Theft from a car, neither the car insurance or the house insurance dont want to know.

dizzydusty

Hi,

Looking for some advice please.

My mum had her car broken into outside her work yesterday and a television stolen!! (She had just been to the shop to pick it up in her lunch hour).

It was a large TV in its box, but for ease she had it sitting on the back seat and not in the boot. Police have been involved, the theft is on CCTV and there are witnesses who called the police and have given statements.

Now it appears that she will not be able to claim for the loss of the TV. House Insurance are saying its not a personal item and wont cover it, Car insurance are saying as it wasn't in the boot or the glove compartment, its not covered. To top it all, it appears she paid for it using her switch card and not a credit card so won't be covered on that either.

Any suggestions or advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks

cogito

The insurers decisions appear to be correct. Leaving a valuable item in plain view in an unattended vehicle is not a great idea.

geri1965_2

I'm not sure I agree that it shouldn't be covered under her household contents policy, presuming she has cover for personal possessions outside the home. What would they define as a "personal item"?

Really she needs to check the wording of this section and any exclusions.

Insurers are sometimes too quick to turn claims down as very often they don't understand their own policies.

Quentin

Cover for personal items outside the home often require the items to be specified, but in any case when items are stolen from a car insurers invariably insert the condition excluding cover for theft from a vehicle unless the article had been kept in a locked boot or glove compartment.

cmk88

Hi,

Most insurers define personal belongings as items that you normally wear/carry on you/take away from the home ie a watch, camera. A tv does not fall under this definition as you neither wear it or normally remove it from the home.

check your own policy definitions though just incase.

If it does fall under this definition most home insurance companies also apply the same restriction as car insurance when it comes to theft from unattended vehicles- you need to have it in a locked glove compartment or locked boot.

unfortunately i think your insurers are right.