Insurance brokers
When a client's building claim is declined, only partly paid or stuck, you need evidence the insurer has to engage with. Meridian gives you an independent forensic building report from a consultant who spent nine years working directly for general and strata insurers.
We only act on insurance-related matters.
When brokers instruct us
Claim declined or partly declined
The insurer says the damage is gradual, wear and tear, a defect or poor maintenance, and your client disagrees. We investigate the cause and set out the evidence.
A disputed expert report
We review the insurer’s expert report: its methodology, evidence and reasoning, including compliance with the ICA Use of Expert Reports standard.
Scope or cash settlement in question
We check whether the insurer’s scope, or the scope behind a cash settlement, covers the work needed, and whether quantities, rates and margins are fair.
Strata claims
For owners corporation clients: lot or common property, damage or maintenance, and who is responsible for repair under the Owners Corporations Act 2006 (Vic).
IDR and AFCA
A report that keeps fact and opinion apart and shows its reasoning, for internal dispute resolution and AFCA. If the insurer responds, we answer in a supplementary report.
You represent your client. We give independent evidence.
Our expert opinion rests on the evidence, the National Construction Code and Australian Standards, not on who instructs us. That independence is what gives the report weight with the insurer, at IDR and at AFCA. If the evidence doesn't support your client's position, we tell you early, before more time and money go into the dispute.
- No repair work and no referral fees. Our fee never depends on the outcome of the claim.
- Reports aligned with the ICA Use of Expert Reports standard.
- You deal directly with the consultant who inspects and signs the report.
- Basic Causation Reports within 5 business days of inspection; Forensic Reports within 10. Urgent reports within 3 business days.
Reports brokers usually instruct
- Peer Review ReportReview of the insurer’s expert report.
- Forensic ReportComplex or disputed claims, including claim file and claim handling reviews.
- Basic Causation ReportStraightforward claims where the cause is the question.
- Scope & Quotation ReviewThe insurer’s scope or cash settlement figure, or a builder’s quote.
- Strata Forensic ReportOwners corporation claims.
- Supplementary ReportWhen the insurer responds or new information comes to light.
- Expert Witness ReportIf the matter goes to VCAT or court.
Instruct Meridian
Send the names of the parties (your client and the insurer), the property address and the claim number. We'll confirm within one business day whether we can act, including a check for any earlier work on the same claim, and the fee. Please confirm you have your client's authority to instruct us and to share their details.
If your firm pays our invoice, commercial terms apply: invoiced when the report is issued, payable in 14 days. If your client pays, private-client terms apply: a 50% deposit on instruction and the balance before the report is released. We confirm which applies before work starts.