MUTUAL & FEDERAL NOT HONOUR CLAIM : Policy No. MER 5008 MUT

Property was bought as a going tunnel tomato farming concern. TOMATO FARM

First application for insurance was done during the month of May 2017. Property eventually insured from the 9th June 2017. Fire started on property the afternoon of the 10th June 2017.

As precaution we wet the house and surrounding garden.

Evacuated horses.

My wife evacuated the dogs while I went to buy more sprinklers. She was trapped on the south side with a farmer until 10 pm that evening as their was no way in or out. We all went through a lot of trauma and suffered from smoke inhalation.

We saw the house was saved at around 11 pm. Thanks to my wife and some firefighters. The tunnels and fences were still burning.

After the fire I contacted Delia at Astra Brokers and told her the house was not damaged but there were fencing and tunnel damage. After that I only received my policy where the tunnels were suddenly left out and not like the quote I accepted. I immediately phoned Delia and told her about the fault on the policy which needed to be corrected.

It took awhile to get quotations for fire damages. We put in our claim and we were promised it should be dealt with quickly. First Assessor came and was happy with my claim. Expected pay out was a month ago. Second Assessor was appointed by MERCURY.

Marinda from Mercury sent an email that they are going to finalize and pay out Monday or Tuesday last week. Mercury is the agent for Mutual & Federal.

No tomato farming at the moment can go ahead because of the fire damage to the tunnels. We also have R36 000-00 a month bill for our horses that cannot be kept on the farm because of fence damage and burnt out wiring.

This Insurance experience has become very sad for my wife, that is still traumatized from the fire. I feel it is my duty to warn other people against using Mutual & Federal for Agricultural Insurance. We are going to put our experience on Facebook and in the newspapers to warn other people against this company that is so scrupulous.

I will have to go to the OMBUDSMAN and see my attorney to take legal proceedings against Mutual & Federal. I will also cancel all my other policies with Mutual & Federal if they do not honour the above claim. I cannot take the chance that they will probably not honour future policy claims.

The fire caused a lot of stress and tears for my family and the last thing you expect is an insurance company (MUTUAL & FEDERAL) to look for a reason not to pay out our claim.