Home Insurance issues

Shot8un · 28th September 2008, 20:40

Hi all,

We've always had home insurance, just straight forward contents cover as we rent out property.

Unfortunatly today some work shy little toe rag walked into our house

while we were in and picked up my wife's laptop and my Rolex. Then they were away on their toes.

The Police and forensics have been. Now we are worried because our insurance policy says that the watch in particular should have been a specified item as it is worth more than £1500.

Does this mean it wont be replaced?

Lula · 28th September 2008, 20:47

well it depends on the wording of the policy, what does it say?

maroondevo52 · 28th September 2008, 20:49

Hello and Welcome, Shot8gun.

I'll move this thread to a more appropriate Forum, I'm sure Lula will follow

Regards.

Scott.

Shot8un · 28th September 2008, 20:53

Hi Lula,

It says: Specified Items: Individual Items worth £1500.00 or more. You must send us orginal valuations, less than 3 years old, for any jewellery item(s) worth £2500 or more if you have not already done so.

What do you think?

pompeyfaith · 28th September 2008, 21:04

How did they manage to walk into your house im sure the insurance company will ask this.

Lula · 28th September 2008, 21:11

Well isnt a watch classed as jewellery? in which case you are home and dry lol

Shot8un · 28th September 2008, 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lula

Well isnt a watch classed as jewellery? in which case you are home and dry lol

No, apparently a watch is classed as a hight risk item. But it says I should have submitted it as a specified item AND sent them a valuation

So what d'ya think they will do?

Lula · 28th September 2008, 21:21

If that is the case and your policy says just that then I am afraid that you were uninsured, have they honoured their committment over the laptop?

Shot8un · 28th September 2008, 21:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by pompeyfaith

How did they manage to walk into your house im sure the insurance company will ask this.

Through the front door, as I said, we were in

LemonTwist · 28th September 2008, 22:19

How did you take out the policy? Was it direct (ie via insurer's own call center/website), via a broker or through a price comparison site? If you took it out via the telephone or a broker, then they should have asked if you had any individual items over the £1500 threshold.

I'm a bit concerned about the circumstances of the theft - they may well ask you why the front door wasn't locked at the time and how come no-one heard the intruder enter the house.

pompeyfaith · 28th September 2008, 23:59

yup lemontwist that was what i was getting too, they will argue that you did not take resonable steps to ensure the safety of your goods and on that ground will not cover you.

I would read your policy book very carefully.

Regards

Leon

SharpmanTF1 · 29th September 2008, 00:35

I'm sure there are a lot of ppl out there who don't lock their front doors when they're in. They wouldn'ty expect somebody to walk in whilst you're home, but in this day and age we should do. (in my case, don't have a choice, damn door locks itself - real pain in the arris. many a time been locked out).

sharpman

Shot8un · 29th September 2008, 09:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by LemonTwist

I'm a bit concerned about the circumstances of the theft - they may well ask you why the front door wasn't locked at the time and how come no-one heard the intruder enter the house.

Someone DID hear them. ME, which is why they only managed to snatch the 2 things they did. I wasn't in the habit of locking myself IN the house.

They were not in the front room for more than 10 seconds. The police said they were undoubtably looking for my car keys

Bookworm · 29th September 2008, 10:33

There is no police insurance that I can think off that specifies that you should keep all doors and windows locked even when you're in. That would be ridiculous!

Is a watch jewellery? Hmmm, arguably... You buy them from jewellers', you take them for repairs to jewellers'... and I know I keep mine in my jewellery box. I'd certainly argue the point, all the way to the FOS if they don't budge.

Mossycat · 29th September 2008, 11:47

Am I missing something here

The policy says that ANY item worth more than £1500 must be specified AND also that any item of jewellery worth more than £2500 must have a valuation certificate.

So any item of jewellery (ie a watch) valued over £1500 but less than £2500 must be specified and any item over £2500 must have a valuation certificate.

I'm not sure that leaving your front door open with valuable items left on display is taking all reasonable care, after all there was no forcible or violent entry or exit from the premises.

I think you have an argument on your hands here

Mossy

Shot8un · 29th September 2008, 12:34

Its funny, I never asked or mentioned my unlocked front door being and issue. My Insurance company don't seem to think its an issue.

Why do people keep bringing the unlocked front door up?

As I said before, I'm not in the habit of locking myself IN unless its night time and I'm going to bed?

Thanks for all the constructive oppinions

Shot8

pompeyfaith · 29th September 2008, 14:18

Shot8un, lets get this straight as i think there is a bit of confusion here: 1. you say the front door was open by that do you mean it was one of those doors that is shut but by pressing the handle down from outside it opens and you have to double lock it to secure it from outside

2. the door was wide open

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