Major supermarket issues update after closing 50 stores due to Storm Eowyn

Consumer reporter James Flanders explains what you might be due.

Power outages

If your power is off for more than 24 hours following bad weather, you are entitled to £80.

You will also get £80 if you are left without power for 48 hours due to a “severe” storm.

After these time frames, you’ll get a further £40 for every additional six hours you are without power, up to a maximum of £2,000.

How you can claim compensation varies depending on your distribution network operator (DNO) – you can find your DNO on the National Grid’s website.

You must claim power compensation within 30 days of any power outage.

Storm damage

You may be able to make a claim on your home insurance for storm damage, but of course, this depends on the type of cover you have.

The finer details in your terms and conditions will reveal what exactly you are covered for.

Usually, both building and contents insurance cover against storm and weather damage, according to comparethemarket.com.

The Financial Ombudsman defines a storm as “generally involving” violent winds, usually accompanied by rain, hail or snow“.

But many insurers have their own standards defining “bad weather”, which you agree to when you take out the policy.

Water outage

If you’re left without water due to bad weather and it isn’t restored by the time the company says it will be, you’re usually entitled to compensation of £20 for the first 24 hours.

After this point, you should get an extra £10 for each further 24-hour period you’re left without running water.

If your supplier doesn’t send you compensation within 20 working days, you are entitled to an extra £20.

However, there are some circumstances when your water company doesn’t have to pay compensation.

For example, if the weather was severe enough, it was not able to meet its “standards”.

Broadband and landline outages

Broadband and landline customers can get money back from their provider following outages through the Automatic Compensation Scheme.

You don’t have to ask for compensation, and it should just be given to you automatically after reporting any issues.

Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, previously confirmed to The Sun the scheme applies if the fault is caused by bad weather.

Any compensation is sent as a credit on your bill no later than 30 days after the issue occurred.

Landline and broadband customers can get compensation if their service has stopped working and is not fixed after two full working days.

For each calendar day that the service is not repaired after this two-day period, the customer receives £9.33.

Car damage

You’ll only be able to claim on your car insurance if it’s fully comprehensive.

Third-party fire and theft policies only cover if your car is damaged by another vehicle or if your car is stolen or catches fire, according to Uswitch.

So if you’re not fully comp, you’ll have to fork out for damage caused by falling trees or fences from Storm Isha.

With a fully comp policy, you’ll still have to pay the excess – how much that is depends on how much the policy is.

But bear in mind that making a claim could see your premium rate jump up.

Train delays

You can get your money back if your train is cancelled or delayed – but only if you choose not to travel at all.

National Rail says your unused ticket can be refunded, and you shouldn’t be charged a fee for this.

All ticket types are refundable if you do not travel due to disruption, according to the Office of Rail and Road.

You may be able to get compensation for train journeys that have been delayed or cancelled due to severe weather.

All train companies have adopted “delay repay”, a national scheme used to compensate you for unexpected delays – and sometimes this includes bad weather.

Passengers are entitled to compensation for any delay of 15 minutes or more unless the delay is caused by planned engineering work.

How much you get back depends on how long the delay is and the type of ticket you have.

You can usually claim online via the train company’s website and will usually need a picture of your ticket and information about the train service you were on to claim.

Flight delays

When a flight is due to depart from an EU airport, regardless of the airline, or where an EU airline is due to land at an EU airport, you are covered by EU flight delay and cancellation rules.

When your flight is cancelled, you’re entitled to an alternative flight or a full refund – including a refund for the return leg.

If you opt for an alternative flight, it’s up to you whether to fly as soon as possible after the cancelled flight or at a later date.

If you opt for a later flight, you may also be entitled to food, drink and accommodation if you have to stay overnight.

Your airline may give you a voucher to redeem.

If you cannot contact your airline, you may need to pay for accommodation yourself and claim the cash back later – make sure you keep hold of receipts.

If you were due to travel outside the EU, contact your airline as what you’re entitled to will vary.

If your flight has been delayed for more than five hours and it’s an EU flight, you are entitled to a refund if you no longer want to travel.

You will also get a refund for any unused parts of your booking – for example, the return flight – and a flight back to your departure airport if you’ve already completed part of your journey.

If you opt for this, keep in mind that you’ll generally no longer be entitled to any further care and assistance.

Generally, you don’t have a right to claim additional compensation if the cause of the delay or cancellation is bad weather.