Claim Repudiated because I made a mistake.

[coppullcaveman1]

October last year I had my van stolen. When the police came I told them the circumstances and wrongly stated that the van was unlocked. I believed this to be correct and even told the insurance claims handler the same thing.

 

Baiscally I was loading the van (box van with tail lift) with two other guys. I had hung my jacket up with the van keys in the pocket . We were up and down stairs loading up furniture. Next thing i know is one of the lads shouted the vans been nicked , it was literally just speeding off up the road , tail lift down and furniture all over the road.

 

Anyway this was in October 2016. I had told the police and the claims handler that I believed the van to have been unlocked.

 

Sometime in December between Christmas and New Year I was informed that the insurance company would not be paying out and would not be refunding any of my premium either!

 

In January I went to the Auction House where the theft occured and was asked about the payout on the van . I told the lads that were helping me load the van that the claim was refused because I had left the van unlocked. I still believed this.

 

One of tha lads then told me that he had wanted to adjust the tail lift and could not get in the cab to turn on the power as it was locked.

 

Obviously I was a bit peeved about this as I had told the insurance assessor and the police that there were lads helping me and could tell them as much as I could but neither were interested.

 

Hed either of them spoke to the lads who were helping me then my mistake about the van being unlocked would have been discovered earlier.

 

As soon as I realised there had been a mistake I wrote to ageas insurance .

 

The are not interested in looking again as I had told the police and them the same thing ... because I believed it to be true.

 

How can I force Ageas to listen , they have made the decision on incorrect evidence and even though the mistake has been pointed out to them , they are refusing to even speak to the guys from the auction house.

 

I want to go to the Ombudsman but Im not sure if they can look at the new evidence or will just look at what was said to the police and insurance claims handler.

 

Would it be worth correcting the mistake in my police statement ? Would a statement of truth help ?

 

The van was on finance and I have nothing to gain but everything to lose .

 

I thank you for looking and hope I can get some advice . Shaun

[Hammy1962]

If the van was locked, how did the thief get in and steal it?

 

Do you still have all the sets of keys or were they in the van?

 

Two questions the insurance may ask.

 

H

[BankFodder]

I think that I would start off by going to a solicitor and swearing out affidavits – both you and your colleague explaining exactly what happened , why you made the mistake and what the story is now . Then supply copies of these to the police and also to the insurer as part of a formal letter advising them that the original story they had was incorrect and asking them to review the situation and the light of this new evidence . After that , come back here and let us know what has happened. If they still refuse then we will advise you on your next step .

[coppullcaveman1]

I will try that Bankfodder , the location where I was loading was down 9 steps so after a couple of trips up and down I removed my coat and hung it on the door at the top of the stairs. My coat was stolen ... I suspect they were looking for cash , phones etc and found my keys . Without speaking to them I can only guess what happened Hammy.

[Mwynci]

I will try that Bankfodder , the location where I was loading was down 9 steps so after a couple of trips up and down I removed my coat and hung it on the door at the top of the stairs. My coat was stolen ... I suspect they were looking for cash , phones etc and found my keys . Without speaking to them I can only guess what happened Hammy.

. Did you mention the stolen coat in your statement to the insurer and stolen keys? An unlocked car I'd just a technicality if they have the keys anyway. Ageas are a lloyd's syndicate, go to their complaints department.

[dacouc]

Where was your jacket hung up?

 

Do you still have the keys and do you have the spare set of keys?

 

. Did you mention the stolen coat in your statement to the insurer and stolen keys? An unlocked car I'd just a technicality if they have the keys anyway. Ageas are a lloyd's syndicate, go to their complaints department.

 

Ageas are not a Lloyd's syndicate

[Mwynci]

Your right I was thinking of syndicate 1225. Ageas were the old fortis.

 

Op, don't go to lloyd's. But do tell us the key situation, it is very important to this case.