SM
Sithembile M

1 reviews | Active since Oct 2020

19 Oct 2020, 23:06

Nature of complain

I have been insured with Prime Meridian Direct (PMD) since 29 May 2019 with comprehensive cover for my vehicle. On the 24th September 2020 I was driving past road works on a detours on Es*** Terrace in Westville Durban and looking for a turn off that was blocked. On passing the road works I didn't get back onto the correct side of the road quickly enough and an oncoming car collided with me. My car had to be towed away and PMD declined my claim stating that I contravened the National Road Traffic Act (NRTA) by being over the centre line of the road!!! I appealed to Santam who underwrite this policy and they also declined the claim for the same reason. They sent a recording of the sales interview where it stated that if I contravened the NRTA by for example being intoxicated or speeding there would be no claim so this means that should you fail to see a stop sign and collide with a car you have contravened the NRTA? Should you be distracted by a child in your car and wander into parked cars you have contravention the NRTA? What accident that is your fault is not a contravention of the NRTA? Or does PMD and Santam only cover accidents that are the other driver's fault? And then they will claim the damages from the other party and thus have no financial liability at all? I am horrified and want to warn all PMD clients that they need to reconsider their insurer's policies if they are using PMD>

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Replies (2)
Prime South Africa
Prime South Africa's reply20 Oct 2020, 08:59
Official
Dear Sithembile M,

Thank you for taking the time to raise this matter with us.  

We have located your claim and commit to providing preliminary feedback within 48 hours. 
 
 Assuring you of our continued best endeavours. 
 
 Kind regards,
 The PMD Team 
Prime South Africa
Prime South Africa's reply21 Oct 2020, 09:24
Official
 
Dear Sithembile M,

Thank you for your post about your claim.  

We truly dislike rejecting claims, however,  we only approve claims which qualify in terms of the policy conditions.

 As you have approached the office of Ombudsman for Short Term Insurance, we do hope that you obtain the confirmation you are seeking regarding the outcome of your claim.  In addition, we are obliged to direct all communication regarding your claim via the OSTI’s office and are awaiting their findings.  On receipt, we will of course respect their report.

We are of course, delighted to confirm once more that unlike with many other insurers, and notwithstanding economic conditions like interest rate hikes, inflation or a falling Rand, PMD guarantees never to increase premiums on claim free policies.
Assuring you of our continued best endeavours. 

Kind Regards, 

The PMD Team