Should I claim? Your opinions/advise would be appreciated.

Tra77

Back in November our garage was broken into, it was during the same week my FIL suddenly passed away. Did a quick (almost half hearted) check, lawn mower, football stuff (OH is a manager of kids team) and didn't recognise anything major as missing. We therefore just replaced lock and due to the timing didn't bother to inform the police. Some three weeks later we discovered that something had in fact been taken. . OH's golf clubs and water proofs! - as it was 3 weeks later and we'd not informed police we didn't consider making a claim.
Mid December, garage broken into again. . .again nothing taken (did a proper check this time), so we again replaced lock and again didn't feel need to 'bother' police.

Now, our insurance was coming up for renewal 01.01.2009 so on New Years Eve we shopped around and found cheaper alternative (insurance was with current Mortgage company since 2001 - and we've had/made no claims since June 1998). Mortgage company told us we'd have to pay a cancellation fee, which we advised them we were not happy about (& would look into further as I can find no documentation stating this) as we were not cancelling but just not renewing with them. Anyway we still went ahead and took out (much cheaper) policy with new ins. company.

This is where it gets tricky, New Years Day (start of new policy) we get up to discover garage has been broken into for a 3rd time (along with 5 other peoples in our block) and youngest sons motorised car has been taken. Police were involved and even came out twice (one lot to do some finger printing). I was at this point put off claiming (from old ins./current mortgage company as we'd not renewed with them and it had happened on the last day of our policy. To top that I'd been disputing the 'cancellation/none renewal fee', which I've since received a letter to say this has been added to my mortgage account until I make alternative arrangements to pay it - which I intend to do this week.

We were broken into again the following week, eldest sons motorised scooter and our old tv (which I had intended to give to MIL and was incidentallly covered in finger print dust from previous break in!). Again, we reported to police etc. but felt put off making a claim due to the newness of the policy.

Everyone I've spoken to say I'm mad and to go ahead & make claims on both - can I/should I do this now? and if so will it have any effect on my new policy (I pay monthly dd)?

Quote

No-one can possibly know what impact making one or both claims would have on your current or future policies, although obviously you're well within your rights to make claims on both.

Off topic:

1. Have you thought about emptying your garage?
2. Where the hell do you live, The Bronx?

mattymoo

Worst case scenario (but knowing some insurers, highly likely)

If you claim, be prepared for two lots of investigations -
1 from the old insurer as incidents were not reported to police at time.
2 from new insurer because the incidents are so close to inception date.

Both are major triggers for fraud investigations. The new insurers could rightly state they would not have provided cover had they known about the earlier incidents. You would have been asked if you had any losses or claims during the quote stage.

Also, weigh up the imposition of 4 x policy excesses and premium loading from the current insurer. The frequency of losses would also result in increased excess or removal of theft cover altogether, certainly from the garage and possibly from the entire policy.

On a positive note, I can advise you on the security aspect. Let me know what kind of garage door you have and details of any side doors. I think it is time for you to invest in some beefier security.

Tra77

Quote wrote: »

No-one can possibly know what impact making one or both claims would have on your current or future policies, although obviously you're well within your rights to make claims on both.
I just feel so off put, incase they think I'm trying to pull a fast one.

Off topic:

1. Have you thought about emptying your garage?
Well they've more or less cleared us out! But we have cleared it of other bits so it's now basically empty apart from a few tins of paint, football stuff and lawn mower.

2. Where the hell do you live, The Bronx?

ha ha ha, not it's a decent area (honest!), we've lived there for over 12 years without any problems at all. Although council have moved in (nearby estate) a few dodgy families recently.

Tra77

mattymoo wrote: »

Worst case scenario (but knowing some insurers, highly likely)

If you claim, be prepared for two lots of investigations -
1 from the old insurer as incidents were not reported to police at time.
2 from new insurer because the incidents are so close to inception date.

Both are major triggers for fraud investigations. Sounds terrible doesn't it - that's what puts me off making the claims, even though, hand on heart they are 100% genuine. The new insurers could rightly state they would not have provided cover had they known about the earlier incidents. You would have been asked if you had any losses or claims during the quote stage. We had not had any loss/claim at the stage of quote, we applied on the morning before the existing policy ran out and the (first reported) theft occured that evening.
Also, weigh up the imposition of 4 x policy excesses and premium loading from the current insurer. The frequency of losses would also result in increased excess or removal of theft cover altogether, certainly from the garage and possibly from the entire policy. I would only actually be claiming for 2 thefts, due to the fact we didn't report the first two, a) didn't think anything had been taken first time and timing (FIL's death) and b) nothing was actually taken.

On a positive note, I can advise you on the security aspect. Let me know what kind of garage door you have and details of any side doors. I think it is time for you to invest in some beefier security.
It's just a old(ish) standard up and over garage door - which I am told are fairly easy to get into via the top, it also has a padlocked bolt into the ground (which they don't even remove) - they just bend the thing upwards and twist round (if that makes any sense). Garage is in a block, so there's garages at either side of mine.

..............

Quentin

If you accept you will have to answer their questions, (but where is that a problem if you are telling the truth), then there seems no point not claiming - otherwise why are you paying premiums?

Tra77

you are completely right Quentin. . .the whole thing/situation just seems quite unbelievable but at the end of the day that's what happened. I've paid my premiums for years so I may as well claim, like you say.

Quote

I believe a lot of companies won't even quote when there's an outstanding claim on a policy, so claiming for the "first" incident under the old policy could cause you some problems with the current insurer. They might be within their rights to void the policy on the basis of an undisclosed claim.

In that sense you might only be able to claim for the most recent theft.

cmk88

I agree with Quote- a lot of insurance companies wouldnt have accepted the risk if there had been two theft claims on a previous policy(especially being so close together).

It would seem most sensible to claim with your current insurance.