Plymouth flooding victim hit with £10,000 insurance excess
A WOMAN whose house flooded three times last year has been told she will have to pay out £10,000 if it happens again.
Most recently Janet Luke, 61, was forced out of her cottage in Colebrook Road on December 22 last year when flood water swept through the village.
Mrs Luke was initially told her insurance company, Canopius, would refuse to cover her for flooding in the future.
She said: "I was in a panic so I got hold of my MP, Gary Streeter, and he has been ever so good phoning and writing them e-mails."
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The firm relaxed its position and allowed Mrs Luke to renew her policy – but has told her she faces an excess of £10,000 if the house is flooded again, despite having paid just £100 for her most recent claim.
She said: "I couldn't believe it. I was expecting it to be something in the region of £1,000. I had to ask my son if it really said £10,000. They might as well have said £10 million. I can't afford that."
Mrs Luke, who works as a cleaner at Ridgeway School, is staying with her son in Plympton while her house dries out, and she hopes to return within the next few months.
She said: "Ever since I was flooded it's always been a worry, just how long it's going to last, and that was when I was insured. Now I'm just living off my nerves.
"It's fine staying with family but it's not home. I have lived there for 38 years. It's home; I brought up my three children there. It's horrendous."
A Canopius spokeswoman said: "As Mrs Luke's insurer, Canopius has paid four flood claims since 2009 totalling almost £40,000. After careful consideration, Canopius continues to provide home insurance for Mrs Luke's property, with a £10,000 excess for each and every loss in respect of flood and a premium increase of less than 2.5 per cent. These renewal terms follow the Association of British Insurers' statement of principles, together with advice regarding flood protection developments in the area from Mrs Luke's MP, Gary Streeter."
On Thursday The Herald reported that every household in Plymouth faces having to pay £8 on their insurance to ensure homes at risk of flooding can continue to get affordable cover under industry proposals.
8 Comments
by GreenfieldIns
Monday, March 04 2013, 3:31PM
“If you live in a flood area or a potential flood area its worth preparing for your insurance renewal ahead, attached article gives some great tips on how to deal with a tricky home insurance renewal. http://tinyurl.com/cufscu8”
by NthCountryBoy
Monday, March 04 2013, 10:48AM
“Queenie 1923 - How dumb is your post. They are businesses not a public service. They are there to make money and to satisfy the share holders.
Do you think they should take lower premiums and payout thousands/millions in damages regardless???
Yeah that'll work.
Don't mention greed either as the insurance market is very competitive.
*facepalm”
by OutsideView
Monday, March 04 2013, 10:17AM
“Not much news then Herald! Having to repeat stories on here.
Colebrook has been subjected to flooding as far back as the 1950's so it is nothing new. The water in the brook was white with china clay in those days.”
by timplymouth
Monday, March 04 2013, 9:34AM
“Time to take her own measures to prevent the property being damaged by floods, or to minimise the damage if it does flood.”
by BS_Hater
Monday, March 04 2013, 9:18AM
“If she does not pay for HER RISK then the REST OF US WILL
Simples....
Does a ferrari driver pay the same premium as a mini driver? Of course not because he is a higher risk.”
by queenie1923
Monday, March 04 2013, 7:56AM
“nobody can help nature at its worst , i know ive seen it all over the world with my job, why should the policy holders have to keep forking out idiotic goal post changes to there policy , every time , theres a flood . this is why we pay our insurance and if to unfortunate circustances, we cant controll the weather, these insurance company want to stop thinking about there share holders and there profits going down the pan, and start thinking of there policy holders, greed its all greed.they will take your money quick enough each month. but when it takes to pay out, theres always a problem or an excuse, and as for the companies , telling holders where they should live is dispicable”
by JMonners
Monday, March 04 2013, 7:29AM
“and we shouldnt have to pay for everyone who gets flooded either”
by catdaddy1214
Monday, March 04 2013, 6:41AM
“Shouldn't buy a house in a flood-prone area. Simples.”