Useful contacts

Insurance Code of Practice and Complaints Association of British Insurers (ABI), 51 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HQ
tel: 020 7600 3333, fax: 020 7696 8999 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , web: http://www.abi.org.uk/

Financial Services Ombudsman, South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR, tel: 0845 080 1800, fax: 020 7964 1001
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , web:http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/

The Law Society, The Law Society's Hall, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL, tel: 0870 606 6575, fax: 20 7831 0344
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , web: http://www.lawsoc.org.uk/

The law society cannot give legal advice. It can direct enquirers towards solicitors who specialise in disability discrimination legislation and has an online database of solicitors at http://www.solicitors-online.com/

MindinfoLine can also give details of solicitors who specialise in this area of the law (see Information Services list in this section).

Information services

Manic Depression Fellowship (MDF), Castle Works, 21 St. George's Road, London SE1 6ES, tel: 020 7793 2600
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , web: http://www.mdf.org.uk/

Manic Depression Fellowship Wales, 1 Palmyra Place, Newport, Gwent NP20 4EJ, tel: 0163 324 4244, fax 0163 324 4111
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , web: http://www.mdfwales.org.uk/

MindinfoLine, Mind, PO Box 277, Manchester, M60 3XN, MindinfoLine is open Mondays to Fridays 9.15am to 5.15pm
tel: 0845 766 0163, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , web: http://www.mind.org.uk/

We can give details of Legal Network solicitors who specialise in advising about claims under the Disability Discrimination Act

Rethink, Head Office, 30 Tabernacle Street, London EC2A 4DD, tel: 020 8974 6814
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , web: http://www.rethink.org/

Insurance services

The companies whose details are given below have assured us that they will not exclude people solely on the basis of having a mental health problem, either currently, or in the past. It is their policy to look at the merits of each case. However, they may wish to obtain a medical report from your general practitioner or psychiatrist.

The Ivan Massow Group is probably the most advanced in terms of its understanding of the problems people with a history of mental distress can face when applying for insurance. It has responded by producing a range of financial services, including insurance, as part of its 'Survivors' service.

Please note that neither Mind or adders.org is unable to specifically recommend any of the insurance services listed below; their details are given purely for information purposes.

Ivan Massow Group's 'Survivors' Service, Regional offices:
London, tel: 020 7297 9610, fax: 020 7297 9611, free phone: 0800 328 0625, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Manchester, tel: 0161 254 4221, fax: 0161 2544 253, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tamworth, Staffordshire - Felix Financial Ltd, tel: 01827 311 950, fax: 01827 520 67, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

You can arrange your insurance online at www.massow.co.uk or telephone any of the above numbers to speak with an advisor.

Manic Depression Fellowship - Travel Insurance

Manic Depression Fellowship (MDF), Castle Works, 21 St. George's Road, London SE1 6ES, tel: 020 7793 2600
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , web: http://www.mdf.org.uk/

Privilege Insurance, 3 Edridge Road, Croydon, Surrey CR9 1AG, tel: 0113 292 5555
web: http://www.privilege.com/
Primarily for motor insurance

Jeffrey Flanders Ltd, The Old Barn, Vicarage Hill, Loxwood, Billingshurst, West Sussex RH14 0RH
tel: 08703 300 2001
Cover for all types of insurance except for travel

Travelability, Folgate Insurers, Upton Road, Poole, Dorset BH17 7AG, tel: 01202 668 066, fax: 01202 668 064. A specialist travel insurance policy for people with disabilities

Medicover (call centre based), tel: 0870 735 3600, web: http://www.medi-cover.co.uk/
They cover travel insurance

next: Frequently Asked Questions About Methylphenidate, ADHD Diagnosis

References

[SUP>1 Massow, Ivan (2003) Information circulated to Mind regarding the Ivan Massow group's 'Survivors' service (unpublished).
² Mind (1999) press release to the BBC, quoted online

³ Perkins, Rachel (2003) quoted in the online journal Psychminded