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Greetings,

I apologise in advance for the length of this post.

Those of you on here with elephantine memories may remember that in April 2010, following a breakdown and after being conveyed on a low loader with the 'van in tow, I arrived home to find that in the journey, somehow, the handbrake of the 'van had self applied resulting in the complete destruction of the brakes and one of the wheels.

As the result of info. received it was discovered that the breakdown truck was not equipped with either the correct AlKo towball or dampers to the towing mechanism.

I had to put in a claim and a complete new axle (including brakes and a new wheel rim) had to be fitted.

Since then I have been banging my head on a brick wall, trying to get the excess payment back from the Insurance Co..

I figured that if I wasn't towing the 'van, in charge of the towing vehicle and the correct equipment wasn't being used then I shouldn't have to shell out.

For 19 months I was fobbed off and ignored until something snapped and , in November I contacted the Financial Ombudsman. My complaint was listened to with courtesy and recorded. I was told that I would have to wait eight weeks to give the Insurance Co. one last chance to respond.

I was away when the eight weeks were up but on 21st Feb (Remember that date), I formalised my complaint. I sent Emails pertaining to my complaint to the Ombudsman

On Friday 24th Feb. I received written confirmation from The Ombudsman and after signing the document I sat back and waited.

On Monday27th I received a request from Lloyds of London (The providers of the Insurance.) to provide them with the details of my complaint.

Today and just eight days after kick starting the complaint I received a grovelling apology of an Email from the Insurance Co I was insured with.

The Cheque is in the post (and I hope that isn't a euphonism) and a promise that a hard copy of the grovelling Email is also en route.

This means that when I renew my caravan Insurance later this year I won't be clobbered because of this never ending 'Not Closed' claim.

The reason I am posting this Thread is to highlight the work undertaken by the FOS. If you have a genuine complaint about poor service and treatment with regard to any Insurance you have, give them a ring. They certainly put the fear of God into the Company I was trying to deal with.

The Government is looking to regulate the financial markets since the big bang by the bankers etc and part of that is to strengthen the Financial Ombudsman Service. During the consultation process on the proposed regulations, the Association of British Insurers have lobbying against some of the additional requirements proposed for the Ombudsman and in particular the increased publicity for the service.

For example, part of the draft legislation includes a requirement for all of the Ombudsman cases to be posted on the net so that we, Joe Public, can have a look and be able to find a decided case similar to our own problem. We can then use the Ombudsmans decision in our case with an Insurer to show that if they don't agree with us then the Ombudsman will, so they may as well stop the fight. The ABI don't want the Ombudsman to have to do that.

Funny old world

Phil

Well done - good for you sticking with it and not giving up!

Greetings Again,

Just an update. This morning I received a cheque for £100 and the hard copy of the letter as previously stated.

Eleven days from formal complaint to resolution. Is this some sort of record.

Remember this thread when the Insurance Co. gives you the runaround.

Regards

Well done, i hope thats one company that has learnt its lesson.

                                       atb Bill