How deep is the ocean. How high is your house?
This post was inspired by R C Hammond who highlighted the bull-headed stupidity of some insurance companies in his post “Your weekly Politico-Pondering ed Catorce (14).”
Some years ago, many areas in the UK suffered from severe flooding in the winter. This has made many insurance companies wary of insuring people they think live in area prone to flooding. Fair enough, you say.
However, a gentleman in Devon applied to insure his home against the possibility of flooding, as he lives 750 feet from the sea. A bit close, you may say. But his house is 250 feet up a hill. However, he has been refused insurance. Obviously, the insurance company feared a possible future claim against them.
Let us get this thing into perspective.
Nelsons Column, in London’s Trafalgar Square, is 203 feet high. So, a rise in sea level of 250 feet would probably put most of the country under water.
The reason for the refusal of cover is due to the company’s policy of insuring homes by the postcode (zip code) they are in.
It appears this particular post code is coastal, thereby under threat from the sea. No matter how high up they are.
A spokesman for the insurer has said they hope to introduce a system where they can underwrite homes based on their position. I assume he means somebody actually going to look at the homes.
I wonder how long it took to think that one up.
A compromise would be that this particular house could be covered for normal household mishaps, such as burst pipes, fire and burglary, and be exempt from flooding from an apocalypse caused by giant tidal wave or sudden rise in sea levels, as there would probably no one left to claim, or anyone to claim compensation from.
But I fear trying to explain that to a box ticker at an insurance company would probably lead to thoughts of self-harm or worse.
Some more stories from me.
They wanted to arrest me Kansas City.
