure that it corresponds to what’s specified in your insurance policy. If it’s valid, they’ll accept it on principle — but that doesn’t mean your problems are over.

Because the loss adjuster is responsible to the insurance company, they’ll try to keep any pay-out as low as can be justified. This is where an expert loss assessor will really come into their own. Because they know as much about the insurance industry as the loss adjuster (if not more), they’ll be able to counter any invalid arguments the loss adjuster makes and ensure you get everything you’re entitled to.

That’s not all you get from a loss assessor, however. If they offer a full service, like Allied Claims, they’ll also arrange the quotes you need from contractors and project manage the work, saving you from having to constantly take time off work.

Most people wouldn’t face a court without their own lawyer, or tackle the taxman without an accountant — unless their affairs are very simple. Few insurance claims are simple, so why would you face the loss adjuster without the support of your very own expert fighting your corner?