Imagine getting a letter of condolence from your motor insurance provider for your own passing. It sounds crazy but it has happened, with a 44-year-old Northern Ireland police officer having the misfortune of being at the receiving end less than a week before Christmas.
“We are sorry to hear that Mr R Clarke has sadly passed away,” read the letter from Richard Clarke’s insurer, as reported by the
Daily Mail. “Please accept our condolences on behalf of Halifax Car Insurance at this difficult time.”
Only it was Clarke himself – very much alive – who opened the letter to find out that the policy for his Jeep Renegade would be cancelled in light of his supposed death. It wasn’t a fake letter or anything of that sort but apparently an unfortunate mix-up that happened after he went to a branch to change bank accounts.
“We are very sorry that Mr Clarke has received this letter in error,” said a Halifax spokesperson, as quoted by the report. “It was sent as the result of an instruction received from his bank when transferring payment details between his old and new bank accounts.
“We can confirm that there was no interruption to Mr Clarke’s motor insurance cover. We have apologised for the inconvenience caused and will be sending him a goodwill gesture.”
The father-of-two said Halifax apologised “profusely” for the human error.
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