VERY DISAPPOINTED, UNFAIRLY TREATED CLIENT.

VERY DISAPPOINTED, UNFAIRLY TREATED CLIENT.

On Friday 22 May 2020 at approximately 1pm while exiting the residential estate where I live, I was briefly distracted resulting in a motor vehicle accident. I momentarily lost control of my vehicle and unfortunately collided with an adjoining wall of a fellow resident’s property within the estate. Resulting in damage to both my car and the wall.

My vehicle is insured with Discovery Insure and a subsequent claim was registered, claim no. 2338***. At the scene of the accident my vehicle was towed away by a tow truck and taken to the insurer’s yard or service providers for damage assessments and claim processing. At the time of the tow truck loading my vehicle for removal I had no confirmation that it was indeed a “Discovery Insure” accredited tow truck and was notably agitated, shaking and now even more distressed, surely expected behaviour after such a traumatic incident.

Naturally, due to the accident I was in a state of complete shock and panic. This has been noted, confirmed by the 2 female residents who came to my aid at the scene and communicated on numerous occasions to both my Discovery Insure Broker and the claims assessor himself, Isaac Ramarumo. This questioning being conducted at random hours including the evening of a public holiday where I felt intimidated and bul****. This personal attack was subsequently lodged and explained to my Attorney who suggested that any further communications from Discovery Insure or the claims assessor, Isaac Ramarumo should be directed via himself and his legal department. At this point the Assessor openly refused to adhere to this. My Ex-Husband (Policy Holder) and my Mother neither of whom were present when the accident occurred were also contacted and questioned.

My Ex-Husband took over communications and advised me the vehicle was declared a write off, (beyond economical repair).I was then instructed to please hand in all my vehicle documentation including the original NATIS document as the vehicle is not financed, the vehicles spare key and a signed change of ownership document. I still await any physical quotation on my vehicles damage and in good faith and recommendation from Discovery claims department, Peter Rankhathali I also gave over the vehicles spare key and a signed change of ownership documents

Despite the claim processing delays experienced, my biggest disappointment is the manner in which the claim has been processed and unfairly Rejected without basis.

Rejection letter received on the 27th of August 2020 with below reason:

Events not covered by this plan 7.11 what is not covered?

You will not have cover • If the driver of the vehicle at the time of the event was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

With this outcome I feel I have been greatly prejudiced and unfairly treated and my character defamed beyond recovery.

In their rejection it has been imp**** or concluded that I was under the influence of alcohol that morning which was not the case. Their outcome being based on a fellow resident “professional witness” (notably a doctor) who came to the scene of the accident whilst I was still in shock. No blood tests or breathalyser were taken whatsoever to prove their allegation. Later, during the claim process the allegation was then changed from alcohol consumption to prescribed medical drugs. Again, no blood tests or breathalyser were taken whatsoever to prove their allegation.

My Psychiatrist, whom I have been a patient of for the past 3 years prescribes me medication for anxiety and depression. This prescribed medication, authorised and paid for by Discovery Health is time sensitive and taken at specific times per day namely at night prior to me retiring to bed.

I do not drink alcohol at all for personal reasons, also over and above this it was also “Lock down and the alcohol ban was in place.

The so called professional “witness /doctor” who came to the scene of the accident is a resident in the estate and came out as a concerned neighbour. He never ran any tests to prove his allegations that he provided to Discovery. All he assisted me with was calming me down from shock , panic and post-accident trauma/confusion. How did he then confuse this for drunkenness and later on drugs?

All claims that Discovery have made against myself, my reputation and my God given nature are completely unfounded and based on hearsay. I personally believe that this “Doctor” has been bul****, as my other 2 neighbours and myself have repeatedly been by the Discovery representatives.

I have requested, through a friend’s brokerage, a copy of the alleged witness statements and apparent telephonic recordings, however, in “true form” I still patiently await these from Discovery Insure, Discovery Claims Department and my personal Discovery Broker.

I therefore request that Discovery Insure and their Management Team review the claim, re-open the claim and process the claim accordingly, fairly and without prejudice or bias.

Very Disappointed and Unfairly Treated Client

Victoria Lucas