On a positive note ........
If the situation is such that the BRCA Insurance consider the individual has acted as an individual, and not as an R/C racer when buying the cells, then the individual should approach his household insurer re the Family Liabilities section of the policy and claim.
Make the 2 insurers fight it out between them.
Most likely outcome, they both say No, and then it ends up with
http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk