Claim number 24/017284 Boundary wall movement rejected claim

Hello Peter,

I registered a claim for the perimeter wall which shifted and made the gate impossible to close. This claim was registered in mid February 2024, the assesor was sent out but I had to follow up with Standard Bank on my claim status as they were quiet for some time. The date of follow up was the 28th of February 2024. To my surprise I received a claim rejection letter on the 29th of Feb 2024, stating that my the timber is rotten where barge board is, caused by the lack of roof maintenance.

I then objected this rejection as I don't have badge boards in my house nor made any roof related claim. Subsequently, Standard Bank pasted another statement on the same letter stating that the roots have grown underneath causing expansion on the foundation, forcing the wall to move a few inches and causing the gate not to close properly.

I requested Standard Bank to show me the roots they are speculating about but they could not substantiate their statement. In theory there should be signs of cracks on the wall if the lateral growth could have jacked the foundation.

It is very dissapointing as the assesor verbally suspected the dolomite impact as the area is on a dolomite. Surprisingly, things changed.