About 18 months ago, we discovered water dripping from the ceiling onto the landing floor. Checks established that it was coming from a corner with dodgy plaster, directly below an attic bedroom. Behind a sealed under-eve cupboard I found a soaking world of rotting wood and plaster. Emergency measures including blankets, newspaper and buckets/bowls were deployed, and with regular emptying, have largely done the trick. Apart from the facts that we have no rear access to the garden, except through the cellar, and that any scaffolding would have to be erected, somehow, in next-doors dogshit-filled garden, the chief obstacle to getting it fixed was finance: where to find 10 grand (ish)?
Today, the Buildings and Contents insurance statement came through the door. Ah, I thought, skimming through, maybe it is covered on insurance, I have never claimed before. And sure enough, it seemed to be. So I rang the bank (the one with 2 letters the same at the front) and asked if I could claim. (I made the mistake of pressing the "I don't want to do the survey afterwards" button, and had to wait 10 minutes for an "Advisor"). I apparently had the wrong department, so I rang the correct number, pressed button one (for the survey) and got straight through. After the usual questions, I was asked when this happened.
"Ooh, probably about 15 months ago".
"Well sir, your policy only dates from July 2009. The old one was cancelled".
"I see. But the bank changed it at one of those periodic reviews you have. You are are saying that I cannot claim because of a technicality, caused by the bank?"
Advisor goes away to consult.
"I am sorry, sir, it is because you didnt claim straightaway"
"But it hasn't really been a problem, what with the buckets etc"
"Sorry sir, we cannot accept this claim"
I told the poor dolt in Newport that I would spare him the rant about having been a customer for over 30 years, and that as a major shareholder through the government that I deserved better than this, and that he could tell his supervisor that they have lost themselves a customer, and actually asked him if this was the least favourite part of his job (It was).
To make things worse, the bloody survey rang as soon as I put/slammed the phone down, and wouldnt be cut off (It may still be going, for all I know).
So I appear to have cost myself 10 Big Ones, thanks to a technicality, and my own ignorance. Fucking weasels
2 comments:
Even if you'd phoned when it had happened, they'd find a way to get out of paying for it.
That's what insurance is for. Not paying out when you need them.
Yes - don't forget insurance doesn't usually cover you for lack of maintenance.
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