Comments on: Bad Insurance Experience?

By: sinbad

sinbad — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 07:51:06 +0000

Pantaenius Yacht Insurance.

I was fully insured with this “organisation” for over eight years before i made a claim. After i sank and the boat was destroyed they just stated that the boat was unseaworthy would not pay. After i threatened legal action they offered a max of 50% of the claim which would have not even paid for a mast and new electronics- let alone a new motor, complete interior of the boat, computers, clothing, new sails etc.. I rejected the offer as the insult that it was. Even if they had paid in full it would never have covered the damage. Everything was destroyed because it took them so long to get the boat out of the water. Even Pantaenius’ expert maritime advisor stated that they should pay in full but that was not how they do business. They prefer to go to court because most people cannot afford the costs or want to bother with such… (there were witnesses there to this).

I now mention this experience to all other people with boats and know at least 20 cases where they have refused to pay. They of course have very expensive advertising and pay small claims so as to try and make a name for themselves but when it involves real money this would appear to be a set policy.

A lot of major sailing web communities have advertising from Pantaenius and negative comments about them have often just disappeared or the author has been banned. Wow nice.

Needless to say i do not recommend Pantaenius Yacht insurance, well not for insurance anyway….

By: Ruby

Ruby — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 09:32:35 +0000

I’ve just lost my dad and my mum was all alone. She is 80 years old and lives on her own but she also spends a lot of time with me in Gauteng. She lives in Durban. In December she had her house painted. About 2 months ago we noticed the paint was peeling off ,I then had a look at the awlls and noticed it was damp so i notified Glenrand who she is insured with. They have been payinf insurance for the past +-40 years and hardly claimed.
Glenrand came back to me stating that this was too old and could not sort out the claim.
so what do I do now???

By: john

john — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 21:03:31 +0000

no better insurance company than standard bank ins. i have had 4 claim sin 2 yrs…so far so good..brilliant and fair premiums..just never accept a premium increase on vehilcles as thye devalue quarterly.phone them every 3 months and see how the premiums drop..keep up the excellent work std bank…

By: Fax guy

Fax guy — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 22:02:00 +0000

This is such a great post and seems to have touched quite a nerve

By: mark

mark — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 03:34:55 +0000

i am insured with geico. i just bought an 03 van,126000 miles.paid $5000. when i talked to geico for insurance, she told me about all the choices.
i told her about me being on morphine pills { prescribed }for low back pain that i did not understand.
my sister has power of attorney over such matters. that she would set it up for me and i would call her back and confirm.
she told me that was not allowed, so i went on with getting on my own.
we went through all the choices again. with being a new van, i wanted the best coverage. i ended up with comprehensive.
well, about 3 months later, while i was driving, i went into a diabetic comma.
when i woke up a day and a half later at my friends house, that’s when i learned about the accident myself. i do not remember anything about it at all.
after reporting the accident to geico. they paid $168.00 for a stop sign. that’s it. they said the accident was my fault.
they explained to me again what comprehensive was again.
now why would i be worried about a tree falling on my van. i am more worried about getting hit on the road. { so much for the caveman doing it }
i think the sales person had mislead me all the way. that’s why my sister does that for me. at the start they told me the conversation was going to be recorded.
when i told them to go back and listen to it, she tells me that they only keep the recordings more than 30 days. now how can i prove my case?
now they tell me that it’s in the supervisors office, that they will let me know what will happen. that has been 5 months ago.
they tell me it’s a buyer beware type of deal.
what i want to know is, do i have a legate case, or should i let it go?

By: Wally

Wally — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 06:42:54 +0000

Dear Fiona,

Thanxs very much. I took those numbers from Speak Out (SABC 2 programme)yesterday. I am definately going to call them today.It is indeed very frustrating.I guess evryone must have this number. This thing can happen to anyone.Perhaps Terms and Conditions letters need to be written on top of the page not at the bottom in Italic too. This i s a learning curve for me.
Enjoy your New year Eve-thus goes to everyone who read this page.

By: Fiona

Fiona — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:38:22 +0000

Wally I know how frustrating this is for you, but as long as they can string you along they will so I suggest you contact the Ombudsman now. The contact details are below
Tel: 011 726 8900
Fax: 011 726 5501

By: Wally

Wally — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 09:45:23 +0000

Dear EMR,

I guess you did the right thing even though you are not off the hook competely. Since then, I am still waiting for their decision,I have been using public transport for two months now.Gosh!! I am getting used to it yet I am paying my Car and insurance installement every month. I asked myself :what am I paying for?Sound rediculous but is true. I am sure I might get the car back sometimes Feb next year only if they have decided to assist me.Wish I can do without insurance you know?.

By: EMR

EMR — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 06:33:50 +0000

We were insured with Sanlam. One month they just stopped taking off the premium. When I queried what had happened, they told me my husband had died. The more I told them they had made a mistake and that he was very much alive, the more they denied that they had made a mistake. Needless to say, we are now insured with someone else.

By: CD

CD — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 06:45:52 +0000

Wally – its very frustrating dealing with insurance companies so brace yourself. Would be good if they introduced a turnaround time for claims.