Different PPI problem. Can anyone help?

sarahenglish

This isn't a 'mis-selling' problem but a 'cannot claim' problem.
I had a protection policy to cover my mortgage and, I think, to provide me with some income insurance. I became mentally ill and this prevented me claiming and I continued to pay the premiums despite having been finished up at work and ill on benefits. I didn't know what day it was and my condition lasted years.
I am now well and have repeatedly emailed and written to the company involved and asked for help but they do not respond.
Can anyone advise me where I should go next - ombudsman, small claims court? Any advice would be welcome.
A typical copy of my emails and letters is below and my position should be clear. I've removed names and some personal info.

"Dear......
I need your help please.
I took out a policy with you in April 2003. I was signed off work in May 2005 due to mental illness and, when my SSP ended on November 5th 2005, I went on to incapacity benefit as I was unable to return to work.
Due to my condition I was unable to claim on my policy. Further, I continued to pay my premiums.
My condition lasted many years and it wasn’t until September 2009 that I actually cancelled my premiums. Before stopping my premiums in 2009 I had received some help from a friend and wrote to you in March of that year. You sent me the forms and, with help, I duly completed my part and they were delivered to my former employer. They, however, didn’t send them back to me. I was so ill that, as previously, I was unable to follow this up.
I remained ill and on incapacity benefit until September 2012.
I am now much better and want to claim the money I was entitled to and recover the premiums I should not have been paying.
You will have a record of my premiums but they started at £12.81 and ended at £17.84 per month.
My P60 for 2004/5 shows my salary to be £7860.
My monthly mortgage payments were around the £250 mark during this time. I do have all of my statements.
Please can you advise me and help me recover these funds?"


Thanks
Sarah

-taff

From what I can gather -

You had income prtection but never used it due to mental ilness - did it actually cover that?

You want them to refund your premiums because you didn't use them - again, did they cover mental illness and you are asking them to refund because you didn't use them or for some other reason?

You have contacted a company several times and they haven't responded at all to any of your queries? What company is this and did you actually make a complaint?

[Deleted User]

I doubt your PPI covered bouts of mental illness.

sarahenglish

Hi
Thanks for the replies.
Some more info to help.
Firstly, I don't want to name the company right now in case they read these things. I just want to establish my position.
The policy was to cover illness and was taken out when perfectly well - there are no pre-existing condition issues.
It wasn't a 'bout' of mental illness, I became seriously ill and had to finish work - exactly what I was insured against. I was too ill to actually claim and continued to somehow pay premiums from my benefit. I didn't go out, didn't look at my bank statements to see the direct debits were still going out. Not looking for a sympathy vote here - just explaining what happened.
I know it's a while ago but it's a legitimate claim and one I imagine I'm entitled to. The refund of premiums should, I would have thought, be possible as one doesn't normally take out income insurance when the only income is benefit.
Hope this extra info helps.

[Deleted User]

sarahenglish wrote: »

It wasn't a 'bout' of mental illness, I became seriously ill and had to finish work - exactly what I was insured against.

If you became "seriously ill" with a mental illness, I doubt your PPI covered this. You need to check your policy to be sure..

-taff

If your income protection covered you, and you didn't claim, you can ask them to make a retrospective claim, whether they will agree or not I have no idea.

If they did read this kind of thing, they would most likely answer you more quickly, because no company wants to look bad these days, which is why representatives for Lloyds, Vodafone etc frequent these forums.


If you were receiving benefits the problem is if they did accept your claim, and repay you, you may be bound to repay those benefits, again, not 100% sure of that.

You need to establish as has been said, whether the PPI covered you for mental illness.
If it didn't cover you for mental illness, it still covered you for other things, so the chances of them refunding are not good.

dunstonh

Was this policy income protection or payment protection?

Many insurers will consider old claims as long as sufficient information still exists to verify you had a valid claim. However, technically, they could apply a line in the sand if their scheme rules say that.

sarahenglish

Thanks for the replies.
I'll continue to fight and would welcome any further comments.
Sarah