Sheilas Wheels void insurance

steven1097

:mad: Hi to all,

I apologise if I have started another thread about the cowboy outfit called Sheilas Wheels.
Let me start by introducing myself, I have been a home owner for almost 30yrs having building and contents insurance throughout.
I have only made 2 claims against my insurance during that time.

I took out a home insurance policy with SW around 2009 covering buildings and contents including accidental cover.

Unfortunately I had to make a claim for accidental damage to my tv around Nov 2010. The claim was submitted and I thought everything would be sorted.

How wrong was I, first I had major probs getting the t.v collected which took almost 2 months.

Then when it was finally collected by a scruffy old man in a van fit only for a scrap yard. I then received documentation from a company called TCF who wanted to know exactly how much my contents was worth.

After completing the forms fully and honestly I sent them off to TCF. Weeks went by without contact so I called TCF who told me there may be a problem with my contents cover.

They explained that I was most likely under insured, I explained that when I valued my contents I only picked out the most expensive items sofas, tvs furniture etc.

I was then told that I should have included everything from cuttlery to aftershaves.

Sheilas Wheels then kindly sent me a letter informing me that my policy had been made void from inception in 2009 and my premiums would be returned.

I was absolutely stunned! they obviously dont believe in picking up a telephone to discuss the problem.

I have been left in a horrible situation having no cover on my property leaving my family including 2 young children at risk.

I now have a black mark against my name and I feel like Sheilas Wheels have treat me like a 1st class criminal questioning my honesty and integrity.

I have read many similar stories via internet all covering problems created by SW and their unwillingness to communicate with the customer first before hanging them out to dry!

I can only say that SWs are them most unprofessional insurance company I have ever dealt with in 30yrs. Do they actually realise what they are doing to people without even establishing the correct facts first.

Needless to say I have now contacted the FOS and lodged my complaint with them. I await a response from SW in the first instance but I wont hold my breath.

I am prepared to go through other agencies to air my views as I feel so strongly about this whole situation.

It would be great to hear from any other persons who have been turned over by SW. Someone needs to get a grip of SW and investigate the numerous similar cases out there! :mad:

Quentin

Your rant fails to mention that SW do make it pretty clear what happens if you underinsure:

It is important that the sums insured represent the full values of the items covered by your policy. Failure to do so could result in your policy being invalid and we may reject or reduce any claim you make or even treat you as being uninsured. It is your responsibility to ensure you keep your sum insured up tp date.

ILW

You do need to declare the full value of your contents when getting insurance, it is the same with all companies.

KimYeovil

In thirty years of being a home owner you have never understood how to buy home insurance. Over thirty years you have, it seems, never been insured.

Sheilas' Wheels have returned your valueless premiums. Your prior 28 years of pointless premiums have not been refunded. And Sheilas' Wheels are the baddies?!?

You should be damned relieved that you have never had your home 'turned over' by burglars or fire in the past thirty years and to have lost all your contents with no recompense. Thank Sheilas' Wheels for informing you about your ignorance, don't damn them.

Correction to your first post:
For
"I have been left in a horrible situation having no cover on my property leaving my family including 2 young children at risk."
read
"I have been placing myself and my family in a horrible situation for thirty years where I have had no cover. Sheilas' Wheels have kindly informed me of my idiocy, fortunately before anything awful happened. My two young children will now be able to be secure in the future."

originalmiscellany

Kim, here here!
The worry Steven1907 is that you're a first time poster with a long complaint, which unfortunately falls down on "caveat emptor".

vusys1

i think everyones jumped the gun.

"They explained that I was most likely under insured, I explained that when I valued my contents I only picked out the most expensive items sofas, tvs furniture etc"

so SW has not established if the PH is underinsured at this point but has gone ahead and voided the policy without any follow up inventory requested from the policy holder to establish the degree of under insurance, if any.

Quentin

vusys1 wrote: »

...so SW has not established if the PH is underinsured

Dunno if they have or not, but the OP has admitted it hasn't he?

"I explained that when I valued my contents I only picked out the most expensive items sofas, tvs furniture etc"

vusys1

thats my point, SW should have asked the policy holder to complete a another inventory to establish the correct figure for the sum insured.

Quentin

vusys1 wrote: »

thats my point, SW should have asked the policy holder to complete a another inventory to establish the correct figure for the sum insured.

According to the OP they have:

steven1097 wrote:

I then received documentation from a company called TCF who wanted to know exactly how much my contents was worth.

vusys1

if OP can confirm that he did a 2nd inventory inbetween
"I was then told that I should have included everything from cuttlery to aftershaves"

and

"Sheilas Wheels then kindly sent me a letter informing me that my policy had been made void from inception in 2009 and my premiums would be returned"

iam reading the OP post that SW have voided the policy on the PH was "likely to be underinsured" based on the initial info supplied.

it would be interesting if the OP got back to say how much he was under insured to see how much tolerance ins company allow £1,£10,£100,£1000

also did the OP submit his inventory of items he at at the time of claim and did not add anything purchased after Nov 2010 (Christmas,Jan sales etc)

boiler_man

I don't understand why the policy was voided. If under insured, quite simply the claim payment should have been reduced. Voidance of a policy is for cases when the Insured does not supply information that ,if it had been supplied, would have made the Insurer not take on the Policy.