Tony_B
Member
There are some life insurance companies with a sensible attitude. Some years ago my wife and I bought our first house with a mortgage from Abbey National, and took out the life insurance that was offered through Abbey Life. When we filled in the proposal we were completely upfront about my caving activities, and about my job: I work for a motoring magazine and this takes me to race tracks, test tracks and so on.
My wife?s insurance was accepted within a few days, but my letter took another couple of weeks to arrive, which I took to mean they?d thought about it carefully before going ahead.
A couple of years later my wife?s employers entered into a contract with a financial services company, and as part of the deal all senior staff (and their partners) were offered a financial ?health check? on their mortgage, pension and insurance arrangements. The advisor contacted us to say that he?d found a much better life insurance deal for my wife, but that he couldn?t find one for me that was anywhere near as low as the premiums I was paying. He concluded that Abbey Life clearly weren?t aware of my caving or of my work. We pointed out that we?d given them full details, but he insisted that we get something in writing from Abbey Life and file it away very carefully. We duly wrote to AL and they issued the necessary assurances that, yes, they were aware of my caving and the nature of my employment.
I still have the same life insurance policy. I can?t be sure that they?d still have the same attitude to cavers, but it does go to show that caving and other ?hazardous? activities don?t trigger the same ridiculous knee-jerk reaction in all insurers.
My wife?s insurance was accepted within a few days, but my letter took another couple of weeks to arrive, which I took to mean they?d thought about it carefully before going ahead.
A couple of years later my wife?s employers entered into a contract with a financial services company, and as part of the deal all senior staff (and their partners) were offered a financial ?health check? on their mortgage, pension and insurance arrangements. The advisor contacted us to say that he?d found a much better life insurance deal for my wife, but that he couldn?t find one for me that was anywhere near as low as the premiums I was paying. He concluded that Abbey Life clearly weren?t aware of my caving or of my work. We pointed out that we?d given them full details, but he insisted that we get something in writing from Abbey Life and file it away very carefully. We duly wrote to AL and they issued the necessary assurances that, yes, they were aware of my caving and the nature of my employment.
I still have the same life insurance policy. I can?t be sure that they?d still have the same attitude to cavers, but it does go to show that caving and other ?hazardous? activities don?t trigger the same ridiculous knee-jerk reaction in all insurers.
