Wilts, you brought back memories for me. I started work at the Sun Insurance Office. I was a junior clerk and where you sat determined your status. The Accident Manager sat top left and I sat back right. Because of ny moaning they gave me holiday insurance in those days a set fee of £1. Then I graduated to travel insurance. There were 4 different level of cover for four options with the price ranging from £2.50 to £10. One day being the junior I was left alone at lunch time because the others were out celebrating something.
A customer came in; 3 of the options were within specification but one was outside. I didn’t know what to do but decided to put him off saying the premium would be £25 He said fine so I amended the limit and verified with the Sun stamp.
The following morning the Accident Manager was checking through yesterday’s policies and he came across mine. His skin coulour changed to pink and then red and immediately went off to see the General Manager, something only done by appointment. The rest of the team said they would organise my leaving do.
After ten minutes I was called down into the sacred office. I sat next to the Accident Manager who was shaking in despair. The General Manager sat opposite. I was resigned to being sacked; then I noticed the GM was laughing. He told me he appreciated that I didn’t want to let the Sun Insurance Office down, but next time ask the customer to come back after lunch. He told what I had underwritten was way outside the Accident Manager’s authority, but luckily it was within
his authority. The correct premium was £24.