A British journalist said a car insurance company rejected him because it no longer accepts customers with his occupation.
It’s no secret that people are often charged higher insurance rates if they have high-risk careers – professional athletes, astronauts, etc – but the UPI news wire is carrying a story right now that really makes the mind boggle:
A journalist for the Liverpool Echo and Daily Post, William Leece, said that eCar insurance, part of the UK’s Southern Rock Insurance Company, refused to give him an insurance quote because his profession was not an accepted occupation for customers.
In an article with the London Gazette, Leece said that the company’s help desk informed him via email that due to a change in underwriting rules, “…we no longer insure drivers with the occupation journalist.” He also said the company will keep his existing policy on another car in force until its renewal date.
Leece said, “At least I am still insured, but it will inevitably cause me some inconvenience when it comes to renewal time later this year. Is this the thin end of the wedge, I wonder, with other insurance companies prepared to ditch journalists’ business?”
According to the Gazette article, Chris Gillighan, head of underwriting at Southern Rock, said the company “… reserved the right to decline insurance on the basis of profession.”