‘Sorry, there’s NO insurance payout’
That’s what the Jenkins family have been told after this torrent caused £30,000 of damage to their home.
A FAMILY whose home and garden suffered at least £30,000 worth of damage in flash flooding won’t get an insurance payout due to a clause in their policy.
The Jenkins’ newlyrefurbished home in Maesteg was inundated with foul and muddy water when heavy rain poured off a nearby mountain and from a blocked culvert.
But a clause concerning the proximity of their house to the River Llynfi means they can’t claim a penny – even though the flooding did not come from the river.
The family of four are now squashed into one bedroom at a relative’s house.
They are unable to afford temporary accommodation or to repair their own home on Bridgend Road, Garth.
Their insurance company Ocaso initially approved their claim following the flooding in November, dubbed the worst to hit Maesteg in 50 years.
But then homeowner Mark Jenkins – who is married to Cerys, 39, and is dad to sons Sami, 12, and Lewi, two – said after £17,000 worth of sodden furniture and contents had been put in a skip they made a U-turn and denied the claim.
They said he had failed to tick a box on his insurance application stating that the house was within 200m of a river.
Mark, 39, a supply chain manager for QRL Radiator Group in Newport, admits he didn’t see the box and made an oversight but is stunned by the decision.
“This shouldn’t be happening to people, it’s not right,” he said.
“I have been paying £47 a month so it’s not a cheap policy.
“I know the River Llynfi runs through the middle of Maesteg and I know it’s the other side of the road. But I can’t see it from my property.
“The river would need to flood probably by 15m and flow uphill to flood my house.”
Mark has been quoted between £30,000 and £40,000 for repairs to the house and garden, which would include a new kitchen and bathroom.
A spokesman for Ocaso said: “We are in discussions with our policyholder regarding this matter and the information provided when the policy was initially proposed for. It would not be appropriate for us to comment further at this stage.”
The family’s case has also shocked Ogmore AM Huw Irranca-Davies, who raised it in the Senedd leading Lesley Griffiths, the Cabinet Secretary for the Environment and Rural Affairs, to pledge to take up the issue with insurance industry bodies.
Mr Irranca-Davies said he is concerned others will be caught out by the 200m rule, particularly families in the valleys where most people live close to a river.
“Frankly, this is the last thing a flooded homeowner needs, and I think the insurer needs to act with compassion, not look like a Scrooge as we approach Christmas,” he said.
“I am worried that this 200m issue will be used as a flooding cop-out for the wider British insurance industry in future, so I am pleased that the Cabinet Secretary has agreed to raise this matter with the British Insurance Brokers’ Association and the Association of British Insurers.”
The Association of British Insurers director of public policy for Wales, Alastair Ross, said: “Insurance is there to provide help and support when the worst happens. It’s important people answer questions honestly and to the best of their knowledge when taking out a policy so the insurer can assess the risk they’re at and set their premium appropriately. The Financial Ombudsman Service exists to investigate any cases where a customer feels they have not been treated fairly.
“The insurance industry takes the availability of property insurance for flood risk areas very seriously which is why it worked with Government to set up the world first Flood Re scheme, which exists to ensure people can access affordable insurance for their homes. It’s always a good idea to shop around when buying insurance to find the best priced policy to suit your situation.”
Martin Bridges, the British Insurance Brokers’ Association technical services manager, said: “Whilst it is difficult for us to comment on individual cases, the law in relation to disclosure for consumer insurance contracts is the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 which asks that those applying for insurance have a duty to take reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation to insurers at inception.
“It is important to get all the facts right when applying for insurance and BIBA would always recommend using an insurance broker to assist in arranging an insurance policy. Customers can find a broker via the FindA-Broker service on 0370 950 1790 or at www.biba. org.uk”