Kerry Berry (pictured) was in labour when she discovered her Ford Fiesta had been stolen
A mother was in labour when she discovered her Ford Fiesta had been stolen – and claims her insurance company told her to look for it after her waters broke.
Kerry Berry, 32, and her partner went to put bags in the white Ford Fiesta before rushing to hospital but found that it had been stolen.
She spent three days in labour and even claims insurers told her to go searching for the car before she gave birth in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
Miss Berry, who gave birth to a daughter Evelyn, said: ‘My partner was about to put the bags in the car and the car was not there.
‘I thought I may have been having a baby brain moment for a second and forgotten where I had put the car, but I wasn’t.
‘The car was gone. It could not have happened at a worse time. It was reported to the police on January 17 by my friend as I was on my way to the hospital.’
Miss Merry called insurance company M&S Bank to report the vehicle missing on January 20.
She said: ‘When I called the insurance company I was outraged that they suggested I should have been searching for the car, and trying social media to find the car and knocking on neighbour’s doors while in labour.
‘They said that it would take six weeks to settle the claim during which time I would have no car.
‘M&S and Zenith, the underwriters, just bounced me back and forth to each other when I asked about claiming for the baby and child car seats which are covered under my policy.’
The insurance firms denies Miss Merry was told to go looking for the car.
M&S Bank said they were sorry about the theft, but said correct procedures had been followed – including that customers are not encouraged to search for stolen vehicles themselves.
Her white Ford Fiesta was stolen from the street outside her house in Cheltenham (pictured)
A spokesperson said: ‘In the event of a vehicle theft customers are immediately put through to a specialist team to provide the necessary support and guidance.
‘Our procedures mean that customers are not required or encouraged to look for a vehicle if it has been stolen.
‘Our records confirm that the process was followed on this occasion.
‘We were sorry to hear about the customer’s vehicle theft, particularly at this time, and that she felt she didn’t receive the level of service expected on this occasion.’
A police spokesperson said: ‘We have received a report of the theft of a white Ford Fiesta from outside a property in Francis Street, Cheltenham.
‘The theft happened between 5pm on 16 January and 11am on 17 January.
‘If stolen vehicles are found they will be recovered by police but there would be a minimum charge of £150 which is paid to the recovery operator and may be reclaimed from the owner’s insurance company.’