Insurance Bods - Burglary

McGray · 13 Aug 2012 at 15:33

Hey all!

So my house was burgled over the weekend and the scally wags have made off with enough of my stuff to warrant claiming for, problem was its becoming increasingly clear they got in through an open window (I know, I know, currently blaming the wife

).

My Policy has the 'forcible or violent exit/entry' clause so I'm guessing the claim will be turned down?

Anyone had any experience with this?

[Damien] · 13 Aug 2012 at 15:36

You were mistaken. The window was actually broken, right? Not that you remember actually doing so yourself due to temporary amnesia so it must have been the burglars.

Ace Modder · 13 Aug 2012 at 15:36

Recommending fraud publically, is not a good idea!

Theophany · 13 Aug 2012 at 15:38

Ace Modder said:
Recommending fraud publically, is not a good idea!

Yeah, email fraud in trust.

TNGL · 13 Aug 2012 at 15:41

Theophany said:
Yeah, email fraud in trust.

This.

McGray · 13 Aug 2012 at 15:42

Police and CSI already been and finger printed etc.

I wonder how much Insurers look into Police reports....?

BDEE · 13 Aug 2012 at 15:44

McGray said:
Police and CSI already been and finger printed etc.

I wonder how much Insurers look into Police reports....?

With a fine tooth comb.

You do not have a valid claim as you left your window open.

Suck it up and move on, learn from the mistake.

(I assume here that it was a ground floor window?)

Xordium · 13 Aug 2012 at 15:46

McGray said:
Police and CSI already been and finger printed etc.

I wonder how much Insurers look into Police reports....?

They will ask you and you are obliged to tell the truth as they will cross check. Mark it down to experience - Mrs Xordium left the key in the kitchen window and even though they had to break the window to get it the claim was still invalidated with such a clause. Not that I give a stuff it was her stuff that got nicked

McGray · 13 Aug 2012 at 15:47

It was a small upstairs window if that makes any difference?

Xordium · 13 Aug 2012 at 15:48

McGray said:
It was a small upstairs window if that makes any difference?

Well it is all down to your policy - ring them up explain and they will let you know.

ince · 13 Aug 2012 at 15:53

scum but hope it works out

BDEE · 13 Aug 2012 at 15:55

McGray said:
It was a small upstairs window if that makes any difference?

In which case, it can do. Its down to the policy wording.

My policy states all "accessable" windows must be shut and locked when out the house.

It depends on your definition of "accessable" in my case on if I can leave an upstairs window open.

Check your wording in the policy document in the relevant section and post it.

merlin · 13 Aug 2012 at 15:57

BDEE said:
In which case, it can do. Its down to the policy wording.

My policy states all "accessable" windows must be shut and locked when out the house.

It depends on your definition of "accessable" in my case on if I can leave an upstairs window open.

Check your wording in the policy document in the relevant section and post it.

It clearly was accessible.

mothermachine · 13 Aug 2012 at 15:59

My insurance company confirmed on the phone verbally that it's ok and doesn't invalidate your insurance policy (and therefore claims) to leave windows unlocked. Not open, but unlocked is apparently fine. This baffles me! I lock everything like crazy when leaving for obvious reasons and I'm genuinely amazed that they don't seem to care if your windows are locked, for the purposes of your policy and any future claims. The person on the line actually said that it's unreasonable to expect people to lock every single window when they pop out to grab some milk or something from the shops... Amazing and I bet that she got it wrong. However the call was recorded so if that ever happened to me then I'd have a comeback. But it wouldn't anyway because leaving windows unlocked when you're out is just stupid.

It's not just about preventing yourself from being unable to make an insurance claim, it's also about actually trying to prevent these things happening in the first place.

In your case, OP, you dun gone messed up (or your missus has). Nothing you can do about it now because the police have already been and done their thing. Live and learn, eh?

mothermachine · 13 Aug 2012 at 15:59

BDEE said:
In which case, it can do. Its down to the policy wording.

My policy states all "accessable" windows must be shut and locked when out the house.

It depends on your definition of "accessable" in my case on if I can leave an upstairs window open.

Check your wording in the policy document in the relevant section and post it.

If it wasn't accessible then he wouldn't have been burgled through it...

pitchfork · 13 Aug 2012 at 16:00

Yeah, for windows you must leave open (bathroom etc) leave on a safety latch.
They are more commonly broken into than people realise, you don't have a claim here unfortunately, or I severely doubt you do from what you have said.

For the record I don't lock my windows, as long as they're shut and the handle is down.
Standard interior window locks are easy to bypass from the inside, take the handle off, you have now removed the lock, turn the mechanism with a screwdriver.
If they were going to open it from the outside an element of demolition would be required either way so it's a fair shout I think, don't even have keys for any of my windows.

McGray · 13 Aug 2012 at 16:03

Wording is this so yeah, sounds like I have no chance:

"Theft or attempted theft.

BUT NOT while your home or any part of it is lent, let, sublet or shared, unless there is forcible and violent entry into or exit from it;"

It's a rented house.

Xordium · 13 Aug 2012 at 16:07

McGray said:
Wording is this so yeah, sounds like I have no chance:

"Theft or attempted theft.

BUT NOT while your home or any part of it is lent, let, sublet or shared, unless there is forcible and violent entry into or exit from it;"

It's a rented house.

That means NOT when you are at home or anyone else you may be sharing or letting to is. Rather than excluding you specifically because you rent. The exclusion will be from the second part ie there was no forcible or violent entry.

McGray · 13 Aug 2012 at 16:09

Yeah that's what I thought. So if I owned the house it would be covered?

realBabelfish · 13 Aug 2012 at 16:16

mothermachine said:
My insurance company confirmed on the phone verbally that it's ok and doesn't invalidate your insurance policy (and therefore claims) to leave windows unlocked. Not open, but unlocked is apparently fine. This baffles me! I lock everything like crazy when leaving for obvious reasons and I'm genuinely amazed that they don't seem to care if your windows are locked, for the purposes of your policy and any future claims. The person on the line actually said that it's unreasonable to expect people to lock every single window when they pop out to grab some milk or something from the shops... Amazing and I bet that she got it wrong. However the call was recorded so if that ever happened to me then I'd have a comeback. But it wouldn't anyway because leaving windows unlocked when you're out is just stupid.

It's not just about preventing yourself from being unable to make an insurance claim, it's also about actually trying to prevent these things happening in the first place.

In your case, OP, you dun gone messed up (or your missus has). Nothing you can do about it now because the police have already been and done their thing. Live and learn, eh?

because you need to break a window that isnt locked, but shut. so they have already broken in. thats my thoughts anyway. if they are gonna break a window they might as well smash a big window.