Storm damage exclusion just added to policy - advice?

Beckipeg

I'm baffled by a letter we've just received from our home and contents insurance company. We rang them up a few days ago to let them know that we'd just purchased a piece of equipment for £2,495 and to check that it was covered on the policy. It was.

They've just sent us updated documentation which not only lists this as a specifically covered item but also now includes a schedule endorsement saying "we will not pay any claims for loss or damage caused by storm". We didn't ask for this, and wonder if companies can change the conditions after you've paid for the policy? Our policy runs from 30th Sept 2005 so it's been amended within a month of us renewing it.

We have had to claim for storm damage for our slate roof each year for the last 4 years so I can see that they might think us a high risk - but the roof is sound and well maintained, just been affected by some of the severe storms in the south east over recent years - we've been very honest with them, even advised them when we thought that the quote one of their recommended repairers had taken was too expensive for the task required.

Any advice on how I should approach this?

Thanks,

maclean2

Hi - they should not be able to impose this restriction mid-term as the risk has not changed and I would make this point strongly in writing to the insurance company.First of all make sure they did not send you a copy of the storm exclusion wording with the renewal notice in September.It's the kind of thing they could hide in fairly small print.Certainly they should not be able to apply this retrospectively.

Their right at being able to apply this restriction from the renewal date after you have made four recent claims for the same type of damage is a separate issue and without all the information I can't really say any more.

Best of luck