Frequently Asked Questions — Claim Builder

Question 1

Can I claim for vehicle value loss after a non-fault accident?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If you were not at fault in an accident, you have the legal right to claim for the reduction in your vehicle's resale value, even after it has been repaired. This is known as diminution in value or vehicle value loss. When a vehicle is involved in an accident, its damage history is recorded on services like HPI. Even after full professional repairs, buyers and dealers consistently offer less for a vehicle with accident history. The UK legal case Payton v Brooks [1974] established that non-fault accident victims can claim this loss directly from the at-fault insurer without a solicitor. Our Vehicle Value Loss Recovery Pack (£49.99) gives you the professional evidence pack needed to make this claim.

Question 2

What do I get for £49.99 — Vehicle Value Loss Recovery Pack?

Accepted Answer

The Vehicle Value Loss Recovery Pack includes four professional documents: Live VRM Valuation (your vehicle's current market value looked up using your registration plate and real-time market data), Value Loss Calculation (a professional diminution calculation applied based on accident severity, structural damage, repair status, and category markers), Professional Evidence Report PDF (a formal evidence pack including your valuation, loss figure, the legal basis under Payton v Brooks, and supporting narrative), and Insurer-Ready Claim Letter (a professionally drafted demand letter with your calculated loss amount, ready to send directly to the at-fault insurer). One-off payment. Instant PDF download. No subscription. No solicitor required.

Question 3

Are the vehicle valuations accurate?

Accepted Answer

Our valuations are market-based estimates, generated using your registration plate and current market data. They are designed to give a credible, professionally presented figure to support your claim — not a certified appraisal. Factors such as regional variation, condition differences, private sale vs dealer sale, and changing market conditions mean actual values may differ from our estimate. For most non-fault insurer claims, a professionally presented market estimate is sufficient. If the claim proceeds to court or formal arbitration, you may wish to commission a certified valuation from an independent motor trade professional.

Question 4

What if my vehicle value loss claim is rejected by the insurer?

Accepted Answer

If the insurer rejects or ignores your claim, you have further options: submit a formal complaint to the insurer's complaints team; escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) if the insurer has not resolved your complaint within 8 weeks; or issue a claim in the small claims court (for amounts up to £10,000, no solicitor required). Our Full Recovery Bundle includes full court claim preparation documents — Letter Before Action, court claim draft, and enforcement documents — if you need to escalate.

Question 5

How does the Debt Recovery Pack work?

Accepted Answer

The Debt Recovery Pack (£99) gives you a complete, professional recovery kit for chasing money that is owed to you — whether from unpaid invoices, rent arrears, personal loans, or services rendered. You get: Personalised Letter Before Action (legally required before court), Case Strength Assessment, Draft N1 Particulars of Claim (small claims court form), Step-by-step recovery guide, and Evidence checklist. The Full Recovery Bundle (£199) adds enforcement documents (N323, N293A) for if the court judgment is ignored.

Question 6

Is this guaranteed to work?

Accepted Answer

No — and any service that guarantees a specific outcome should be treated with caution. What we do guarantee is that you will receive a professionally prepared, clearly structured pack that presents your claim in the strongest possible light. In many cases, a professional evidence pack and formal claim letter is enough to prompt the other party to settle without court action. However, outcomes ultimately depend on the merits of your specific case, the decisions of the insurer, landlord, or debtor, whether you accurately provided your case information, and factors outside our control.

Question 7

Are you a solicitor or law firm?

Accepted Answer

No. Claim Builder is a document preparation and guidance service — not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice, legal representation, or any regulated legal service. No solicitor-client relationship is created by using our platform. We help you prepare professional, well-structured documentation to support your claim. If you need legal advice about whether your case is strong enough to pursue, or help with court proceedings, you should consult a qualified solicitor.

Question 8

Can I get a refund?

Accepted Answer

Because our products are digital documents delivered instantly upon payment, we are unable to offer refunds once a document pack has been generated, downloaded, or accessed. This is consistent with UK Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. If you believe a refund is warranted and your documents have not yet been generated, please contact us within 24 hours of purchase at hello@claimbuilder.co.uk. Refunds are not available on the basis that a claim was unsuccessful, the insurer rejected the claim, or the outcome was not what you expected.

Question 9

What is Shirley, and is she free?

Accepted Answer

Shirley is our free AI assistant — available as a chat bubble on every page. She helps you figure out which product is right for your situation, walks you through each step of the builder forms, explains legal terms in plain English, and answers questions as you go. Shirley is completely free to use. No account, no payment, no sign-up required.

Question 10

What is a housing disrepair claim?

Accepted Answer

A housing disrepair claim is a formal process where tenants seek compensation and/or repairs for property issues their landlord has failed to fix. Under UK law (Landlord & Tenant Act 1985, Homes Act 2018), landlords have a legal duty to keep rental properties in good repair. Common issues include damp, mould, water leaks, broken heating, structural damage, and drainage problems. Our platform helps you build the professional documentation needed to support your claim.

Question 11

Do I need a solicitor to make a claim?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. Many users successfully use our document packs to negotiate directly with landlords, insurers, or debtors without needing a solicitor. The small claims court in England and Wales is specifically designed to be accessible to individuals without legal representation, for claims up to £10,000. However, if your case is complex, the amount is significant, or you are not comfortable managing the process yourself, consulting a qualified solicitor is always advisable. Our platform provides documents — it does not replace professional legal advice.

Question 12

What documents do I receive in the Housing Claim Pack?

Accepted Answer

Your housing claim pack includes 7 professionally formatted documents: Legal Rights Summary, Letter Before Action, Witness Statement, Draft N1 Particulars of Claim, Evidence Checklist, Case Summary Report, and a Next Steps Guide. All documents are tailored to your specific case and cite relevant UK housing law.

Question 13

Why is the landlord given 14 days to respond?

Accepted Answer

The 14-day period is the standard pre-action notice period used in housing disrepair claims. It gives the landlord a clear, reasonable — but firm — window to acknowledge the disrepair and commit to repairs before you escalate to court. This period is intentionally short to prevent landlords using delay tactics. If your landlord fails to respond or refuses to act within 14 days, you have the legal right to issue a claim in the County Court using the N1 Particulars of Claim included in your pack. Missing the deadline strengthens your case — it demonstrates the landlord was given proper notice and chose not to act.

Question 14

Is my data secure?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We use secure, encrypted storage for all data. Your information is never shared with third parties and is stored in compliance with UK GDPR. Only you can access your claim data through your password-protected account.

Question 15

Can I save my progress and return later?

Accepted Answer

Yes. For housing claims, your progress is automatically saved as you work. You can close your browser and return at any time. For Vehicle Value Loss and Debt Recovery packs, your data is saved to your browser session and you can continue where you left off.

Question 16

How long does it take to build a claim?

Accepted Answer

Most users complete the Vehicle Value Loss builder in 2–3 minutes, the Debt Recovery builder in 5–10 minutes, and the Housing Disrepair claim builder in 30–45 minutes. You can take as long as you need — progress is saved automatically.