08:00 - 07 December 2007
Danny Gilbey, 43, of Weardale, Sutton Park, Hull,
is warning others to research what prevention work is being done
before contacting insurers.
It comes after he was asked four in-depth questions in a letter when
trying to renew his contents and buildings insurance with Lloyds
TSB.
In the letter from his underwriter Allianz Insurance, Mr Gilbey was
asked:
What action has been taken by your Government
agency or local authority to prevent flood reoccurrence? For
example, are there plans to put in place flood defences, or take
remedial measures such as dredging or river management schemes?
When are the prevention measures due to be completed?
How often does flooding occur in the area?
Have you already made any changes to the property that may help to
prevent damage caused by flooding?
Mr Gilbey contacted Hull Floodline and the Environment Agency to do
his best to answer the questions.
After sending a detailed report to Lloyds TSB, he was then told his
home insurance would be renewed, but at a cost.
His premium rose from £140 a year to £387.
But the sting came in a letter that said the excess for his contents
insurance is now £10,000.
Mr Gilbey, who lives with his wife, 12-year-old daughter and
three-year-old son, said: "After the floods, I expected the premium
to rise, but I never thought I'd have an excess of £10,000.
"The letter asking all the questions stressed me out.
"I don't know what the Government is planning, I don't know how
often it floods - it is out of my hands."
Mr Gilbey, who has never made a home insurance claim, contacted
other insurers to see if he could get cover, however, no other
company would take him on due to his ongoing flood claim after his
home was swamped in 16in of water.
Mark Bishop of Allianz Insurance, said: "We sent out questions to
some of our policyholders so we could build up a picture of what is
going on in each area.
"The last thing we want to do is put pressure on policyholders.
"We don't expect homeowners to be underwriters.
"We will not be sending anymore questions out now as we have a good
enough idea now of what is happening in that area."