UK car insurance news
06/09/2007

Stone from lawnmower prompts claim on cheap car insurance policy

An Ifield woman is angry with Crawley Council after she was forced to turn to her cheap car insurance company when a stone flicked up from a council lawn mower, shattering her car window.

The 47-year-old had to pay a £60 excess after the incident, in which a small stone flew off the blade of a sit-down lawn mower and smashed one of the back windows of her Peugeot 307.

She commented: "My husband saw the whole thing from our lounge. He confronted the gardener, but the gardener shouted at him and told him to call the police or the council. He then drove off."

She contacted her cheap car insurance company, who told her that she must pay a £60 excess to make a motor insurance claim.

She then explained: "I wrote to the council and sent them a copy of the insurance receipt, but I got a letter back telling me the council's insurance company would not be refunding me the money.

"The council is so stingy. The cash is nothing to them, but it is a huge amount to me. I have got three children to look after."

A spokesperson for Crawley Council said: "[She] did submit a claim and we forwarded it to our insurance company. We understand they did not offer her a refund and we have informed her that if she is not satisfied she should contact the insurance ombudsman."