Gadget insurance

Missmarple

Hi all
I hope someone can help with this. It may have been posted before but I'm not sure what the insurance is called.
My mother in law has just closed her account with Barclays Bank due to charging issues. She asked at the time why she had been charged £6.50 a month as her account just says £6.50. Being in her 70s she assumed it was a fee to pay her direct debits. They explained it was for a Small Appliance insurance and to cover lost passports etc. She explained to me that my late father in law may have taken this out although he may not have know !!!! this has certainly been missold as my mother in law and father in law never had anything worth insuring. No mobile phones, gadgets, passports, anything at all worth the payment. This has gone on for almost 12 years to the tune of almost a thousand pounds.......they have never ever been abroad and never in the last 20 years been on holiday in the UK my father in law had a terrible lung condition and could barely move.
I was so shocked to hear about this and how he must have been duped.
Does anyone know if and how I can make a claim for her, and has it been done before. It is astonishing how this can happen ....It did happen to my young son at the age of 18 when he opened his first bank account and got into trouble with the payments when he had nothing to insure either. He took my advice and told them to stuff it....I feel I need a more mature approach after 12 years. Tell it as it is because I have taken Barclays to court for bank fees before and received a refund of charges and the Halifax so I am willing to take them on but I have not heard of this before.
Do you think my Mother in law has a case ?
Thanks in advance
Miss Marple

[Deleted User]

Missmarple wrote: »

Do you think my Mother in law has a case ?

You can complain about any insurance policy. However, you can't complain it was mis-sold purely on the basis of the policy holder never having claimed. What evidence can you provide that the Bank advised your in law to purchase this insurance, or simply added it without consent? In other words, you'll need valid and verifiable complaint reasons.

Missmarple

Thanks. As my mother and father in law never had any of these things to insure it was not worth them having it so I am sure my father in law would not have agreed to it or was unaware of what he was agreeing to.

I assume the first port of call is a SAR showing his signature on the policy document, what are the chances of that being available after almost 12 years ?

[Deleted User]

Missmarple wrote: »

I assume the first port of call is a SAR showing his signature on the policy document, what are the chances of that being available after almost 12 years ?

Nil. He's also not around to request it.

Missmarple

Bit of a none starter then, even if though it was a joint account ? Even though the payments are still being taken 2 years after his death ?

[Deleted User]

Missmarple wrote: »

even if though it was a joint account ? Even though the payments are still being taken 2 years after his death ?

Well, a joint account would pay out for your Mother-In-Law of course.
I'd write to the Bank and cancel the policy if it's not needed. Don't word your letter as a complaint and the Bank may offer a goodwill payment if you explain your in law's advancing age and circumstances.