Insurance companies are quick to take your money and slow to pay out, if at all. I've taken numerous insurance companies to court who have tried to avoid paying me out for justifiable claims. So win or lose for the small costs of taking out a summons against them just for the satisfaction of causing them as much as an inconvenience and expense as possible. So far I have been paid out each time before it went to court, although they waited until receiving the summons to see if I was bluffing or not as the cost of the summons in one claim was just £45 more than the £500 I was claiming, which was then added to the £500. Remember, insurance companies are in business to make money and will try every devious trick to get out of paying you, including waiting until you summons them.

At this present moment, I have issued a summons against Countrywide Legal Indemnities. This insurance I was advised to take out by the conveyancing Solicitor who handled the purchase of my bungalow? This insurance was to cover me against exactly as stated on the policy documents (see supporting documents) Around five years after moving in, I received an uninvited visit from Cornwall Council Private Sector Housing who issued me with numerous fines (see supporting documents) All of these claims made by the Council were claims that were in fact covered by my insurance which the insurance company denied, this came as no surprise to me as I have never yet encountered an insurance company who would right from the start say 'yes, we have taken your money', 'Of course we will admit liability for your claim' After numerous emails to and from the insurance company showing them adequate proof of my claim, I'm informed my claim is not covered more information of my claim was sent to the insurance company still with no success.

More correspondence backwards and forwards for the next three months. And then they start, as usual, the big run around advising me to go to their complaints department and if after two months they can't agree to settle, go to the Financial Ombudsman. This is the usual procedure to wear you down which i completely ignore. One experience of dealing with the Legal Ombudsman was enough for me after they judged in favour of the solicitor I was complaining about without having asked to see any evidence of my claim and will change their decision after seeing all the documentary proof I had to substantiate my claim, the ignorant bastards informed me that anymore correspondence from you will be filed but not necessarily answered. How's that for good old British or Shitish justice? I have already informed the insurance company that i would without any further notice if I had not heard from them by a certain date would issue a county court summons against them, which is exactly what I have now done. Unfortunately the money claims legal system is now in such a mess with a massive backlog, It's anyone's guess how long I will have to wait, it could be months or which would not surprise me years. Win or lose, I will at least have the pleasure of knowing that this has caused the insurance company a much greater expense than if I had just accepted their 'you are not covered'