'I feel horrible': Ontario man denied theft coverage owes $55,000 for stolen truck
An Ontario man said he was shocked when his truck was stolen not once but twice, and the second time it was taken he was surprised to discover he was no longer covered for theft.
"I feel horrible. Had I known that the insurance company had canceled the comprehensive coverage I would have gone to another company," said Roger Sodhi of Toronto.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Sodhi said when his 2021 Ram 1500 truck was stolen in February of 2022 police found the pick-up badly damaged in Montreal and his insurance company agreed to tow it back and repair the damages that happened during the theft.
Then, the same truck was stolen again in September.
"It got stolen again a second time. I guess they really wanted it bad, it must be in high demand these Rams” said Sodhi.
The second time Sodhi's truck was stolen his insurance company advised him he was no longer covered for theft as collision and comprehensive coverage had been dropped when his policy renewed in April after the truck had been stolen the first time.
Sodhi is with Desjardins Insurance which said it assured him he was informed by letter and on the phone that changes had been made to his policy.
"The insurance company apparently sent a notice to me that they had canceled it (comprehensive coverage) but I never got anything," said Sodhi.
Sodhi said he still has a loan on the truck and owes the bank $54,350.
“It’s painful to be paying for something you don't even have," said Sodhi.
CTV News Toronto reached out to Desjardins Insurance about Sodhi’s case and a spokesperson said, “Due to privacy reasons, we can’t discuss details of an insured’s policy. However, I can confirm that in a registered letter dated April 7, 2022, the client was informed of the decision and reason to remove certain coverages from his policy at renewal. Unfortunately, since the claim for vehicle theft was made months after on September 28, 2022, no coverage was applicable.”
The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) said that insurance companies can modify coverages and make changes to a client’s policy but they must make sure the customer is made aware of the changes.
“Insurance companies have to give written notice to a policy holder when they make these type of changes," said Anne Marie Thomas, Director, Consumer and Industry Relations with IBC.
Thomas said it’s important to always pay close attention to any correspondence received from your insurance company, especially if it comes in the form of a registered letter.
“If a letter comes registered that means the insurance company is wanting to make sure that you get the information and they want proof you have received it," said Thomas.
Sodhi is adamant he didn't know his coverage had changed and is shocked he still owes more than $50,000 for the stolen truck.
You should never ignore any correspondence from your insurance company and always double check your policy at renewal time for changes in case you need to find coverage somewhere else.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING | Danielle Smith's UCP holds onto power in Alberta
Danielle Smith is still the premier of Alberta, surviving a vigorous campaign and a tight vote Monday against NDP challenger Rachel Notley.

Singh calls for foreign interference rapporteur Johnston to step aside
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is pushing for special rapporteur David Johnston to 'step aside' from his role examining the issue of foreign interference before he embarks on public hearings.
New Democrat MP says she is target of foreign interference by China
New Democrat MP Jenny Kwan said Monday that Canada's spy agency has confirmed her long-held belief she is being targeted by the Chinese government, as the prime minister granted the NDP's wish to allow more party members to review top-secret intelligence.
Golden Knights reach 2nd Stanley Cup Final after Game 6 win over Stars
William Karlsson, William Carrier and Jonathan Marchessault are finally getting another chance in the Stanley Cup Final, after the first one that came so quick for the Vegas Golden Knights.
Caleb Martin helps Heat to 103-84 Game 7 win over Celtics and spot in NBA Finals
Eastern Conference finals Most Valuable Player Jimmy Butler scored 28 points, and Caleb Martin had 26 points and 10 rebounds to help the eighth-seeded Miami Heat beat the Celtics 103-84 in Game 7 on Monday night and advance to the NBA Finals for the second time in four seasons.
Canadian parliamentarians condemn Uganda's recently passed anti-homosexuality law
Canadian political leaders and parliamentarians are denouncing a new law passed in Uganda that imposes harsh penalties, including the death penalty, for certain cases involving homosexuality.
Free prescription drugs could reduce overall health-care costs in Canada: study
Overall health-care costs could be reduced in Canada by providing free prescription drugs to patients, according to a new study.
Northern B.C., Alberta and all of Ontario under 'high' to 'extreme' wildfire risk: What to know
There's a heightened risk of wildfires across the country during what has been one of the earliest fire seasons on record. From British Columbia to Nova Scotia, here's where the risk is highest.
Strategic city planning can mitigate 'urban heat island' effect, make cities cooler in summer: study
New research from Penn State University found certain factors can contribute to reducing what’s known as the 'urban heat island' effect, and that climate knowledge can contribute to better city planning and design.