My bike claim - policy excess

geri1965_2

When I reported the claim to my insurers, they said there was an excess of £75.

I've looked at my policy schedule and I can't see any reference to an excess of £75 under the pedal cycle section, although it says there is a £100 excess for contents.

Do pedal cycles come under contents? Should I be arguing that there is no excess or should I shut up and accept £75 as otherwise they might say it's £100?

Oscar_The_Grouch

Pedal cycles usually come under "in and away from home" cover. I'd be looking in the policy wording rather than at the schedule, as it sounds very much like you have a voluntary £100 excess in addition to whatever is in the policy.

geri1965_2

The wording says I should refer to the schedule.

Quentin

When they say "refer to the schedule", that will be for the amount of excess involved, rather than whether or not any excess is payable (the amount could be £nil, but this would be stated in the schedule, not the policy, which would say something like "What is not insured........Any Excess (See schedule for the amount)".

Is this bike insured under a bike extension to your policy or some other add on? Either way the excess should be specifically shown.

Or does it just come under contents, and you have paid for it as a specified personal belonging?

geri1965_2

It's a separate section - I added it on when I bought the bike.

It says:

Cover applicable
Contents up to £50,000
Pedal cycles
Buildings up to £89653

Then it goes on to say Contents (Section 1) this includes the following:

(long list of things e.g. personal money, replacement locks etc. but no mention of pedal cycles)

Pedal Cycles (Section 5) limit £300

Further on down it says

Excess
You will pay the first £100 towards any contents claim under Sections you have selected shown above

which does appear to indicate that it's £100

But the bike is only insured for £300 so I'm wondering why I even bothered to insure it if I'm only going to get £200 back, especially as I have to pay for new saddle, mudguards, lights, lock etc. whcih are not included.

Quentin

That looks pretty conclusive!

They made a mistake when mentioning £75.

Keep your head down and see what comes!