How can I prove he is mine?

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Tonker121

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Basically I am claiming for loss of use on my older horse and the insurance company want me to send proof of ownership... we bought him from a field over 12 years ago from a crazy old lady who had no clue how many horses she had. I was a lot younger then and my mum cant even remember the area we got him from let alone her name and the reciept (which i'm pretty sure was a scrap of old notebook paper) has long since been lost.

He has been with the same insurance company for the entire time and we have kept them updated with loan agreements etc when he has been out on loan to other people. His passport and everything is in my name but he only got a passport when the brought the law in saying you had to have one so there is no record of previous owner.

Any ideas on how else I can prove he is actually mine?
 
vet bills? microchip or freezemarking records - these are esp good as it isnt something the loan person would normally do even on a full loan.

If they still refuse to accept the claim on this technicality given the weight of evidence of ownership then I would take the claim to the insurance ombudsman since it would be unreasonable.

Or 'find' a receipt...:-)
 
We had to provide a letter from our vet , farrier & livery yard owner to prove ownership, ie we had been paying bills and horse was regarded as ours, that was with Petplan
 
Vets bills covering the period ,letter from the vet saying he's looked after the horse in your ownership for the whole time .
I have heard of this before I dont insure my horses but I do get a bill of sale now
I never used to bother.
After twelve years it's a bit difficult even if you paid by chq I don't think there will be records by now.
Hope you can sort it out.
 
Would paying farriers bills, vaccinations, insurance, feed etc not give them some idea? Perhaps ask the insurance company what evidence they would like - in the absence of a handwritten notebook scrap of paper and address of someone miles away 12 years ago! (which I'm sure you could point out to them could be faked by absolutely anyone)
I am increasingly entertained by the new ways insurance companies seek to wiggle out of claims !!!
In LOU the value you paid is irrelevant as they will only pay out 'current market value' (presumably lower as he is an older horse) so maybe also query why they need it?
Your farrier/ instructor/ vet can estimate 'current market value' for you (check with the insurance company who they will accept the opinion of!)
 
How bizarre! I'm with Petplan and have never been asked for proof of ownership despite only being with them two years and having two hefty claims this year. I'd be in the same situation though as I bought one of my horses 12 years ago too and I'm the first owner on his passport.

I suppose I'd have to use freezemark and microchip companies to prove it. How ridiculous! I can't think of anything where the price you paid for it 12 years ago would have any bearing on its value today! Ask them to accept your vet's estimated market value.
 
Have they said the passport is not proof enough as you are noted as the first owner?

If so, I would point out the date it was issued and the date it became mandatory to have a passport!

They should accept a written statement from the vet stating to the best of their knowledge you are the legal owner
 
Thanks for the replies. This is with petplan too! They have been fine with all the vets bills sides of things and have only asked for proof now that I am claiming loss of use. I was tempted to reply with surely paying you for 12 years, even whilst he was on loan for 4 years to someone else is some sort of indication?????

I'll give them a call and ask them what they actually want (my point as well was anyone could easily forge a handwritten scrap of paper!). He has been with the same vet for the entire time as well (though if they bothered to look through notes I am sure they would see this as we claimed for an injury not long after getting him). I'll get them to submit some form of record to them, and can also send through my freezemarking stuff. We have been at many liveries over the past 12 years and current YO couldnt really give a hoot if he was actually mine so dont think I will be able to use that!
 
Tonka - have they actually refused your passport as proof of ownership? If not, just send that in.

The reason they ask is they need to make sure you have an insurable interest. Although a passport isn't a legal proof of ownership, it would raise questions is you weren't the name in the passport.

If, for example, the passport was registered in you mum's name, they would then have to speak to your mum to confirm they could pay you as she is down as the registered owner.

Some companies go a bit overboard and others don't seem to really care! But it is best for the company to make sure they are paying the right person otherwise they can get into very sticky situations
 
Yes they refused it as its only 5 years old - we only got it when the law came in, and in fact we didnt get it - his loaner at the time got it as needed it for competing him, but she obviously put it in my name, but does go to prove why they question it.

I get why they need proof and am not disputing their reasons as I could be a sneaky loaner trying to pocket extra cash etc but its actually quite hard to prove legal ownership once passport has been discredited, I was tempted to email over some pics of me when I was 13 on him but they probably wont believe it is the same horse as he was pretty much black then and now totally grey so would do more harm than good..

I have called them and they said that if 2 industry professionals can submit written statements then it will be fine. My vet can do this easily but the other one will be meaningless really as my farrier has only shod him for 18 month, dentist 2 years etc..

Fingers crossed they pay out!
 
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