Retail Decision Reference 2022-0280

• Case Outcome: Rejected
• Subject Matter: Retail
• Reference: 2022-0280
• Date: 22 August 2022
• Finantial Sector: Insurance
• Conducts Complained Of: Claim handling delays or issues

Decision Ref:

2022-0280

Sector:

Insurance

Product / Service:

Retail

Conduct(s) complained of:

Claim handling delays or issues

Outcome:

Rejected

LEGALLY BINDING DECISION OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND PENSIONS OMBUDSMAN

The Complainant, a limited company trading as a hotel, hereinafter ‘the Complainant

Company’, held a Commercial Combined Insurance Policy with the Provider. The policy

period in which this complaint falls, is from 1 June 2019 to 1 June 2020. This complaint

concerns the Provider’s decision to decline the Complainant Company’s business

interruption claim.

The Complainant Company’s Case

The Complainant Company, by way of its Representative, notified the Provider on 27 March

2020 of a claim for business interruption losses as a result of the temporary closure of its

hotel, due to measures imposed by the government to help curb the spread of the

coronavirus (COVID-19).

In making its claim, the Complainant Company relied upon the following wording of Section

2, ‘Business Interruption’, at pg. 36 of the applicable Commercial Combined Insurance

Policy Document (‘the Policy Document’):

“EXTENSIONS TO THE BUSINESS INTERRUPTION SECTION …

(6) Murder, Suicide & Notifiable Diseases

Interruption of or interference with your Business in consequence of Damage as

insured by this Section shall include loss resulting from Murder, Suicide or notifiable