Legal Expenses Insurance

[baldysod]

Afternoon
I have in the last few days received a County Claim for damages, injunctions and declarations.
I have already completed the AOS and filed them - I understand that process.
In June of last year the claimant's solicitor quoted similar damages/injunctions as a warning as to what was coming. So I contacted my legal expenses insurer who eventually stated that since the claimant claims this has been going on since 2016 and that I was arrested prior to the commencement of the policy (by the way I have never ever been arrested) that they considered it prior to my then current cover and refused to look at action at that time. I challenged that I had been arrested and that how was I to know that some one would claim I did something in the past. - They never responded.
Due to the wild unsubstantiated allegations and no Court Claim being issued I did not pursue the insurers and the policy was renewed elsewhere in July 2020.
So the questions I am trying to find assistance for are -
If the policy covered me for this type of claim then which insurer do I need to challenge -
My insurer in 2016? or
My insurer in 2020 when the allegations came to light?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[des8]

Could you either post a link to your policy wording, or post up the wording itself.

Generally though they do not cover issues that started before you bought the policy;
You might need to purchase a stand alone "after the event" policy.

Perhaps consult a solicitor?

[baldysod]

Hi

I have instructed a solicitor now, but I am struggling to interpret which year's insurance I need to take this over, as don't fancy laying out over £20k whilst this speculative claim goes through the system.

[des8]

Most unlikely your current insurance will cover this event as you knew about it before effecting the policy.
Your previous insurers have rejected your claim, but whether or not correctly cannot be ascertained without sight of the wording

Where's the £20k enter the picture?

You have instructed a solicitor to defend the claim?

[baldysod]

Hi.
Yes solicitor instructed and he thinks if it goes to court it's likely to be a minimum of £20k to defend. FYI I have now contacted all my insurers covering the periods cited in the claim and I am awaiting a response, I don't expect a speedy nor positive response from them.