My name is Marcello Marino. I ran a successful hair salon in Ramsgate for over 30 years — until a sewer collapse under my premises, caused by Southern Water, destroyed my business and turned my life upside down.

I was forced to close for more than six months while the damage was investigated. I reopened — but a year and a half later, I’m closed again, and now I can’t get insurance anywhere. I’ve effectively been blacklisted. My previous insurer, Hiscox, refused to renew my policy without a proper reason, and I’ve been rejected by others ever since. They say I don’t meet their secret “criteria.”

None of this was my fault.

I asked for basic information — structural reports, internal records, and digital evidence — but I’ve faced nothing but silence, missing documents, and delay tactics. Now Southern Water says their Legal Team is “considering” my request, but I’ve been waiting months already. This isn’t transparency — this is evasion.

Hiscox, my insurer, also failed me. They delayed my claim, made false promises, and even refused to release my personal data when I submitted a legal request. I’m now relying on the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to investigate. But in the meantime, I’m stuck — uninsured, unsupported, and still waiting for answers.

This isn’t just about property or money. I have three children.  
My eldest daughter has just completed her International Baccalaureate and is preparing to study law at university.  
My 15-year-old daughter is in grammar school, working hard toward her GCSEs.  
And my youngest son, just two years old, has just started nursery.  
We’re all affected — emotionally, financially, and in our daily lives.

I can’t pay the mortgage. I can’t pay my bills. And no one will tell me the truth.

We are calling for:

- Full disclosure of structural and insurance-related documents  
- Regulatory intervention into Southern Water’s and Hiscox’s handling of this case  
- An end to secret blacklisting by insurers  
- Proper accountability — no more silence, no more excuses  

I never wanted a fight. I just want justice — and the truth.

Please sign and share this petition. Help me shine a light on what’s happening — not just for me, but for everyone who could be next.