Controversial Email Sparks Outrage in Bad Bevensen

The email begins with a relaxed “Moin”, causing outrage in Toppenstedt in the Harburg district. “Fatal accident father child camp no accident insurance?? What needs to be done,” is the subject of the letter. When driving in the transport basket of a wheel loader, a five-year-old boy and a 39-year-old man died and ten children were injured, some of them critically (AZ reported). The sender, according to the address line and attachment, a Bevenser insurance agent from WWK, advertises children’s accident insurance.

Bad Bevensen – When asked by AZ, the WWK distanced itself from the procedure.

“See the article above. Do your children and your family have accident insurance 24h00 coverage?”, says the advertising letter. As a result, insurance is offered for four to ten euros a month. “That as my reminder, because once the damage has happened, it will be too late,” the writer warns. On Facebook, “remembering” backfires. “More than irreverent”, “Extremely distasteful”, “To seek a commission through such a misfortune. Unbelievable” – these are some of the reactions in a local group of the social network. The case is also known at the WWK headquarters in Munich.

WWK apologizes for the agent’s actions

“Of course, it is not in our interest to advertise with such an accident,” clarifies WWK spokesman Thomas Emlinger. “I find that just as irreverent. I totally understand people and I can only apologize. That is not justifiable for the WWK.” The company is initially in the process of clarifying the case.

With 1000 intermediaries nationwide, it is an isolated case. “One individual went way over the mark. We’ll try to do better in the future,” emphasizes Emlinger.

It is striking that the sender and recipient addresses are identical. This occurs when letters are sent to a large but hidden circle of recipients via e-mail distribution lists under “Bcc”.

Representative speaks of an internal mail

“Nobody can explain it,” emphasizes insurance agent Handrik Stark when called by AZ. “I’m appalled myself. It’s an email that we sent to myself.” In the short text he only wanted to record the problem of accident insurance for children internally. “This is nothing more than a memorandum. That was never intended for the public,” asserts Stark. “I’m terribly sorry. That’s not my style either.”

The consequences were also a catastrophe for him personally. A clarifying discussion between the WWK headquarters and the freelance sales representative has already taken place. Stark himself speaks of “colossal pressure”.