Santam's Serpentine Solution

I write on behalf of my mom, who will be turning 85 in just over two months. Her claim no. with Santam is: ***

She asked for her excess to be waived due to age. The response we received was that she is in an area "that had a high frequency of lightning and thunderbolt activities". This is unbelievable since she is located in a ground level unit that is not any more susceptible to this particular weather phenomenon than any other block in the city.

Santam did not disclose what this finding was based on as she does not reside in a mountainous area.

This excess was a condition added in 2018. So this recent safeguard addition by Santam has prejudiced an elderly woman in this vulnerable state who also had to endure a long wait for her claim to be addressed. (TV is a vital source of information and entertainment to the elderly.)

We live a few blocks away and our insurance company has not listed this area as being prone to such an unpredictable weather phenomenon. That is why I find the reason used to be absurd. Lightning is unpredictable.

This is a lesson to watch out for such types of insurance companies that burden the elderly in this fragile and difficult economy. My mother had been with this company for 30 years. I find this outcome to be harsh, unjust and irrational. No algorithm or proof of their finding of the area's lightning frequency was forwarded.

Regards E. Frank