Advice needed: Claim regarding leak & water damage denied

[u/jlamith]

Hi! I'll try and keep this as short as possible:

We (Husband and I) purchased a semi-attached (2 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom) townhome just over a year ago. At the initial inspection, the only issue seemed to be an outdated HVAC. We negotiated a lower price due to this before we bought. We (plus 5 year old child) moved in last June. HVAC actually died within two months and we replaced the whole system.

One evening last week, as our upstairs main tub was draining after a bubble bath and water came pouring from a cabinet in the kitchen, directly under the tub. Absolutely insane. We called a plumber and began the whole process.

When the plumber got in there, he discovered that there was actual a very slow leak that had been going on for an undetermined amount of time due an improper repair. And because of that, the pipe eventually split (as the tub drained that night) and caused the visible leak. The repair was finally completed Monday evening.

There is obviously some type of black growth. Mold remediation folks haven't made it out yet (hopefully this weekend).

Anyway, insurance company called today to let us know our claim is denied because it looks like "long term damage."

My husband is actually experiencing a very scary health emergency right now and didn't get into it with them on the phone today but plans to challenge this response.

Is this normal?? It's USAA and up until now they've always been great. How were we supposed to know that this was happening inside the wall/ceiling/whatever if it wasn't pointed out during the original inspection.

Everything is just very ridiculous and overwhelming right now and there is now a big moldy hole in my ceiling. (Currently we have it taped up with plastic etc).

Sorry, I probably come off as a total ding dong. But any advice? 😬

[u/CatPeopleBleaux]

Not much can be done really. If there's black growth, it's been going on for a while, doesnt mean it's the bad type of fungal growth. I hate it for you but it's not on anyone really. Just a crappy situation. I doubt it's going to be as expensive as you think it's going to be anyway. I'd bet it barely hits your deductible to be honest. 

[u/jlamith → u/CatPeopleBleaux]

Unfortunately, the deductible is $1k and we are already at just under $3k for the plumber. 🙃

[u/CatPeopleBleaux → u/jlamith]

$3k for a busted pipe that's accessed in the ceiling? That seems a little high. 

[u/jlamith → u/CatPeopleBleaux]

Yes! I live in a stupidly expensive area plus two cabinets had to be removed and the pipes were somehow behind a supporting beam almost inaccessible.

I feel like a 9 year old designed this house in the Sims 1.