car insurance wont pay for car seats

[deb6]

my car was stolen and in it was my childrens car seats which added together cost £300 car insurance wont pay they say claim off house insurance but they say as you dont keep them indoors i cant claim can anyone help me? surley someones got to pay its not as if its something i dont need

[Gary29]

I would have thought that it should be down to your car insurance, to pay out for the seats, but watch out they may have a limit to what amount they will pay out, I just found this out as mine were involved in an accident and my daughters car seat cost me over a £100, but that was the max limit my car insurance would pay out and I needed 2 to be replaced.

In your next conversation with them ask to speak to a supervisor, then if they wont help tell them that you are going to the Motor Insurance Ombudsman their telephone number is 0207-9028100 if not try the motor insurers bureau their number is 01908-832132, one of these maybe able to help, or give you the right info, to say to your insurance company.

[never shay die]

It IS down to your car insurance. There are a few things to conisder here:

1) The onus is on you to prove your claim. As such, you may have to provide receipts for the car seats.
2) The car seats are a permanent fixture in your vehicle. As such, it is without a doubt your car insurance company who should pay you for the car seats.
3) Some insurers may argue that you don't have personal effects cover, or that the cover is limited to, say , £100. This may be irrelevant. Most insurance policies state that they will pay for loss/damage to your car, including all permanent fixtures and fittings. As such, your car seat claim may not fall under the 'personal effects' section and should probably in fact be paid in full as part of the vehicle value.

Read your policy. Argue it out with them. If it doesn't get you anywhere, then complain. If you still get nowhere, go to the Financial Ombudsman Service (not the MIB). You are in the right.

[Darkangelsdelite]

I have to say i disagree here.
As far as I'm aware this isn't something that's covered in a standard motor policy and I'm also pretty sure its not covered by home insurance either so you may be unable to claim for them at all.
The car seats aren't a "permanent fixture" of the vehicle as they can easily be removed and transferred to another vehicle without the need to undo any screws etc.
In this case i would say that your car insurance company is right and unfortunately there's nothing you can do.

DA

[never shay die]

Originally Posted by Darkangelsdelite

I have to say i disagree here.
As far as I'm aware this isn't something that's covered in a standard motor policy and I'm also pretty sure its not covered by home insurance either so you may be unable to claim for them at all.
The car seats aren't a "permanent fixture" of the vehicle as they can easily be removed and transferred to another vehicle without the need to undo any screws etc.
In this case i would say that your car insurance company is right and unfortunately there's nothing you can do.

DA

I'm talking from experienced insurance claims background spanning the last 6 years, involving policyholder, third party, credit hire and litigation.

I have refused car seat claims on the grounds you have used, DA, but have had to overturn the decisions as a child car seat is deemed a permanent fixture for all intents and purposes. It is a product designed to remain within the vehicle throughout it's life.

One thing to remember about insurance companies (and many other companies for that matter) are they 'try it on'. They tell you they won't pay for your car-seat in the hope you won't take it any further. You are entitled to claim for this. Take it further. Complain. Go to the the FOS. They will pay you in the end.

Furthermore, if DA's argument was correct, you would still be able to claim up to the limit of your personal effect cover. Car seats are not excluded from this cover in any policy I have come across.

[Darkangelsdelite]

I've worked in insurance for over 5 years too so I'm also speaking from an "experienced background" and i still stand by my point that this is something that just isn't covered.


DA

[never shay die]

You can't say 'it just isn't covered'. For one, it is covered under personal effects cover. If you argue that I would question any experience you purport to have.

We will have to agree to disagree on the 'permanent fixture' argument.

My advice remains. Complain formally. If you get nowhere, go to the FOS.

End.

[never shay die]

Duplicated my last post!!

[Helford]

Hi,

With 26 years experience as an Insurance Company employee underwriting and claims experience, I agree with 'Never Shay Die'

Many car child seats have Isofix fittings where they are permanently fitted to the body of the car. Such are a legal requirement to use in certain circumstances. The limited Personal Effects cover on many Comprehensive policies is aimed at coats, briefcases, CD's etc.

Notwithstanding, keep all receipts.

H

[Darkangelsdelite]

Personal effects cover is usually limited to a small amount (a couple of hundred quid or so) and so even if it was covered under this section it wouldn't be any use here anyway due to the amount of the claim. Also, it usually stipulates that the items must not be 'visible' so they normally only pay out for items that are locked in the boot or in a glove box etc.

DA

[cazzaswfc]

To be fair DA, I think this specific cover depends on the actual insurance company, some may specifically exclude Car seats under Pb cover and insist you claim under pb cover on home.

Some other companies will cover this, and may have specific child seat cover in the result of an accident or theft incident.

gary - Is this £100 per seat or in total per claim? you may find it's per seat

[revolting peasant]

If we have to state qualifications, 15 years in insurance and ACII (although have not practiced for a good few years)

I can see all sides of this argument but I have to agree with the OP. Car seats for children are a legal requirement and should be treated as an integral part of the vehicle, regardless of the method of fitting. It would be impractical to remove the seats and place them out of sight every time you get out.

If you leave your purse or a camera or mobile phone on the seat in full view then it would be reasonable for the insurer to refuse the claim but to put it in perspective, do you remove the seatbelts every time you leave the car? Of course you dont. Disregard "child seat" and substitute with "child restraint". It has no practical purpose outside of the car and should therefore be covered under the motor policy.

[ab123uk]

Deb6, best think you can do is speak to the ombudsman- fos.gov.uk or the Association of British Insurers (ABI), for some clarification.... As far as I am aware, and I was trained in line with the face that Child Seats are part of the Vehicle- theyre not something you remove (in most cases) and they are a requirement- as is a seatbelt, Most insurers would pay these under your Vehicle cover, I have never heard of this having to be claimed through home contents, ever!

Also Debs, please update the thread once the issue has been resolved, thanks.

[Gary29]

Originally Posted by cazzaswfc

To be fair DA, I think this specific cover depends on the actual insurance company, some may specifically exclude Car seats under Pb cover and insist you claim under pb cover on home.

Some other companies will cover this, and may have specific child seat cover in the result of an accident or theft incident.

gary - Is this £100 per seat or in total per claim? you may find it's per seat

This is the total claim amount allowed.

[cazzaswfc]

Originally Posted by Gary29

This is the total claim amount allowed.

No probs, thought I'd just check - I agree not really enough nowadays when almost all kids under 10 have to have one!

[mooreda]

I used to work in Insurance and the FOS adjudicated on a case like this involving a Car Seats and it was the decision of the FOS that the Car Seats should be covered as part of the vehicles overall fixtures/fittings (Not Personal Effects). Never Shay - you are quite right above.