Check out your insurance policy!
By mummymo
@mummymo (23706)
June 7, 2007 7:34pm CST
Most of my friends will know that Tuesday night was a bad night for me as my daughter had been ill all day and eventually taken in to hospital due to dehydration. Eventually we were able to get home at 3am (ish)and I hadn't had more than an hours sleep the night before! We had been sitting in the hospital for hours I was exhausted, sore and had a pounding headache! 5 am came and I still hadn't managed to sleep cause of the pain, when I heard a drip, drip, drip and I thought someone hadn't turned off a tap properly! No such luck when I went into the kitchen there was water coming through my electric extractor fan! That was me and the other half up and trying to switch off electricity at the mains and switch the water off at the mains! When we phoned our insurance company they said they would send out a company to dry out the kitchen and assess the damage but we would have to arrange a plumber to fix the leak first! The thing is I have been told that most insurance companies used to cover water leaks and plumbing costs - but they have mostly moved the goalposts and now only cover this if specifically asked and if you pay extra for the privilege! I am lucky that my plumber seems to think my insurance will still be liable for his bill in this case but I would urge you all to check your policies and ensure it doesn't state that wear and tear and corrosion to water pipes, tanks etc isn't stated as being uncovered! Sorry for being long winded I would just hate to see any one else being stung by this issue - as I have been reliably informed that the insurance company hasn't told their customers about these changes to policy! xxx
9 people like this
12 responses
@Eskimo (2315)
•
10 Jun 07
That's the problem with insurance these days, you take it out knowing exactly what is covered (although probably not many people actually read the VERY small print), then they change it slghtly every year and after a few years practically nothing is covered, and although they do tell you that they have changed the cover (again, usually in very small print), disguised as an improvement to the policy, it's difficult for the average person to realise exactly what has been removed.
2 people like this
@mummymo (23706)
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10 Jun 07
You said exactly what I wanted to honey but so much more clearly! I think it is a very sneaky and dishonest way to treat customers who think they are covered if anything awful happens to them - only to discover at the worst possible time they are on their own! Thank you for explaining it so well my friend! xxx
1 person likes this
@weemam (13372)
•
8 Jun 07
you really have had it put on with a trowel pal , everything has been happening to you ,
I always wanted to buy my house pal , but when things like this happen it is one of the times I am pleased I am renting , we had a leak under the sink last week ,phoned Paragon and a plumber was there in the morning , only needed a nut tightened ,
You have had more than your share lately sweetheart ,
I think you must be due some luck by now xxxx
1 person likes this
@dana234 (2114)
• Spain
9 Jun 07
Oh gosh, I´m trying to put myself in your shoes and must say that they are not very comfortable.
Life is really not being fair on you lately. I´m sorry to hear you´ve had so much hassle to deal with. Hope things will get better for you soon. You deserve a break from problems.
I´m renting, so when anything like this happens at least I don´t have to pay for it, although it takes forever to get hold of a plumber who will actually turn up (more or less) when he said he would.
Unfortunately insurance companies don´t tend to inform their customers about certain changes, even though they should. I always read the small letters (a real pain in the neck) of the contract before I sign up for an insurance and ask questions when I´ve got a doubt, so you can imagine that they adore me, lol.
Thanks for being so kind and considerate to post all this useful information here.
I´m glad that your daughter is feeling better. Try to get some rest whenever you can.
Take care, dear friend.
A big hug from
XXX Dana
@dana234 (2114)
• Spain
16 Jul 07
I´m glad I made you smile. From your other posts I know that your daughter is alright now, I´m so happy for you and her. Sorry for answering your comment so late. I´m not feeling all that good lately. Nothing too serious, must be old age, lol. Thanks for B.R., dear.
Hugs and lots of love
Dana
1 person likes this
@mummymo (23706)
•
9 Jun 07
Oh Dana honey thank you very much for caring and making me feel better! I am still smiling - If I din't I don't know what I would do! lol Hopefully now the worst is past and things might improve! I actually thought the other half had combed through the small print - should have known better than to trust a man with that , although to be fair we have been with the same company 7 years and he didn't even consider the possibility of them changing a fundamental part of our policy! Sounds like you do the right thing honey and I think I will be following your lead from now on! Niamh has an appt at hospital next week to see if they feel they need to scan her kidneys again , I will let you know how it goes! Thanks for the hug - boy did I need that! Sending you a great big hug back to my special friend! xxx
@wolfie34 (26770)
• United Kingdom
8 Jun 07
Hope your daughter is on my mend my sweet and if it doesn't rain it pours (no pun intended) do you know insurance companies are the biggest crooks out, it really really irritates the hell out of me it's like getting blood out of a stone and you have the read the smallprint so damn carefully that they have everything covered. I had my mobile phone thieved from the gym, it's doubtful whether they'll cover it, I know it's only a mobile but because my bag was left in a public place it annuls the policy, hmmmmmph! Hugs xxx
@mummymo (23706)
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8 Jun 07
She is improving a bit daily sweets - thank you for asking! I know exactly what you mean about the insurance companies honey - that is why I want to fight back and warn people when I hear they change the rules so sneakily again! It is not only a mobile honey - it had important things stored there - they did the same to me when my bag was stolen and it was only feet away from me, they also don't cover you for any type of liquid damage! I fought them though and won in the end and it is looking hopeful that they are not going to beat me this time either! By the way I loved the pun (intended or not) and it made me giggle! Hope everything goes well today - I'm thinking of you! xxx
@shambuca (2524)
• United States
8 Jun 07
good advice- we have been checking ours cause a few months ago is rained so much our basement had water- turns out we need flood ins. but thankfully the water wasn't as bad for us as it was for others here in Jersey- so I am presently getting info about it.
1 person likes this
@mummymo (23706)
•
8 Jun 07
I would love to be able to stop people having to find out the hard way! It is so wrong that these companies who make billions should increase their profits on the back of their customers misery!
Niamh is doing a bit better now but it is slow progress!
I have missed you honey - everything fine with you? I really hope it is! xxxx
@heavenschild (4777)
• Canada
19 Jul 07
I see that you started this discussion a month ago and so I trust that your daughter is better now but I know how dangerous dehydration can be! We have been concerned about our son on two seperate occasions...How old is your daughter?
Sorry about the damage to your home and I hope it got rectified without too much expense to you. Thanks so much for the warning. I will bring it to my husbands attention! :)
xxx
1 person likes this
@mummymo (23706)
•
19 Jul 07
Yes she is a lot better now thank you heavenschild! Niamh is 5 and she has been dehydrated a few times due to UTI's - she has been close to hospitalisation a couple of times but this is the first time it actually happened - hopefully the last but I wouldn't count on it! The problem has been fixed and we are just waiting on the go ahead of the insurance company to replace the extractor fan and have the redecoration done! xxxx
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
8 Jun 07
Oh no mummymo, things are not going smoothly for you lateley! At least it looks like the plumber is going to be cooperative and hopefully he is right about the insurance picking up the bill.
