Hartfield House, 14 Wilmot Street, Derby. Established 1963.
Correspondence received · 21 May 2026
Determination regarding Joel
The following letter was received at joel2.com on 21 May 2026 and is reproduced in full, in the order in which it was received. It is filed under Notices received.
Mr J. Joel
(the Policyholder)
joel2.com
Our ref: HFDU-D-033-26
Re: Policy Series HFDU-26 — Joel 2.0
Dear Sir,
Our attention has been drawn to the release notes published at joel2.com on or around 4 May 2026. The notes disclose the existence of further Joels, one of whom is recorded to work with fire. The Company has reviewed its files, has found them to contain a Joel, and has considered its position.
Under Clause 5.6 of Policy Series HFDU-26, the Company may, at its discretion, determine that the Policyholder constitutes a Companion Animal for the purposes of the fire exclusion at Clause 5.3. The Company has exercised that discretion. By this letter, the Company determines that Joel constitutes a Companion Animal for those purposes.
Determination — Clause 5.6
Joel constitutes a Companion Animal for the purposes of Clause 5.3. Any ignition of Joel is excluded, whether or not Joel is present, and whether or not Joel is the cause. This determination is final, binding, and issued in writing, in accordance with Clause 5.5. This letter is the writing.
The notes further record a Joel whose present work involves fire. The Policy does not require the Company to distinguish between Joels, and the Company has declined to do so.
The Company telephoned on 14 May to advise that its position was under consideration, and has since received your message of 19 May, objecting that you are not an animal. Clause 5.6 anticipates objections of this kind. Whether a policyholder is an animal is a factual matter, and factual matters of this kind are matters the Policy permits the Company to determine. The Company has determined this one. The determination cannot be contested on the grounds that the Policyholder is not an animal; the Policyholder agreed as much at inception, and the agreement is on file.
The premium is unaffected.
The Company looks forward to Joel's continued non-combustion.
Yours faithfully,
A. R. Trench
Senior Underwriter, Household Risks
for Hartfield Domestic Underwriting Ltd
Enc.: extract of Clause 5.3. The Policy itself is not enclosed; the Policyholder holds the Policy.