Two accounts of an incident: build a factual timeline

Separate three kinds of information

Use columns for direct observation, information reported by someone else and questions requiring clarification. Record known dates and times. Label estimates as estimates rather than turning an approximate time into an exact minute.

Article 100 of Portugal’s insurance contract regime concerns communicating an incident’s circumstances, possible causes and consequences. Organising information does not mean replacing an unknown cause with a guess.

Sources: Diário da República — insurance contract regime, Article 100 ↗

A corrected record

Fictional example: Rui writes that water started entering yesterday. Inês asks whether he witnessed the beginning. Rui realises that he only received a message on that date. They correct the note to “message received yesterday; start of water entry unconfirmed”.

The correction does not erase the account; it clarifies what the evidence establishes. If an earlier photograph appears, they add its reference and context without changing the original file or claiming it proves the fault’s origin.

Preserve facts and the next step

Keep versions and records in the appropriate channel, restricting disclosure of residents’ details. A factual list helps answer the intermediary’s or insurer’s questions; it does not replace a survey or policy assessment.

Check the applicable reporting procedure and deadline rather than wait for a perfect timeline before seeking guidance. Safety comes first if there is danger. Visit Home Insurance on rmachado.group to prepare building insurance questions. Keep identifiable photographs and claim documents out of public comments.