Fooked by BigInsuranceCorp?

October 11, 2007 6:54 PM

Canadian insurance emergency - homeseller canceled policy, needs 2-day add-on. Company won't budge. Help!

I'm about to sell my house privately (I have a lawyer). Closing date was set and offer signed by all parties, but the buyers at the last minute needed a 2-day extension to the closing date (next Monday to next Wednesday) - *after* I've asked the insurance company, a largish corporation (Mel-Mon) to cancel the policy as of Monday. Today I called them and was told "sorry, my hands are tied, it's already been processed, there's nothing we can do". Asked for his supervisor, "we all have the same qualifications here, there is no supervisor". Aside from physical violence, does anybody have any useful suggestions?

posted by fish tick to law & government (7 answers total)

Could you go buy a new insurance policy effective immediately and then cancel it in two days for a refund? That might be worth looking into.
posted by cusack at 8:10 PM on October 11, 2007

I should add that I still have auto insurance through this company, but not for long, obv.
posted by fish tick at 8:14 PM on October 11, 2007

Have you given the buyer an extension? Talk to your lawyer - this sort of thing is what you're paying them to deal with.

Have your lawyer talk to the buyer's lawyer too. The buyer's insurance may well cover the house during the period of the 2-day extension.

Asked for his supervisor, "we all have the same qualifications here, there is no supervisor"

It's probably a call centre. Find out the name of the company, call the head office, and ask for the complaints officer.

Cusack's plan has merit, insurers can issue "certificates of cover" immediately. You might have to pay a full month's premium or something though - talk to the lawyer about asking the buyer to refund you that.
posted by aeschenkarnos at 8:21 PM on October 11, 2007

Mel-Mon = TD Meloche Monnex?

Go into a bricks and mortar TD branch. I seem to recall seeing a Meloche Monnex sign when i was in Halifax last year, but it's a bit hazy.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 9:05 PM on October 11, 2007

Thanks all - I managed to speak to a team leader at the insurance company, and they have very grudgingly given a 2-day "verbal" extension.
Insurance companies: "serving" the client any way we can.
posted by fish tick at 6:56 AM on October 12, 2007

Uh, I don't know if things work differently up in Canada, but I would NOT accept a verbal extension, even if you felt like it took a lot of effort to get that. If something were to happen in those 2 days, how long before that verbal agreement disappears?
posted by JMOZ at 8:08 AM on October 12, 2007

Well, "verbal" seems to mean something quite different in insurance terms; i.e. they don't have to reopen the closed policy file. I have a pdf document from the company acknowledging the extension as well, which should provide protection.
posted by fish tick at 8:31 AM on October 12, 2007