What'd You Expect ? You Left the Keys in the Car

You leave your house to go to work. You get into the car, start the engine and then realise that your windscreen is covered in frost. You jump out, run into the house to get some water, knock down your small child and have to console her. When you emerge again, still only 5 minutes later, your vehicle has been stolen.

Your insurer says that it will not cover your loss, as you left the vehicle "unlocked and unattended" and with the keys "in or on" it. You therefore failed to take "reasonable care" of your property, and you cannot expect the insurance company to pay for that.

It's obvious, no ?

Well, no it isn't,as the UK's Financial Ombudsman Service make clear here.

Update on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 at 01:03PM by Fergus O'Rourke

Link to Financial Ombudsman now restored