WHAT A WAY TO TREAT A DYING MAN

Money Mail, March 18

WHEN my husband was given six months to live, one insurance company paid out straightaway. But the other took 16 months to settle and tried every trick in the book not to pay the full claim. There is little help from outside bodies, so I had to do most of the battling myself.

M. M., Liverpool. I AM very glad I read this article. My home insurance with L&G is due for renewal in April. I shall be looking elsewhere.

G. S., Essex. MY FRIEND took a policy that meant her mortgage would be paid if she came down with an illness or injury which meant she couldn’t work. Yet when she was diagnosed with cancer, the insurer tried to argue that she had known she was suffering from it — but hadn’t gone to have it diagnosed until after she had a policy in place. They alleged she’d tried to scam them. Unbelievable!

J. D., by email. I WORKED in an insurance claims department 40 years ago, and regarded it as one of the most honest, ethical areas of business I was ever involved in. But my own recent experience of insurance firms refusing to pay out on the flimsiest of excuses leads me to believe it’s a different world now.

S. S., Birmingham. THESE companies are in the business of making money — not making payouts to customers in dire need. Despite the glossy adverts claiming differently, if a company can find a way out of paying, then they always do, without any concern for the loyal customer. It’s time a governing body with teeth was put in place to stop this kind of poor business practice.

S. U., Epping. WHAT you have to remember is that insurance companies are nothing but high-class bookies. Your premiums are a bet and they are calculated against the risk of them paying out in the event that you ‘win’. The odds are always stacked in their favour.