I'm a born worrier and I guess I expect things to go wrong because they normally do.

True and he did plead guilty to the thefts so surely that should convince them. Actually no, there isn't anything specifically listed. Just that all my assets should be split equally between him and his sister.

This is not good news. Most of my jewellery was not bought by me but by my ex husband and the partner I had after him. We were quite well off back in the day but when he left me in 1996 he hadn't paid the mortgage for months and I had to sell the house and buy something much smaller. I have been unable to maintain the property very well since then as I never had any maintenance from him and my job doesn't pay that much. Everything I had of any value was in my jewellery box and he took everything apart from three rings I was wearing and some worthless costume jewellery. I have found some photo's but I don't think they show the items clearly enough to be able to determine the value. I also have a couple of photo's of my mother wearing her pearls and her wedding ring but again not large enough to be able to see that they are cultured and not imitation. I don't think I have a leg to stand on do I? Why can't they just believe that I am unlikely to further stress myself by trying an insurance [problem] when I'm a civil servant and I have just been very ill? As regards the matter of restricting his entry into certain parts of my home I do have a lock on my bedroom door but at the time it was unlocked as I was getting ready for work when the assault took place. I am going to change my will but at the moment I just can't face it.

Thank you so much for taking the time out to try and put my mind at rest. I will use your suggestions and hope for the best. If anyone can think of anything else I'd be grateful.. Thanks again

To be honest I had no idea that my jewellery would be worth so much. It has come as quite a surprise. I only knew the rough cost of the items when they were purchased many of them over 20 years ago. I didn't realise that jewellery had gone up so much in value. They are classifying it as theft and not burglary now that I've explained the circumstances. I just don't want to stress myself out more than necessary by searching futilely for decent photo's and instruction manuals and things if they are just going to tell me I don't have a claim that's all. I know this sounds odd but I have had so much upset and stress over the last few months that I don't think I can take any more and would rather just cancel the claim if this is going to be the case.

I do have 5 lever locks on the only door which opens although the door itself is not in a very good condition. The front door is stuck shut and there is no key for it. I have locks on the windows except for one which I was going to have replaced before I became ill. I received a letter just after I made the claim which informed me that when the policy was due for renewal next year I would be required to have the approved locks before the renewal could take place. Does this then mean that I'm ok until renewal time? I'm sure there was something in the small print about family members so I just hope they will see that I had no alternative other than to leave him in the property albeit briefly. I think drugs must be involved in this case, I can't think of any other reason for his behaviour. Thanks for your input.

This is a bit of an unusual insurance contents claim and quite embarrassing for me. I will be as brief as possible even though it is quite a complicated story. I had a lot of jewellery items stolen but it wasn't a burglary as the thief was actually inside my house and broke out rather than in. My son who does not live with me because of his lifestyle choices came to my home a few weeks ago begging for a bed as he was homeless. It was raining and he was drenched and threatening suicide if I didn't let him in. I weakened and allowed him to sleep on the sofa for a couple of nights. He was never left alone in the house but one morning when I asked him to leave he became abusive and attacked me. I was terrified because I had cancer last year and underwent a serious operation not long ago and was really afraid I would be seriously hurt. I ran out of the house and locked the door behind me to contain him whilst I phoned the police from the patio. Just before they arrived 20 minutes later, he escaped through the bedroom window. I was very shaken and upset and fearful of him returning so I went to stay with my brother for the weekend. When I returned home I discovered that whilst I was outside phoning the police he had stolen all my jewellery and some other items. I called the police who came out and took a statement and a list of missing items. I was very upset as he had not only taken my things but also some stuff my late mother left to me which as well as being valuable was priceless due to the great sentimental value. To cut a long story short he gave himself up and has been to court. He is now serving a custodial sentence and I have also taken out a restraining order so that he cannot come near me again for the foreseeable future. I made a claim with my insurance company Privilege (Platinum) and because I now can't find receipts for anything as most of the jewellery is over 20 years old I asked the shop where quite a few of the items were purchased to do me an estimate for the missing pieces. It came to just under £10,000 so loss adjusters UK Assistance have been appointed to 'help' with the claim and are coming out to visit next week. I have been informed that they will look at the security of the property and I understand that if my home isn't classed as secure then the claim could be disallowed. As the house wasn't broken into would this still apply? I am getting really stressed out and stress is the last thing I need. I am wondering if there is any point in me searching high and low for photo's which show me wearing the jewellery (not that the photo's will be clear enough to identify the pieces) and other evidence that confirm ownership of the items stolen. I would have thought that the very fact he had pleaded guilty to the thefts would have been sufficient proof. I am still feeling very distressed about all this and I don't want to put myself out if they are going to say that because it was my son who stole the items I don't have a claim. Advice please

I am not sure I have put this in the correct section so apologies if I haven't. I am needing some advice with this problem if anyone can help. I have today received this rather worrying letter from the LSC. It says the letter replaces my annual statement this year and relates to the statutory charge liability registered by them against my property address. It gives the current balance outstanding and the amount of daily interest accrued. The charge was made when I had my divorce in 2000 because I was unable to pay the solicitors bill. I had been entitled to Legal Aid as I was on Income Support at the time but during the proceedings my mother died and left me some money. I needed this money to put down as a deposit on my current property and so the charge was made. At times when I could pay I have paid something off the debt but I haven't paid anything for quite some time now and the debt is almost as much as it originally was. This letter goes on to say that a change in the statutory charge regulations now allows the LSC to review with our clients if it is still appropriate to continue postponing repayments of the charge. They have enclosed a personal budget form which I have to complete and return within 21 days. There are only a limited number of outgoings & liabilities specified and in no way do they cover the full range of outgoings I have eg. appliance insurances, car insurance, vehicle tax, maintenance etc., etc. I am so worried that they are going to make me start making a regular payment that I can't afford. Am I obliged to complete this form and what will happen if I don't? I am wondering if anyone else has received one of these letters and if so what have they done about it. Are the LSC allowed to do this; since the charge will be paid in full when the house is eventually sold and they are already receiving interest at a rate of £171.55 per annum?

I got myself worried when I read other posts about claims not being paid out because people failed to declare minor health conditions. I went to the doctor with suspected asthma for which I was given an inhaler (but have had no recurrence since so don't really think it was asthma) and I'm sure I also discussed anxiety/depression with him during my divorce but I don't remember being given any medication. Would these things cause them to disallow my claim if it turns out that they were before 2000? My GP is a bit of a control freak and not very approachable so I don't suppose he would help me in any way with my records if that's what you're meaning Kenny. I guess I'm just going to have to fill in the form and then just wait and see what happens. If they say no, then I'll just have to accept that. I haven't any fight left in me. Thanks for your good wishes HB & Kenny.

Hi HB The certificate of insurance says nothing at all about pre existing medical conditions nor does the booklet. I wondered if there might be a schedule but the cert and booklet is the only paperwork I have relating to the policy. I have searched high and low but have nothing else at all. Hopefully this is a good thing rather than a bad? Suzie

Hi Everyone, I'm quite new here and finding it difficult to find my way around. I took out Halifax Mortgage Repayments Insurance 10 years ago when I bought my house. Reading the Conditions booklet it seems I that if I am unable to work through accident, sickness or disability for at least 30 days I can make a claim on this policy and they will pay a sum equal to my mortgage payment + 25% provided this is supported by a doctors note. I have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and will be off work for at least 12 weeks, probably more. I have asked them to send me a claim form and am hoping that they will allow the claim. I live alone and don't have any support really so I am going to need extra cash for hospital appointments and household help. To have my mortgage paid would relieve some of the stress and worry about financial issues. Having read some of the posts on Critical Illness cover and the way that Insurance Co's try their best to wriggle out of paying up I am seriously worried. I know this isn't a critical illness policy but perhaps it is the same procedure when you make a claim. I don't remember being asked about illness when I took it out and I don't think they contacted my GP for medical records. If I was asked about illness I probably said no because I would have assumed they meant big things like heart disease, diabetes, cancer etc. I have noticed that claims have been refused because of things like viral illness and I am sure that I will have had something like that (most people do!). The last thing I need right now is a battle with the Halifax; I have enough fighting to do to regain my health. Perhaps I shouldn't bother to fill in the claim form? Or if I decide to do so does anyone have any practical tips to help me? Maybe someone has this same insurance and can give me their experience of making a claim. Thanks in advance for your help. Suzie

Just a follow up on this. I emailed the man at the top and haven't even had the courtesy of a reply!

Will probably go straight to the top man and see what happens.

Thanks, I'm just so stressed now that I can't think straight. Do you think they will actually do anything about it or just try to placate me with apologies. As far as I'm concerned I have been greatly inconvenienced and caused untold stress right at a time when I don't need it and I think there should be some recompense for that. What do you think are the chances of that happening?

I have mislaid my Lloyds TSB Gold Credit Card so to be on the safe side I phoned to cancel it. After going through all the security questions the woman said "Your new Debit card will be with you on Wednesday" I asked her if she said Debit Card and she said yes. I said it was my Gold card and she said she thought I'd said debit card. I was very angry because I need my debit card to operate the car park barrier at the airport when I go on holiday in four days time and would also like to draw some money from the cash machine. Not to mention needing to do some shopping before I go. It has to be the card you book with and that has now been blocked so I doubt it will work to raise the barrier if I try to use it. I have booked this holiday to relax as I have recently been diagnosed with cancer and am due to have surgery two days after my return from holiday. I am certainly not relaxed now and do not need this stress. I have rung the airport and they say that I may have to pay again and then write and ask for a refund. Who can I write to to complain about this ridiculous situation?