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12 replies

WetAugust · 04/11/2010 22:22

Scenario

DS is at Uni. He gets a Disabled Students Allowance under which his Local Authority paid for his laptop and printer. It also pays for insurance for these items.

DS pays the insurance policy and then the Local Authority refunds it to him.

Simple - NOT.

The LA are refusing to refund the premium because the policy doesn't explicitly state the actual model of laptop that they supplied to him is covered. The policy just states that laptops are covered.

The insurance company refuses to explicitly state the model that is covered.

So... LA is refusing to refund the premium while insurance company refuses to provide evidence that this actual laptop supplied by the LA is covered.

Piggy in the middle time.

So here's my solution after 5 earlier emails to the insurance company and 5 responses all referring me to a part of the policy schedule that coveres laptops in general

Thank you for your reply.

I have looked at scetion 15 of the Policy Schedule as you directed, and I acknowledge that laptops in general are covered as 'All Risks' however this does not resolve the problem.

I need the actual policy to EXPLICTLY show the type of laptop that is covered i.e. the Toshiba Satellite Notebook.

The reason for this is that the cost of the premium should be refunded to my disabled son by his Local Authority.

However, the Local Authority is refusing to refund the policy premium because the Policy does not EXPLICITLY show that the Toshiba laptop supplied to him by his Local Authority is covered.

The Policy does list all the other items that have been supplied by the Local Authority i.e. the laptop's carry case. printer etc, but not the actual Toshiba laptop.

Until my son can provide evidence to the Local Authority that this actual Toshiba laptop is covered by his policy the Local authority will not refund the premium to him.

The Toshiba laptop was explicitly listed in the earlier policy which prevailed while he was living in halls of residence and while I have read your explanation that it could be shown in the 'All Risks' section while he was resident on Campus I can see no valid reason why it cannot be shown on the renewal of the policy now he is living permantly at home.

The simple fact is that the Toshiba satellite laptop, we are both agreed, is covered as 'All Risks' and I am therefore making a reasonable request that you show it in the 'All Risks' section, as you have done on 2 previous years policies.

I am therefore requesting again that you amend his policy to EXPLICTLY show the Toshiba Laptop in the list of items covered in the 'All Risks' section of the Policy.

An alternative solution to this may be for you to write a letter to him at his home address confirming that this actual Toshiba Satellite Notebook is covered as All Risks under by his Policy. That would provide the evidence required by the Local Authority to refund his premium.

I am sure that my son is not the first disabled student to whom you have issued a policy and he should be afforeded the opportunity to claim the premium back from his Local Authority. Your current procedures make that impossible, while the actual Toshiba laptop that is covered is not explicitly stated.

I am therefore asking that you make a reasonable adjustment to your current practices in recognition of his special circumstances.

If you are unable / unwilling to do then I shall consider that this Policy has been erroneously sold to him as it does not meet his requirements, one of which is the ability as a disbaled student to reclaim the cost of his premium from his Local authority under the provision made for him in his Disabled Students Allowance, which requires the actual laptop supplied to him and covered by his policy to be explicitly shown on that policy, with the rest of the items covered as 'All Risks'.

I hope you can make this reasonable concession and that we can move to resolve this matter.

Thank you for your assistance,

-
Well done if you got this far without being bored to death.

While all I really want to do is SCREAM [Angry

Just a gentle reminder that it doesn't ens when they finish school!

OP posts:
auntevil · 04/11/2010 22:31

and breathe. You poor soul. Why is every little thing so bloody difficult. I'm sure people used common sense much more in the good old days (I'm harking back to when i first started work!). Now it's just a case or ' the computer says no'.
No gentle reminder needed, my DS says he's never leaving home. I just think i'll be telling him to use cutlery and tying his shoelaces when i'm 80! Grin

WetAugust · 04/11/2010 22:39

Me too. He informed me this morning that I can't die until he's got a wife or I've found someone else to do his paperwork for him.

That'll be never then Sad

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TheArsenicCupCake · 04/11/2010 22:44

O m g!

What is wrong with these people? Why is it sooooo hard to just add a little bit in.. Thus cOvering the bloody laptop.

Biscuit ( my first time useage)

auntevil · 04/11/2010 22:45

You mean you won't get to be the MIL from hell. That is so my dream Grin would have to change my name to MILevil though!

WetAugust · 04/11/2010 22:47

I don't think he should breed Grin SS are already over-stretched.

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auntevil · 04/11/2010 22:50
Grin
TheArsenicCupCake · 04/11/2010 22:55

:)
I am going to be such a lovely MIL ... If I get the chance :o

Smallmonkfish · 05/11/2010 11:00

Just to say I worked in household insurance for years. They can easily specify the laptop on the policy under the circumstances even if they don't need to do so in normal circumstances.

You just need to get hold of the organ grinder rather than the monkey! Let me know by email if it's not sorted and I'll tell you what makes my old bosses get off their bottoms and act.

WetAugust · 05/11/2010 17:26

Thanks for that Smallmonfish. I'll rea my emails to see of they've responded.

I may have to PM you Grin

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WetAugust · 05/11/2010 17:47

YAY!!! Success!!!!

I now have a policy that specifically mentions a Toshiba Laptop.

Thank you for your offer of help SmallMonkFish - perhaps next year Grin

< can now open bottle of wine and spend weekend relaxing instead of writing to Financial Services Ombudsman - BLISS >

OP posts:
Smallmonkfish · 05/11/2010 18:54

Glad it's all sorted - quite right too!

Will pour a g&t to celebrate - any excuse!

WetAugust · 05/11/2010 20:04

LOL Grin

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