Attention Portsmouth Water Customers! Beware of Mail Solicitations

The following is from a press release from the Portsmouth Water and Fire District. 

customers have been receiving a mail solicitation from a company called HomeServe with a Providence post office box return address. The company is offering insurance to cover the cost to repair the customer’s water service line should it fail.  

HomeServe is not affiliated with the Portsmouth Water and Fire District, nor has the company contacted Portsmouth Water about its solicitation. It appears that HomeServe is a foreign corporation organized under the laws of Delaware with a principle office in Stamford, CT.   

Portsmouth Water started receiving telephone calls on May 7 from customers that were confused and concerned about this recent HomeServe mail solicitation. Based on the calls, it appears that HomeServe is targeting senior citizen water customers.  This same company made a different mail solicitation in February 2012.

The mail solicitation is craftily worded and is designed to scare customers into buying this insurance. The offered insurance has a number of coverage exclusions.

Portsmouth Water recommends that customers who receive the solicitation seek the assistance of family members, friends or professionals who are familiar with insurance and contracts to better understand what is being offered before proceeding. 

Customers interested in the offered insurance may also want to perform an Internet search on HomeServe to investigate the experience of others who have purchased the coverage.