jan

[quote user="NormanH"] and I wonder if in fact they have farmed it out to another Insurance Company. [/quote] they have indeed farmed it out to another insurance company AXA this is an extract from their letter: Apres avoir pris connaissance de l'ensemble des peices de votre dossier, notre Comite Medical nous indique que la cause qui motive votre incapcite actuelle de travail releves des exclusions formulees au chapitre risques exclus de la notice d'information remise lors de la souscription de votre pret. En effet, est excluse des dispositions contractuelles 'incapacite de travail survenue hors du territoire francais ou monegasque, sauf si l'assure rejoint ce territoire (dans les douze mois suivant son arret de travail); l'incapacite sera alors consideree comme ayant a la date ou elle aura ete constatee medicalement apres son retour'

[quote user="NormanH"]The first of those is indeed close, but although there is no mention of being a French resident it seems more of a 'lump sum' type insurance than one which pays the mortgage premiums. Which sort did you think you had? (I'm sure you'd be glad to have either if you can get them to work...[:)] ) [/quote] When given the choice at the bank, i opted for the more expensive one that offered a lump sum on death and covered mortgage premiums if i was unable to work through illness.

[quote user="NormanH"]You are obviously and understandably very stressed. It would  be helpful if you could explain if I am right in assuming that  the insurance was to cover the re-payments on a mortgage on your holiday house in case of illness and death,   and also the name of the Bank. [/quote] Hi Norman yes when we took out the french mortgage with Banque Populaire they set up the insurance so that in the case of death the house would be paid for, the critical illness was a bonus i never realised it was included until Francoise at the bank told me so as she had read my policy but could not give me a copy directly.  Our notaire has moved away from the region and am not sure who has taken his papers over.  When we signed for the mortgage the bank insisted that we have life cover and they arranged it all.  They also arranged our buildings and contents insurance at the same time.  After being diagnosed I wrote as the insurance company requested, with full details of every operation 8 in total that had taken place, obtained a full doctors report and sent last year's wage slips to them.  They addressed everything to the UK so they knew I was an English resident.  All documents from the bank are addressed to the UK and Francoise knew it was a holiday home with a view to moving over later in life.  When I came at Easter I went to the bank with my letter stating I was not able to claim as my inability to work happened outside of french territory during the past twelve months, Francoise finally agreed to help and called them they told her the same thing and she was concerned that other client's would be in the same position that they have sold insurance to.  I have now written another letter requesting that they reconsider their decision.  I am not sure who is to blame for this the bank of the insurance company or both.  Sorry if this is a litle long but really need advice as to where to go next.  I have thought of returning to france and seeing a notaire but am not sure if this is the correct route at the moment.  Thanks Jan

[quote user="hannah jenkins"]If they were taken out in a bank you should be able to go stand in the bank and wait for them to print them while you wait. It's very worrying that you don't have any documents and there's not a lot you can do without them.[/quote] tried that one but the lady we deal with at the bank said this is not possible and requested head office to send me yet another copy this will be the third time they have supposed sent these to me.

[quote user="Russethouse"]jan, it couldn't be that your policy terms and conditions are on line anywhere could it ? If you can see from you bank statement what the name for the policy is you could try google.fr [/quote] I wish it was that easy, nothing is shown independently on the bank statement the mortgage and insurance come out as one payment to the banque populaire, the mortgage is also with this bank and they arranged the insurance.  Is there no legal system in France to prevent this situation as ultimately it is fraud. 

im back in the uk now after the easster break, the bank is supposedly sending me the documents by post. Even if the small print says i'm not covered, i need to find out where i stand, being missold an insurance policy? thanks Jan

I was at the bank last week trying to resolve the problem, I demanded the documents, however, they said they dont hold them here at the branch they are held in head office, so couldnt give me a copy, but would post  them to me...again!!..I've still not seen anything. Even though i dont have the documents, is there nothing i can do due to the fact that the bank sold me invalid insurance, and still continue to take the payments each month. Whilst in the bank last week, the manager stated i was the first person outside of the France to make a claim, however, they do have many other clients who i quote' 'Must be in the same situation' i must check....   regards   Jan

Thanks for the prompt reply...   The mortgage and insurance were both taken out in France with a French bank. After numerous emails and requests over the last 2 years i still have not recieved and mortgage 'or' insurance policy documents. and unfortunately i dont have an independant financial advisor.   Jan   

Hi I'm new to the forum and was hoing someone may be able to help... We bought a holiday home in the Haute vienne 2.5 years ago and I visit as for uto 3 months a year. the rest of the time i live in the UK. Last year i was diagnosed with breast cancer, and went through months and months of operations rendering me ibncapable of working for the months and ultimatly losing my job. The life insurance that was sold to us by the bank included illness insurance including what i'm going through. After trying to claim they have just sent me a letter saying somthing alaong the lines of..Because your ilness occured outside of France and you dont live and work in France then the insurance is invalid. Even though when the bank sold me the isurance and the mortgage they knew it was a holiday home they knew i lived in the uk and all my postal addresses are here in the UK. i'm now in a position where i have used all of my savings to pay the last 12 months mortgae and am struggling to pay future payments and am not insured if i die..   can anyone give me any advice on where to turn?   kind regards   Jan.