I’m a 38-year-old, gay, single man back living in Hampshire with my parents after surviving a domestically abusive relationship. In my spare time, I like growing plants, reading, painting, and music.
When I contacted the Charity, I was working for Howden Insurance after it was taken over from A-Plan. I was broking personal lines policies, such as car, home and landlords’ insurance. Before this, I worked at a small independent brokerage working with commercial cover.
I contacted The Insurance Charity after my ex-partner committed thousands of pounds of fraud in my name in the form of credit cards, and running up debts with Sky and council tax.
I did some research online about what help there was for people in my situation. Despite there being many other charities that could offer advice, The Insurance Charity was the only organisation that could provide me with the financial support I needed to start the journey of getting me back on my feet. This was all on top of the physical, emotional, and psychological abuse I had been exposed to.
The turning point came when I started receiving letters from debt-collecting companies for debts I didn’t even know existed. At the same time, I was trying to get medical help for physical injuries I had sustained, and the idea of having to face yet another problem that my ex caused was making me even more unwell.
If I’m honest, I had reservations about contacting the Charity. When I was trying to get help for the abuse, it felt like no one believed me that the things he did had actually happened.
Very kindly, The Insurance Charity supported me by helping me buy clothes, shoes, bedding and a new mattress after moving back to my parents’ house. They also helped get my finances into a better place and clear the council tax debt I had in my name.
The financial support the Charity provided has been a godsend. It has removed a huge amount of stress and pressure from my life, which has allowed me the space to start the recovery process from such a horrific ordeal.
I still have more to do to get my finances into an even better place, but the support helped me to resolve some of the immediate problems.
Everyone I’ve dealt with at The Insurance Charity has been really lovely, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the help they have provided.
I would say to anyone thinking about contacting the Charity to be brave and ask the question. It has been set up to help people like me, and they are happy to do so.
I was so worried that I would be judged about the situation I found myself in, but there was no judgment there at all. Everyone was really understanding and very easy to talk to.
Life throws us curveballs at times, and now and again they will knock us backwards. It’s at these times that we need to ask for this help, and I am so grateful that the Insurance Charity was there to help me pick up some of the pieces. You don’t need to suffer in silence.
*Name changed and stock photo used for confidentiality.