ABSA Home Owners Insurance - Complaint ref no: C-***0

Our house burnt down 8th June 2021. ABSA Insurance appointed C Pretorius Construction 16th August to rebuild the house. He is not registered with NHBRC. The budget was R5,2 million. Soon after that we contracted COVID with my husband and Son being in COVID ICU wards. My husband passed away on 6 August. I believe the Assessor and Builder tried to take advantage of me in a very vulnerable position. ABSA Ins. insisted I'm responsible for an architect to redraw the plans and COJ Fees. According to the Insurance Policy "in the event of the house being destroyed by fire or a flood" its their costs. On 24th November they paid the builder to pay the Architect. I've had several issues with having no insight into the budget or a revised building Programme. I've sent numerous emails which weren't answered or even acknowledged that they've received it. I lodged a complaint with their Complaints Department. Still no response. I appointed Attorneys to ask on my behalf insight into the budget as well as other issues. ABSA Ins. ignored the 2 legal letters. An independent Quantity Surveyor was appointed to check the revised costings the builder presented on 23 Feb. As I suspected costs were inflated. Building has been stopped as we are still waiting for ABSA to respond to the points the Attorneys raised. I'm sure payments were made to the builder without me signing the withdrawals off. C Pretorius Construction has deviated from the Approved Plans several times. I'm questioning the safety and quality of the building. It's impossible to get a Senior Manager' contact details to bring this case to their attention. It's 10 months later and I still don't have a finished house. I want to make the public aware of ABSA Insurance 's conduct. I can't image what they are going to do to the homeowners in Kwazulu Natal with the floods. These are just a few issues I've raised. I need to warn other homeowners with their Home Insurance with ABSA that this is the treatment they can expect.