Home insurance - PC claim

andybird123 · 16 Jul 2019 at 08:31

Has anyone ever claimed for a PC on home insurance? My wife managed to knock my computer off the edge of my desk and then it wouldn't boot, swapping stuff about it seemed motherboard and RAM had gone at least, insurance have agreed to pay out but they're offering me a cash equivalent based on the cheapest parts they can find on a particular retailers site.

I sent in an Asus X99 mobo with 5820k and an EVGA 1080ti, they are offering me a Z390 with a Pallit 2080 as a replacement. To my mind an intel HEDT mobo and proc should be replaced like for like, but I know they are going to come back and try to say the 9700k is "faster" than the 5820k so I should just accept the ****** motherboard it comes with. I am assuming they meant 9700k as it sounded more like she said 7900k on the phone, but they aren't even available anymore.

Just wondering if anyone else has had claims for PC equipment and managed to haggle a decent replacement instead of just a blitz through the bargain bin?

b0rn2sk8 · 16 Jul 2019 at 11:29

New for old policy?

Time to break out the original invoice.

Psycho Sonny · 16 Jul 2019 at 11:39

motherboards and ram is what £200 at best? what is your excess? you do realise your premiums will go up after a claim. i take it you have accidental cover?

Terminal_Boy · 16 Jul 2019 at 11:45

b0rn2sk8 said:
New for old policy?

Time to break out the original invoice.

This and take a good look at the excess of your policy.

Psycho Sonny is correct that, depending on your claims history, you could see your premium go up next year after a claim this year.

bimbleuk · 16 Jul 2019 at 11:57

I did for a 40" 4K monitor which I knocked over and cracked the screen. For me it was done over the phone as it was a single item I assume. I had prepared myself with photos of the damage and a scan of the invoice plus links to the equivalent monitor online as it had been replaced. I disposed of the monitor too after the claim processed.

As it was they didn't check as I assume I was reasonable on the phone (for I know they use voice analysis!) and prepared with evidence and just paid out for the new monitor which was more expensive. I didn't notice any increase but again first claim and not particularly valuable may have helped.

I have to imagine insurance companies deal with all sorts of fraudulent claims from certain demographics and if you are reasonable and prepared you may be able to negotiate.

flea.rider · 16 Jul 2019 at 12:18

hmm put pc on the floor pee on it turn it on bang .. just say dog did it ? lol

samcat · 16 Jul 2019 at 12:27

flea.rider said:
hmm put pc on the floor pee on it turn it on bang .. just say dog did it ? lol

Careful, they use pee analysis.

Maundie · 16 Jul 2019 at 14:00

flea.rider said:
hmm put pc on the floor pee on it turn it on bang .. just say dog did it ? lol

Make sure the power lead is un-plugged as well otherwise you could end up cauterising your Boris Becker!!!

andybird123 · 16 Jul 2019 at 16:51

It was accidental damage, I'm covered and they've agreed to settle the claim with "cash equivalent", just they are raiding the EOL bin at an online retailer to give me my settlement figure which means I couldn't actually even build the machine they are suggesting with the amount they are offering as half of it will be out of stock by the time they actually send me the cash.

b0rn2sk8 said:
New for old policy?

Time to break out the original invoice.

Yep, have done that.

khrall · 16 Jul 2019 at 22:09

Many years ago I used to work as a field engineer for an IT company who worked with an insurance company. I've seen PCs/Laptops/CRT Monitors that had been "Dropped down the stairs", "Dog peed on", "Child threw up on", and even "caught on fire, powder fire extinguisher blasted at it and thrown out of a first floor window" - The best one was a mother whose brand new first generation macbook was painted purple by her child and then the child washed it in the kitchen sink.

But on topic, stand your ground, it's no different to any other claim. The person at the other end is trying to save their company money and/or doesn't have a clue and focusing on some numbers that look similar. What you need to do is educate them on the numbers that are important to you (Thread count, CUDA Cores, VRAM, Memory Bus/Bandwidth for example)

andybird123 · 17 Jul 2019 at 08:21

khrall said:
But on topic, stand your ground, it's no different to any other claim. The person at the other end is trying to save their company money and/or doesn't have a clue and focusing on some numbers that look similar. What you need to do is educate them on the numbers that are important to you (Thread count, CUDA Cores, VRAM, Memory Bus/Bandwidth for example)

Thanks, yeah some good stuff to remember.

Dave85 · 18 Jul 2019 at 19:21

I actually did drop my main watercooled pc down the front stairs going to a lan party many years ago. Claimed on my mums insurance at the time and they tried to replace it with a pcworld business special. Had to send lots of information on parts etc and they eventually just said have £1200 quid and closed the claim was a win to me

So be prepared to send over lots and haggle for money.