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mushtafa

mushtafa

mushtafa

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West Sussex, UK
Right, time to sort out my insurance, never had it before. :confused:

Is there anything specific I need to know? Anything to look out for?

How does insurance work with second hand items? Does it matter if I over insure?

Cheers guys
 
If you have bikes check the t and c's! Same with high end anything really. Goods often have a value limit. I have to specify everything worth over a certain amount.

My dad had his stolen from his garage a few years ago and they weren't covered. It turns out 'garage contents' doesn't actually include what's in your garage but rather what they define.

Also this might be better in home and garden.
 
As Dis86 says.

I once fell foul of the max limit for high value stuff not specified as they viewed my pc as a whole item whereas i argued the box was separate tot he screen. If i had listed it and named it, it would have been covered in full for perhaps a quid a year more.

Ive always had new for old on mine. More cost a bit more but years ago when we were burgled it was nice to have a massive cheque two weeks later and to go out and buy all brand new stuff to replace it all.

Plus much easier to claim as all i had to do was get prices off the net for the new stuff rather than argue over how much a 5 year old lawnmower might be worth which I couldnt find the receipt for. Also much easier for the 2nd hand stuff I had bought over the years with no receipt
 
Remember to ensure that your cover will be enough to replace everything in your house, yes everything.

If you were unfortunate enough to loose everything to a fire for example, you would obviously need to replace everything, so for example add up how much it would cost to replace your clothes and shoes, your cutlery and pans etc - you will probably be very surprised.

Also be careful with out buildings (Sheds etc) they usually are only covered for upto £2000.
 
I have cover but haven't specifically defined any high value items, what you are saying is I could then only get a % of their value unless I specifically make a point of them?
 
Greebo said:
I once fell foul of the max limit for high value stuff not specified as they viewed my pc as a whole item whereas i argued the box was separate tot he screen. If i had listed it and named it, it would have been covered in full for perhaps a quid a year more
Click to expand...

I'm curious how they could get away with this?

If you had bought it as a package (e.g. from purple shirt brigade) then I could understand it, but if you'd bought them separately (especially if it was not at the same time) then how could they justify their reasoning?

Did you take the claim to the ombudsman?
 
No1newts said:
I have cover but haven't specifically defined any high value items, what you are saying is I could then only get a % of their value unless I specifically make a point of them?
Click to expand...

Yes. The t and c's may specify a limit for any one item based upon what the 'average' person may spend. For example my bikes would only as default be covered for 400 pounds. One of them is worth ten times that new.
 
No1newts said:
I have cover but haven't specifically defined any high value items, what you are saying is I could then only get a % of their value unless I specifically make a point of them?
Click to expand...

Yes, likely any single item is normally something like £500 or £1000. So for example your £1600 Gaming laptop, unless named would only be covered for £1000.

Careful with Bike cover as well (if you have any nice cycles), as that is normally only for say £500 unless you declare them as a named item.
 
Its well worth shopping around, terms and prices can vary drastically.

Watch out for addons such as things away from the house, basically mobile insurance etc.
 
I have added these extras to my polilcy.
Accidental Damage
Cover away from home (for bikes etc - each one covered up to £3500, but none of mine are worth near that). including theft (if locked/secure in a vehicle) and accidental damage.

Cost a little bit more, but well worth it.
 
Make sure you have Trace and access cover for leaks, if ever you have a hard to get to burst pipe i.e. they have to rip your bathroom apart you are covered to put it right usually to the sum of about 5k depending on your policy
 
JAMAL said:
Make sure you have Trace and access cover for leaks, if ever you have a hard to get to burst pipe i.e. they have to rip your bathroom apart you are covered to put it right usually to the sum of about 5k depending on your policy
Click to expand...

Does that not come under Buildings insurance rather than contents insurance?
 
Dis86 said:
No. Bathrooms aren't normally a structural component!
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Are you sure about that? The general rule I've always heard is that contents are things that would fall off if your house was tipped upside down.

On a separate but related note, from what I've heard (i.e. family) contents and buildings insurance love to argue about what's contents and what's buildings (especially around things like carpets and anything that's fitted). From that perspective, I'd always choose to buy both from the same provider.
 
Dis86 said:
No. Bathrooms aren't normally a structural component!
Click to expand...

Haven't ever seen it as an option on my Contents insurance before (and have been with a couple of different providers), hence the reason for asking an apparently stupid question.

The ripping apart of bathrooms sounded to me more like ripping open walls, floors and ceilings to get at pipes (indeed surely anywhere in the house could have a leak if you have central heating?), so surely more a building side of things.
 
Jim99 said:
Are you sure about that? The general rule I've always heard is that contents are things that would fall off if your house was tipped upside down.

On a separate but related note, from what I've heard (i.e. family) contents and buildings insurance love to argue about what's contents and what's buildings (especially around things like carpets and anything that's fitted). From that perspective, I'd always choose to buy both from the same provider.
Click to expand...

Your second paragraph is the correct one :D

Generally buildings should...I say should...cover the structural aspects down to things like staircases and timberwork but doesn't normally cover things like tiles. Think of it as the stuff required to put your house back to a blank canvas.
 
Haggisman said:
I'm curious how they could get away with this?

If you had bought it as a package (e.g. from purple shirt brigade) then I could understand it, but if you'd bought them separately (especially if it was not at the same time) then how could they justify their reasoning?

Did you take the claim to the ombudsman?
Click to expand...

It was a while ago when the norm was to get your pc with your screen although I would have been fine if i had read my policy and declared it as a high value item. I suspect nowadays you would be fine on splitting the cost.
 
Armageus said:
Yes, likely any single item is normally something like £500 or £1000. So for example your £1600 Gaming laptop, unless named would only be covered for £1000.

Careful with Bike cover as well (if you have any nice cycles), as that is normally only for say £500 unless you declare them as a named item.
Click to expand...

Cheers.

What about stuff like phones? If I lost my phone would it need to be listed or just the genetic iPhone price?
 
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