Lost home insurance policy! Help!

[Le Chat]

I need to make an insurance claim on my home policy but cannot find my documents. I found the company on line and they did send me the relevant documentation but I can't find it. To make matters worse I can't remember the name of the company. I pay monthly and the direct debit payment goes out to "Assured Services." My bank cannot help as they do not keep any additional information due to data protection.

I have used google to try and find this company but if I remember rightly they are a subsiduary of a larger company. I can't even remember how I found them in the first instance!!!

Does anyone have any ideas about this, or know who Assured Services are?

[mongos bird]

Hi Le Chat!  I worked for a bank which was part of the HSBC group for over six years, part of my job was to handle any queries regarding standing orders and direct debits. If the payment leaves your account as a direct debit then the bank WILL have some level of info for the beneficiary.(If you signed a direct debit form the bank will have a copy of this on microfiche - thus company name/add/tel.) Even if no form was signed and it was just verbal authority you gave then the bank will still have a direct debit originator number/code.  This is a six digit number specific to the company claiming from your account and should identify them.  The bank may hold some further details such as address, tel number and poss contact name. As for quoting the 'data protection' thing at you, that's just bull.  Data Prot is to protect YOU not the Company. You want to know who's claiming from your account, that's not asking them to divulge any state secret!  This is your account and your money -  DO NOT BE FOBBED OFF BY YOUR BANK!! They know more than they are letting on. However, if the payment leaves as a standing order (which is most unlikely for an insurance policy - I never saw 1 in my time at the bank and used to handle over 120 queries a day) then the only details held would be a sort code and account number of the recipient. This is where it may get tricky to find any further info as a standing order is an agreement between yourself and the beneficiary, so the bank will not keep any further info.  BE PERSISTANT, if it is a direct debit (which I'm sure it must be) then you have a right to any contact info the bank hold for a company who is claiming YOUR money.  (CONTINUED ON ANSWER BELOW.....)

[mongos bird]

.... Visit your branch an don't let the people behind the screen intimidate you.  If you don't get any joy from the cashier then make yourself a pain in the proverbial (sometimes it's the only way!)   Remember, they should be grateful for your business and not the other way round, they are there to serve you and don't let them forget that!! 

Sorry this is so long winded!!  Hope this is of some use to you Le Chat, got my fingers crossed for you x x x

[Loosehead]

The only other way is to get them to communicate to you.The best way I know is to cancel the DD and when they write reinstate the DD and viola, you have your account number etc!

[mongos bird]

the drawback with the above answer is the insurance company may then cancel the policy . . . . . .

[Sammy Snake]

I agree with Mongos Bird.  I worked for NatWest for 20 years and they definately COULD give the details of a direcvt debit originator.  They are fobbing you off.

[stevie21]

Just to jump on the bandwagon - via the "originator id number" the bank will be able to find all sorts of other info on the company such as a contact phone number, address and sometimes an alternative name for the company (the larger co. you mention). Data Protection my ****.

Just to change the subject a little, with any DD you're protected by the DD Guarantee scheme : if any extra payments are claimed via a DD then your bank will arrange a refund for you. This demonstrates that they clearly have contact info for each company (in line with the DD guaratee scheme) but due to the "I can't be bothered with this customer so I'll lie and try to blind him/her with jargon" attitude they are refusing to give this to you?

With this "insider knowledge" if I was given this lame rubbish about Data Protection I would have lynched the bank advisor and loudly demanded that they be properly trained, possibly disciplined and that my woeful service was taken into account in their next performance review.
They'll take you seriously then :-)

[Le Chat]

Thanks all, for your replies. It's a sad reflection on banking if the clerk won't divulge info simply because he/she can't be bothered. I shall get onto it tomorrow!!

[AllYourBase]

Assured services are part of the group now known as "sesame general insurance services ltd". They can be contacted at: Independence House, Holly bank road, huddersfield, HD3 3HN. Telephone [phone].
Company reg no 1902998.

[Loosehead]

Mongos bird, they won't cancel the policy, they'll ask for the money first or for a new dd, It's just a device to get them to write. Even if they did cancel it, it was in force when the claim arose.