A GRANDMOTHER whose Canvey home flooded twice in the past year was facing huge insurance premiums until the Echo stepped in to help.

Maureen Hurley, 72, was shocked to discover how much her premium would go up if she chooses to renew her policy.

Mrs Hurley’s home, in Wittem Road, was flooded on Sunday, July 20, but she also suffered on Saturday, August 24, last year.

The grandmother, who lives with her disabled son, 48, and grand-daughter, 18, saw her bill double because of the flood damage.

She said: “It’s happened twice in the past year and it’s ruined the carpet in the back bedroom.

It’s all got to be redecorated again and the premium was going up from £300 to £600.

“They need me to pay the first £2,450 for flood damage and my excess has gone up to £250.

“It’s not worth the paper it’s written on.”

On top of the increased cost, Mrs Hurley was also told she would be charged £53.22 to pay by direct debit by insurers Saga.

She said: “I can’t afford all of this. I’m on pension credit.

They’re telling me on the renewal notice to consider carefully, because no one else will take me on.

“I’ve been down to the bank and the girl there had a look, but she couldn’t get me a policy anywhere.

I feel I’ve been penalised, but it’s not my fault. It seems the less I claim for, the better I will be next year.

“We need to get people together and do something about it. I feel quite alone – there has been no support. ’ve been flooded twice and I feel victimised by the premiums. What do I do?”

SAGA slashed Mrs Hurley’s premium by £240 – after the Echo intervened.

After our reporter called the company to ask about its treatment of the pensioner, it changed Mrs Hurley’s claim from flood damage to storm damage and reduced her quote from £531 to £291.

A Saga spokeswoman said: “Mrs Hurley’s second claim was categorised as flood damage by the original underwriters and this led to the increase in her premium at renewal.

“This is because homes which have a flood claim are, statistically speaking, much more likely to make more claims in the future.

“However, due to the individual nature of the earlier claim, we have pressed the former underwriters and they have agreed to change the categorisation of the first claim.

“As a result, the current underwriter has been able to offer a much lower premium.

“We are delighted with this outcome and hope Mrs Hurley will be happy with our efforts to secure the revised premium.”

Mrs Hurley said: “I’m quite pleased with it. The company is not going to change the excess, but it is better than nothing.

“Thank you very much to the Echo for your help.”

COUNCILLORS will collect evidence from residents over flooding at a meeting next week.

The scrutiny committee at Castle Point Council will meet on Monday, September 15, to receive evidence as it puts together a review of the floods on Sunday, July 20.

A power cut hit the island as one million cubic metres of water fell on Canvey in an afternoon – described by the Environment Agency as almost the full capacity of Wembley Stadium.

Dave Blackwell, committee chairman, said: “I need people to bring information and responses from their insurance companies so we can collate that information.”

The meeting takes place at 7.30pm at the council offices in Kiln Road, Thundersley.