Hi,

A few of you know that at the beginning of March I became unemployed.  I registered as unemployed and because of the money I received in final wages etc. I have only just started receiving JSA.   As I have a mortgage I duly went to the Hailfax to claim on the insurance I pay for my mortgage - covering losing my job etc.

Today, I received a letter from them saying that because of what my former employers stated on the part of the claim form they had to fill in, the insurance will not be paid.   What do I do?  I am going to see my local branch this afternoon but it is another BIG worry for me, I cannot lose my house, I have nowhere else to live.  I live on my own there is no other income coming in to help me.   I am applying for jobs but have had no success yet.

Has anyone else been in the same boat, what do I do, at the moment all I feel is despair?

Hi ChristineW,

Sorry to hear of your plight.  Not sure what to advise.  It seems a bit naff that you have paid for this insurance (I know it's costly to buy) and now you are in need of it's benefits, the insurance company are renaging (sp) on their part of the deal.  Bas*ards.  I would want to know what your employer put on their part of the form that has caused the insurance company to take this nasty bit of action.  Have you spoken to a solicitor?  I would definitely seek legal advise.  Fight girl......don't let the bas*ards grind you down......

Keep us posted.  We are thinking of you.
:)

Christine

I would contact the Citizen's Advice straightaway.  They are very good in matters such as this.   I think it all depends on whether you made yourself jobless or not.

Good Luck
Sandra

Is whatever was said something you can dispute?  I think the citizens advise would be able to help, maybe help with an appeal to a insurance ombudsman if that is appropriate of some governing body of the building society.  Hope someone can be more specific but maybe thats a start :)

The Freedom of Information Act means that you are entitled to access any records holding personal information about you which would include employer's references etc.

Christine

I would go see a solicitor and get the information they provided and see if anything can be challenged. You need to get this info first.  Insurance companies do back down on occasion.

On another note and not meaning to sound like I am prying,  incase you are struggling and havent thought about it yet you can, if you have a repayment or capital/interest payment mortgage, reduce you payments to cover the interest only.  In other words don't pay any capital just now till you are in a better position.

If you have an endownment forget the above ;-)

Thanks everyone, I'm a bit upset & I now have a raging headache but I will get things shifting tomorrow.  This couldn't have come at a worse time.  Asti (My eldest Munster) hasn't been well lately and it looks like she is maybe on her last month or 2 now, she is brighter after having seen the vet & having some treatment but the Halifax letter has to be so badly timed.  I have said if she gets to 14 (19th May) it will be her biggest birthday celebration yet!

I have been in your position and its horrible :( I found out I wasn't insured for the mortgage at all when I thought I was! I spoke to credit control though and they allowed me to go into arrears for a couple of months. Have you asked them to give you some time?

ive not been in this sitution involving morgtage payments but when my OH got made redundant while on the sick we went to the C.A.B they were very helpfull and its free just something else to try if you dont get anyjoy from youre morgtage place good luck :)

Aww Christine that aint so good.  Fingers crossed Asti holds out.

Don't panick yet, I know it is easy for us to say but taking a house is the last thing banks want to do really.

Let us know how it goes with the insurance..

hi i had a mortgage with the Halifax also for 16 years. They were very unhelpful when i had to cease work due to being diagnosed with MS. i went to an insurance ombudsman who was no help at all. i eventually contacted a solicitor who was recommended by the citizen advice beauru. He was marvellous. The Halifax started court proceedings against me  for repossession of the property.
I had spent a fortune on adapting the bathroom for my illness, and my husband left two years earlierwhen i had been diagnosed with MS.
I was told by my local council to sleep in my car it was my fault the mortgage was not paid. i was recieving £54.00 per week incapacity benefit. The DSS would not pay anything for 26 weeks and then it would only be at half of the interest rate.
Well this solicitor kick the Halifax in to touch, he read through the insurance and contacted them. Hey presto he discovered they had to pay my mortgage for 12 months. This gave me breathing space and the DSS finally assisted. I finally changed my mortgage company from the Halifax.
My neighbour was insured for home and contents with them and when he was robbed it took them almost a year and half to complete the claim and it was still not completed but it wore my neighbour down and nearly gave him a breakdown bless him.
Go to see a solicitor if your not working you will be legally aided. good luck

I'm with the Halifax and I have nothing but praise for them after my break in. I'd only been with them for 6 weeks and they paid out for everything really quickly.

I'm worried re. if I became ill etc. now as I've got the one where if you become ill etc. they would continue paying.  It doesn't half worry you especially when you are on your own.

I hope that all goes well for you, keep us up-to-date.

Hi Christine

What a shame the Halifax are being difficult. :(  As others have said, try not to worry.  You don't have to leave things as they are.

- Contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau
- Ask whether they have info. about legal aid and local solicitors who they know from experience deal with consumer law.

A solicitor will be able to find out why this policy has been declared void in this instance.  The Freedom of Information Act (in Scotland as well as the rest of the UK) mentioned in above post only applies to public bodies, not private companies.

If what your former employers wrote for the Halifax was indeed the reason for their rejection and you believe it not to be a fair reflection of the situation, there may be scope to take your employers to an Industrial Tribunal, where they could be pressured to amend their comments or be sued if found to be negligent in this matter.  Your solicitor or a trade union (if you are in one) could advise.

I don't know what insurance companies do with regards to voluntary resignation but I would have thought that most policies cover every other type of employment 'severence'.

Feel free to PM me if you wish. 

Jax :)

Hi Christine

Get in touch with your ex employers and talk to the HR Department. Get them to give you a copy of the form. It will be in how they worded it and the key is if it is compulsary and not voluntary as that is where I think the problem will lie ! :) I have had to fill out these sort of forms before and it is so important to know what you are doing ! :)

Have you looked at temping for the interim as it is a very good way to get and work for a company and see what they are like ! So much better than going in blind sometimes ! :)

As for Asti I am going through the same with Min as she is 14 1/2 and is really starting to show signs. We have commented tonight that we can start to see her ribs now so think she may well have cancer of some sorts but too old really to do anything. She is not in any pain and is still enjoying life and loves her food.

I do hope things start to look a bit more positive for you and part of that will be upto you! ;)

PM me if you need to talk as have been through redundancy a few times and also the old dog thing ! ;) It may not help but it is always good to talk and I am a good listener !

Lucy
xx

I was with the Halifax when my ex stopped paying the mortgage :rolleyes: They are fine so long as you talk and they will listen:) I had six months on non payment and they were fine ! :)

P.S.

If conciliatory tones to Halifax don't work...

http://www.cas.org.uk

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

Thank you everyone for all your help, it is so appreciated, believe me.   Tonight I just want to go to sleep and hopefully feel refreshed tomorrow morning.  I have an interview in the morning anyway (P/t job) so I'd better look alive & interested!

I cant advise you except the citizens advice bearuea (spell)
But wish you good luck and hope it works out for you and try to get your rights as you have paid in you should be entitled.

hi christine

have pm'd you

Alix