Mortgage Protection Claim - Dirty tactics?

JW1

Firstly I have posted this with a new ID, and apoligies for the long post.

Many years ago I took out Mortgage Protection Insurance with a well known firm, lets call them XXX. It was a simple policy that in the event of losing my job through no fault of my own it would pay out my mortgage outgoings plus an additional percentage.

Unfortunately earlier this year I was made redundant. I called them and was sent a form for me to complete, it was a fairly extensive form but I was able to provide them with everything they requested. I likened the form to them wanting my right testicle:(. A week later through a fairly detailed phone conversation I'm told that the form is complete, and payout shouldn't be a problem. They do however have to make some calls, but it's only a formality.

I knew I wasn't going to be paid for the period I received payment in leiu of notice, and money would be paid in arrears.

The day before I'm expecting my first monthly payment it arrives. A letter informing me that my claim is refused as they are under the belief that I took voluntary redundancy. I get on the phone to them and even through they have a copy of my compromise agreement (CA) they have formed a different opinion.

I ask the claims haddler if he has a copy of my CA to which he confirms he has, and I proceed to read him out loud two key paragraphs from the second page and then ask him to clarify to me how he thinks my redundancy was voluntary. He disappears to speak to his manager and comes back 3-5 mins later with the news that my claim is now authorised.

As time goes on I get the odd phone call from them (as they offer back to work help) but I note that they always call me on my landline and never my mobile. A bit cheeky as I suspect they only do this in the hope that my Wife answers and when they ask to speak to me she replies 'oh, he at work', so possibly trying to catch me out (or am I being too cynical?)

I go on a 2 week UK holiday (booked before my redunancy, Job Centre advised, XXX not) and return to two messages on my answerphone asking to call them. I don't. The simple reason is I class it as an invasion of my privacy, they didn't call me on my mobile and sent no letters.

A week later I get a phone call from the company that own this firm, lets call them YYY (they underwrite this policy). The caller has all my claim details and tells me I've been selected at random to get some further details. We have a fairly detailed chat and then he informs me that XXX tried to call me on... and proceeds to give me the dates and times of three attempted phone calls. He queries why I wouldn't of answered them.

I'm gobsmacked. I ask him to clarify the dates and then confirm to him that we were on holiday at that time within the UK, so I was still actively looking for jobs. He accepts this and I also clarify that it has no effect on my claim and he confirms this.

Roll forward to today.

I'm woken up by my daughter at 8:10 about a woman at the front door asking me about an accident between a moped and a car I witnessed locally. My Wife has sent her away but she'll be back in 30 mins. Problem is I witnessed no accident.

She returns a minute before I'm downstairs and my Wife has allowed her in as she knows I'm up.

I enter the room and she confirms my name to me and tells me that she is here to discuss with me the accident I witnessed between a moped and a car at the junction of (and proceeds to name a very local road junction). I deny all knowledge and then add a question of who she is, and from whom? She replies that she is an independand advisor and that she gets details from the insurance company, witness reports, electoral register etc. She says sorry for bothering me and says she has other people to see locally and disappears.

It was over so quickly. At no point did she offer my Wife ID. When I met her she never introduced herself to me or offered me a business card.

Now, again perhaps I'm being too cynical, but the only thing I can put this down to is YYY checking I wasn't working.

Has anyone else heard of such tactics?

dunstonh

You come across as adversarial in your approach to the insurer and that is not going to help your claim. Not returning calls is only harming you.

There is absolutely no reason to believe of any cynical tactics in the last part of your post. I cant see anything that could be gained from them doing that.

InsideInsurance

My ex used to deal with PPI/MPI claims and whilst they did used to send investigators in certain circumstances she never mentioned anything like you describe.

Either they are to gather intelligence in which case they may talk to neighbours, former employer etc but don't know what cover stories they use in those circumstances. Or they are to interview the claimant in which case no cover story is required.

To be honest, it sounds more like an accident has happened, there is a substantial claim for injury etc, that somehow partial details have been found of potential witnesses and they are trying to find those people. Could be a name without an address and an incorrect number and so electrol registry has been used to find everyone in the area with the name. Could be reg plate of your vehicle was seen (another witness, CCTV etc) and the DVLA have provided your details and they're hoping you saw it etc

Quentin

too much paranoia! (and why tell us you are using a forbidden alter ego?)

Just comply with xxx or they will keep you waiting!