Can insurance company sue me?

[Contessa]

Re: Can insurance company sue me?

The policy number stated on the letter matchesa letter Groupama sent to me from the commercial claims centre.

The COPY of my insurance document they sent me does NOT match with my insurance documents. It is the same layout as what I put on this forum - BUT the date and policy number is not on ANY of my policies.

[des8]

Re: Can insurance company sue me?

So contrary to earlier posts you are sure that Groupama/Ageas were not your insurers?
Have you personally seen a letter of claim from your ex landlord or his insurers?
It seems that your landlord/his insurers have lodged a claim directly with Groupama/Ageas, which you think is the wrong company.

It is also of concern that he fire was started by your ex who was staying with you, with your landlord's knowledge.
Normally your policy would cover guests whilst with you.
Although his name was not on the tenancy agreement, did he pay the landlord rent? did he pay you rent?
You say he claimed HB to pay towards the rent (which was under the landlords name).
If he was paying the landlord rent, he was not your guest and therefore you would not be liable for damage caused by his actions.
If he paid you rent, you would be subletting and your policy would probably not cover you. (If this was the position I would assume this was a general contribution to household expenses rather than rent!)

[des8]

Re: Can insurance company sue me?

The policy number stated on the letter matchesa letter Groupama sent to me from the commercial claims centre.

The COPY of my insurance document they sent me does NOT match with my insurance documents. It is the same layout as what I put on this forum - BUT the date and policy number is not on ANY of my policies.

To be clear: are you saying the dates and policy numbers on your policy documents do not match the policy numbers and dates on the copy documents sent by the solicitors and Groupama? What about the addresses on the documents? are they identical?

[Contessa]

Re: Can insurance company sue me?

I moved in fire address November 2008. The copy solicitors sent me is dated 25.9.2007. The policy number does not match. I have checked the phone number and it also does not match. It also states "Bradford and bingley". I have not a clue who this policy belongs to.

[Contessa]

Re: Can insurance company sue me?

The FIRST attachment is MY policy from 2007 (nothing to do with this property).

The second attachment is the COPY of what the solicitors sent yesterday dated 2007. Does NOT have my personal details at all.

The third attachment is MY policy at the address of the fire dated August 2009, as I amended and had accidental damage cover included.

The fourth is ALSO a copy of what the solicitor sent. Does NOT have my personal details at all.

[Contessa]

Re: Can insurance company sue me?

Who do you suggest I call - Budget, or Groupama the . I never had any dealings with Ageas as I had already renewed my policy elsewhere, when I moved on from the fire address. As I always do EVERY year, to get the best deal. Is it worth calling the number on the policy the solicitors sent just to double check if it was EVER under my name (which it won't be). Problem is the policies are really OLD, do they still keep a record on their system?

[des8]

Re: Can insurance company sue me?

I would start with Budget.
The problem is that neither Budget, nor Bradford and Bingley are insurers.
They are both acting as intermediaries or brokers, and the papers you have posted don't say who the insurers are.
You could well be covered by Ageas.
The fire was in February 2010, and the policy numbered 111315444-08 appears to be the correct policy.
Ask Budget with whom the insurance was placed.

You could also go back to the solicitors and point out the policy details sent to you are incomplete, and do not match documents in your possession already.
They need to send you, besides a full policy wording, a copy of the schedule for the time of the incident.
You could also point out that as yet you have never received a claim from the ex landlord or his insurers, nor any direct notice of the claim from the insurers.
Under the circumstances you are adverse to dealing with any third party (including themselves) until the matter is handled correctly.

[Contessa]

Re: Can insurance company sue me?

So contrary to earlier posts you are sure that Groupama/Ageas were not your insurers:
I went through Budget to get the best deal.
Under written by Royal Sun Alliance.
First I heard of Groupama was after the fire and it was a "Claims Service Advisor".
Merlin - were the Loss Adjuster.
Groupama sent me a cheque to cover loss of my items.
Have you personally seen a letter of claim from your ex landlord or his insurers:
I have not had any letter from any insurance company or landlord.
The solicitors letter was the FIRST time I heard about this dispute.
It seems that your landlord/his insurers have lodged a claim directly with Groupama/Ageas, which you think is the wrong company.
I know I dealt with Groupama for the FIRST time after the fire. I would always call Budget direct if I had any queries regarding my contents insurance.
It is also of concern that the fire was started by your ex who was staying with you, with your landlord's knowledge.,
My landlord had full knowledge of EX staying with me. The tenancy agreement was based on my wage slips and bank statements, which were satisfactory.
Although his name was not on the tenancy agreement, did he pay the landlord rent? did he pay you rent?
He would put £10/£20 towards the rent but the full amount was my responsibility. I covered the bills, council tax etc. I just felt sorry for him being my childs dad.
You say he claimed HB to pay towards the rent (which was under the landlords name).
I have double checked with him (since we hardly spoke) he did not claim housing benefit JUST income support.

[Contessa]

Re: Can insurance company sue me?

Hello again, I have amended what you posted and am happy to post to the solicitors. Is it okay?

As yet I have never received a claim from the ex landlord or his insurers, nor any direct notice of the claim from my insurers. I definitely, have not received instructions from my insurer that I should communicate with yourselves.


I would also like to point out the policy details sent to me are incomplete and they certainly do not match documents in my possession already. Can you send me a copy of the schedule for the time of the incident with all the relevant information, my name and address, correct policy number, date of insurance etc.


Under the circumstances I am adverse to dealing with any third party (including yourselves) until the matter is handled correctly.


I would remind you that all correspondence should be in writing.

[Contessa]

Re: Can insurance company sue me?

1. I will call budget tomorrow and see if they can pull up the account on the policy number the solictors sent.
2. I would like to call Groupama tomorrow (offices are closed now) JUST to clarify that these solicitors are working on their behalf. Do you think I should also get them to send me something in writing authorising me to speak to these solicitors since I have not heard from them since the fire?
3. I will post the letter out tomorrow to the solicitors.
4. I will also try and go to the the CAB on Friday.
***Does this sound like a plan to you.**
:tinysmile_grin_t:

[des8]

Re: Can insurance company sue me?

1. I will call budget tomorrow and see if they can pull up the account on the policy number the solictors sent. OK
2. I would like to call Groupama tomorrow (offices are closed now) JUST to clarify that these solicitors are working on their behalf. Do you think I should also get them to send me something in writing authorising me to speak to these solicitors since I have not heard from them since the fire?Don't forget Groupama's business was transferred to Ageas in 2013. There might be confusion
3. I will post the letter out tomorrow to the solicitors.OK
4. I will also try and go to the the CAB on Friday.
***Does this sound like a plan to you.**ok
:tinysmile_grin_t:

Fine, I just can't understand the discrepancies which are making it so confusing eg why did Groupama pay a claim which would seem to be covered by RSA?

[Contessa]

Re: Can insurance company sue me?

I don't understand any of it myself. I'm sure we will get to the bottom of it all, you never know I might be missing a very important document, that explains why groupama was involved. I will keep you posted. Thank you.

[Contessa]

Re: Can insurance company sue me?

Okay, I made the phone call to Bradford and Bingley and quoted the policy number. (It is NOT under my name).
I gave her MY policy number and it came up on her system. She told me it was underwritten by Ageas.
As confusing as it was, the Royal Sun Alliance policy was cancelled and renewed when I requested "Accidental Damage Cover". The NEW underwritters BECAME Ageas. However, I NEVER got a NEW set of paperwork, hence why I kept saying "Royal Sun Alliance".
She advised me I had a continuous policy with Budget since 1996 - which also makes sense to why I ALWAYS had there letter headed policies.
1. Do you think the solicitors sent me the WRONG copy of the policy by MISTAKE or on PURPOSE?
2. Shall I contact Ageas and find out what is going on and request a COPY of my policy at that time?

- - - Updated - - -

PS - I posted the letter to the solicitors today - so they should get my REQUESTS tomorrow.

[des8]

Re: Can insurance company sue me?

Okay, I made the phone call to Bradford and Bingley and quoted the policy number. (It is NOT under my name).
I gave her MY policy number and it came up on her system. She told me it was underwritten by Ageas.
As confusing as it was, the Royal Sun Alliance policy was cancelled and renewed when I requested "Accidental Damage Cover". The NEW underwritters BECAME Ageas. However, I NEVER got a NEW set of paperwork, hence why I kept saying "Royal Sun Alliance".
She advised me I had a continuous policy with Budget since 1996 - which also makes sense to why I ALWAYS had there letter headed policies.
1. Do you think the solicitors sent me the WRONG copy of the policy by MISTAKE or on PURPOSE? Not on purpose. It will have been provided to solicitors by Insurers, and when you have untrained personnel this is what happens
2. Shall I contact Ageas and find out what is going on and request a COPY of my policy at that time?Won't do any harm

- - - Updated - - -

PS - I posted the letter to the solicitors today - so they should get my REQUESTS tomorrow.

Responses in red

[Contessa]

Re: Can insurance company sue me?

Okay, yet another puzzle solved (for now).
I called Ageas (Public Liability Department).
I explained the WHOLE situation and quite frankly told them, I was a bit annoyed they had not communicated with me directly, to inform me Weightmans was acting on their behalf.
The dispute is between the NEIGHBOURS insurers and Ageas. NOT the landlords insurers and Ageas.
It started July 2010 when the neighbours insurer had to fork out over £12k.
It went quiet and then July 2014 the neighbours insurers commenced dispute and that is when Ageas hired Weightmans (although Weightmans FIRST wrote to me in February 2015.
If the amount had been £3k Ageas would have paid it out but it is a large amount over £12k, so they will also dispute payout.
The allegation against me is "It started with smoking material", therfore I am liable.
They want a full statement off me.
They will claim reliability under the policy, it is unlikely they will want the money off me. HOWEVER, if they find I am liable THEN they will pursue me for the cost!!!
1. If the dipute initially started July 2010 what is the timescale for it to lapse, where the dispute has to come to an end by law?
2. How important are the rental contracts?
3. WHO will the contracts benefit in the long run, EG - if they FIND a clause "No smoking on the premises"?
4. Can they actually use the rental agreement against me if they find something?
5. Should I STILL get the CAB involved at this stage - considering I found out most the answers myself. But in the long run they may be able to still help.
I am guessing they are REALLY trying to push for answers and finalise before July 2015. That is 5 years.
I totally FORGOT to ask for a copy of me policy for that time............