L&G are definitely not the caring organisation they hold themselves up to be. This organisation left me on the verge of taking my own life. I was receiving income protection payments, due to long-term serious health issues. A GP who I'd never even heard of, let alone spoken to, produced a totally unlawful report (breaching countless medical consent and reporting laws and regulations), sending it to L&G without my consent. This is a separate issue which I’m also having to deal with at a high level. It clearly opened an unexpected pathway for L&G to cut costs, which they duly obliged. Despite the GP report being unlawful and being sent without my consent, L&G chose a type of ‘plausible deniability' in terms of ‘turning a blind eye' to these facts. L&G then sent their 'attack dog', one of the most deplorable, dreadful VCS ‘specialists' to complete the most partisan assessment at my home. This ‘specialist’ produced the most dishonest, contradictory, inconsistent report, therefore enabling L&G to end my much-needed payments, despite my own GP (who had ALWAYS produced the requested reports for L&G over a 10-year period) being totally unaware that L&G had even requested a report. L&G had to later admit to two instances of dishonesty within the VCS report, although there were numerous other examples which they didn’t admit to. L&G then, following my appeal (which included a large amount of medical evidence and an up-to-date report from my own GP, confirming my overwhelming unfitness to work), employed a third party (Symbios Health) to carry out an OH assessment. Without exaggeration, this OH assessment, completed by Dr Oli Cooper, was by far the worst, most traumatic, upsetting, inappropriate assessment of its kind that I’ve ever undergone and, given that my health issues have existed for almost 20 years, I’ve gone through dozens of them via various official organisations. It was so blatantly clear and obvious that L&G had utilised Dr Cooper and Symbios Health to ‘rubberstamp’ their decision. I took note of everything which occurred during the horrific assessment, even raising it with L&G prior to any final report being issued, therefore ensuring that L&G couldn’t allege that I was only doing so because of bitterness over any report. L&G couldn’t have cared less. I’m really lucky to have an incredible support network, especially my amazing mum. But, I’ve never felt so desolate and alone. To then highlight L&G’s despicable conduct, they sent the OH report, which they undoubtedly knew that I totally disagreed with, to the same GP Surgery where all of this began, without my consent at any stage. Under medical consent and reporting laws, this is strictly forbidden. They sent the report blindly, without any covering letter, which is again not allowed. I only discovered that L&G had done this because I had to submit a SAR request. This latest discovery is being investigated, and I’ve since moved GP Surgeries. L&G, unbelievably, tried to justify their decision to send the dreadful report, insisting (laughably) that they did so “for the benefit of my health", despite it being done without my consent, and with this inevitable enormous risk that it would end up in the hands of the GP who began my nightmare, as he’s actually a Practice Partner. L&G argued with a detailed report, compiled by my expert Consultant with decades of experience and knowledge. His report confirmed that my condition is extensive, acute and widespread. His report also confirmed my poor diagnosis and prognosis, whilst giving specific details about what will happen as a result of my condition, in later years. L&G dismissed his report, going against a specialist NHS Consultant, who has also carried out an astounding number of surgeries associated with my condition and similar. L&G instead chose the opinion of a VCS individual, who included so many guesses, assumptions, and wild theories, without any context whatsoever. L&G then backed this up by accepting a scandalous report from an OH 'therapist', who is somehow labelled a 'doctor', despite having absolutely zero experience with conditions like mine. L&G used these unjustifiable opinions and assumptions over the expertise and knowledge of my specialist Consultant, and my own GP, whom have cared for and treated me for almost 20 years, something which is incomprehensible. The Ombudsman Service is absolutely useless. They hide behind certain policy interpretations and wording, not wanting to offend such a large organisation like L&G, making it up as they go along. There are so many other disgusting elements to my case, too many to discuss in this review. But, the overall takeaway from this is that L&G are absolutely anything but a caring, decent organisation. L&G’s conduct and behaviour has been so callous, cruel, and underhand, it beggars belief. The ignorance and arrogance L&G have displayed is staggering. Don’t be fooled by the name and history. L&G are one of the worst organisations to be dealing with patients, or people with health issues related to employment, or critical illness insurance. I would urge everyone whom has no alternative but to be associated with L&G through their employer to be fully on guard, do your research, make sure that you know your rights for any worst case scenario, have a healthy distrust of the organisation, and always ensure that your own GP produces any requested reports L&G ask for, even if that means contacting your GP Surgery every single day. L&G are a very devious organisation. Let my harrowing review be a lesson in preparation. Thank you for taking the time to read my comments.