Renasa and Garrun let down, Insurance that is not quite insurance when you need to claim.

This is not to defame or to cause any financial or social injury to the above company. This is for general or public knowledge so that should anyone be looking for insurance or interested in making their minds up as to change their current insurer that they consider what could potentially happen to them in a similar situation.

My Family has long been loyal supporters of Renasa and have been so for many years, despite some let downs with the company. Naturally being a loyal family when it came time for me to look into insurance I looked to the same people.

I got my vehicle insured with Renasa through Garrun last year August. After a lengthy phone discussion with a representative regarding the outline of the cover and my needs, I proceeded to take cover with the company for my vehicle and my tools and equipment believing that everything was covered. I am an electrician and rely on my vehicle and my tools to complete my work and provide for my wife and I. Some people use cameras to take photos for their work purposes I use a camera phone as it has good quality and the ability to store Electrical apps as well as communicate quickly with suppliers. After a spate of bad luck I damaged two of my phones in the space of a week or two. (I have 3) 1) The insurer was contacted and they told me to take it in for quotes, when the quotes came back they refused my claims because they stated initially that they don't cover phones although it is mentioned on my official documentation and was discussed with representative.

2) After highlighting this point to them they then asked me for the asset register to prove that i use my phones as tools. I subsequently took a whole day off work to make a detailed asset register for them. Upon receipt of it they altered it and sent it in to Renasa for approval.

3) I have just heard back from them now that they have refused to honor the claims due to the fact that they did not have the asset list before the claims were in and that they don't consider cell phones to be tools.

1) The phones were mentioned and the representative acknowledges that we did discuss it, so their initial refusal falls flat. 2) The phones are an integral part of my business for my Ikhoka machine to link up with and to take photos to refer to at a later point as well as evidence of work completed. I have photos of every single job taken with the phones as proof of their being used as tools. Just as an accountant will rely on their laptop or calculator as tools, my phones were part of mine. 3) Technically according to their argument they would have honored the claims if they had the lists before hand. This to me is a blatant side step. If the claim is null and void because of not having a list in place before then why take my monthly premiums?

Garrun asked me for a tool/ asset list a few times and I did start doing the list when requested, however with new tools and equipment being added almost monthly and work( Working for myself) and life (major heart surgery and general life trying to earn an honest living) getting in the way completing a detailed asset register was not on my top list of priorities, Especially as it was not made clear to me that the cover would be denied if they did not receive the list, however month after month they were more than happy to deduct from my earnings for this cover.

What is a trivial amount for cellphone repair to a big company such as Renasa is a big amount to a struggling electrician. However all future relationships and deductions will be a much bigger loss to them.

I am extremely disappointed as well as my loyal family members. We will now be seeking to take this further and will be looking for a more loyal and helping insurer for our future and current needs.