Frequently asked questions.

We are an independent counter-expertise firm. When you suffer a loss we stand next to you — not next to the insurer. We assess the damage ourselves, scrutinise your policy and negotiate with the insurer on the settlement.

We act exclusively for the insured. No instructions from insurers, no shareholder relationships with intermediaries financed by insurers, no commercial partnerships. That is verifiable — our position is public.

For private clients with damage to their home, contents or business assets, and for SMEs (shops, hospitality, agricultural businesses, manufacturing). No work for insurers or intermediaries.

Decades. Since 2020 we have been the preferred provider for independent claim assessments commissioned by the Dutch Insurance Ombudsman.

Nothing out of pocket. Our reasonable expertise costs are reimbursed by your insurer under article 7:959(1) of the Dutch Civil Code — mandatory law for consumers. We invoice these costs separately, on top of your claim amount.

This happens occasionally, usually without justification. We have many years of experience in recovering expertise costs, also through the courts where necessary. The law and case law are on your side — the 2020 Court of The Hague ruling confirms this.

Costs proportionate to the complexity and scale of the claim. For small claims this is a few hours of work; for complex fire or business interruption claims it can be substantially more. We discuss in advance what we expect the cost to be.

No. We do not charge anything in advance and require no down payment. The invoice goes to your insurer on completion.

As early as possible, preferably before the insurer's expert visits. This prevents the claim being recorded one-sidedly. But also at a later stage — if you doubt a report or an offer — we can still make a substantial difference.

Often within 24 hours, sometimes the same day in urgent cases. Call +31 30 662 2424 or report your claim online — we will be in touch immediately.

This varies considerably by type of damage. A straightforward contents claim can be settled within 4–6 weeks; a complex fire damage case involving business interruption can take 3–9 months. Court proceedings can take longer still — we always discuss this with you in advance.

Then we end the engagement amicably. You are not contractually bound to us — if our advice does not match your situation or interests, we put it back to you and discuss alternatives.

Fire, water, storm, hail, theft, burglary, smoke and soot damage, and business interruption (property damage, loss of profits, downtime). For very specialised claims such as marine or cyber, please consult us first — for those we sometimes work alongside specialists.

Yes. A fire in the neighbourhood can leave your home or business premises affected by smoke and soot damage — often underestimated. We assess whether this falls under your own policy and assist with handling the claim.

Yes. Our fire investigators work in accordance with NFPA 921 (the international standard) and can also provide a second opinion on the insurer's report or that of a cause-and-origin investigator.

An extremely difficult situation. We have experience with this — an independent fire investigation can rebut unfounded fraud suspicions. We leave criminal law matters to a criminal defence lawyer; the insurance file is our work.

Yes. Almost every indemnity insurance policy includes the right to your own expert. Some insurers try to restrict that right by imposing training or registration requirements — such requirements are not always legally sustainable. In 2020 the Court of The Hague ruled that Achmea had to drop such requirements.

A frequently used defence. Whether it is justified depends on the cause, the type of policy and the legal assessment of the exclusion. We test whether the defence stands up — often it does not, particularly where the policy conditions are broadly or vaguely worded.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Many legal expenses insurers work with the same experts as the indemnity insurer (often via shared ownership). In that case a genuinely independent counter-expert becomes all the more valuable.

Sometimes yes. Most matters we negotiate directly with the insurer — litigation is a last resort. But where we cannot reach agreement on the facts or the interpretation of policy conditions, we assist you in building a case file for the courts.