Elaine Mitchell
BBC News me
Bbc
Peter and Patricia live in a bungalow in Newry
A couple was left in shock after obtaining a residential insurance renewal quote of just under £ 100,000.
Peter Cunningham and his wife Patricia de Newry assured their bungalow with Tesco for a number of years paying £ 580 for last year’s premium.
This year’s estimate for £ 99,999 left the couple.
Tesco Insurance and Money Services told BBC News or that “incorrect information” had been sent to Mr. Cunningham, but said that the company was “unable to renew” its home insurance coverage.
Peter Cunningham made a home insurance complaint after Storm Eowyn
When he received the renewal quotation, Mr. Cunningham said he thought that the figure was a typo that was called the Tesco assistance line.
“The gentleman to whom I spoke in the customer call center was able to confirm that I had received a renewal of policies.
“I had another letter thereafter, by sending the policy documents. So, if it was a mistake, it was a mistake twice.”
Patricia Cunningham said that she had seen the funny side: “I just laughed – I couldn’t believe it.”
But she was also concerned about what could have happened if the couple had not paid attention to the routine letter.
“If we had gone on vacation and he had automatically renewed, I don’t know what would happen,” she said.
“It’s absolutely, totally scandalous.”
Peter Cunningham
The letter that the cunningham received in the post
Tesco Insurance and Money Services said that the letter had been an isolated error and that it was “really sorry”.
“The error was recognized almost immediately and a updated letter sent explaining that we unfortunately could not renew the customer’s home insurance coverage this year,” the statement continued.
“Insurance suppliers regularly examine the subscription criteria to make decisions according to a number of risk factors.
“Unfortunately, this meant that Mr. Cunningham was refused for a renewal quote this year.”
‘Drop’
Mr. Cunningham said he was thinking that the refusal to provide insurance coverage for the coming year was because he had made a complaint after Storm Eowyn.
“The first insurance complaint that we had in nine years, and it was a storm that almost caused the whole island to a different position in the Atlantic.
“So you can hypothesize that you are penalized for making a complaint.
“We had an electric wave that blew up all the electric electricity.
“Tesco insurance was fantastic, treated incredibly well. It was just over £ 3,000 and it was paid very quickly.”
Tesco Insurance said the refusal of a police force for this year was “not linked to having made him a previous complaint”.
He left the couple “disappointed” in the company.
“They dropped into my eyes in this situation and once confidence has disappeared, confidence is very difficult for them to rebuild themselves again,” he added.
