Home Contents needing proof of purchase

mighty_reds

I was reading a thread on this forum a few days ago now (can't find it now). Someone had been burgled and their Home Insurance company were asking for receipts / proof of purchase for all items stolen even relatively "inexpensive" items (I mean not massively high in value) like an X-Box games console (what, we looking at max value of £200 or £300?)

I thought how harsh this was and it had me concerned about my own home insurance, I mean how many people keep receipts / proof of purchase for things in the £50 to £500 range say after having it for over 2-3 years (or whenever gaurentee expires).

I am hoping this quote from my recent Endsleigh Contents Insurance enquiry is similar to most Home Insurance providers, quote taken directly from policy blurb

6. Evidence of Value

For any individual Specified Personal Effects or Valuables covered under this policy with an individual value in excess of £1000, You will be required to
provide evidence of value in the event of loss or damage to that item. Acceptable evidence of value may be in the form of:
(i) the original purchase receipt, or
(ii) a written valuation dated no more than five years old

Failure to produce adequate evidence of value may affect Your ability to claim for loss or damage to the item(s).

I can understand items of over £1,000 (of which I have none) but to asked for proof of purchase for items under this amount seems harsh and I for one don't have proof of purchase for anything other than my girlfriends £280 camera she got recently.

I understand credit card / bank statements can count as proof of purchase, but stuff all that, I've got about £800 worth of college books purchased over the years that are vital to my career, if I get burgled and for some reason the robber takes all my books I dont want to be faffing about going through bank statements that will simply say "Amazon" anyway :money:

Same story for my DVD's and music CD's, they probably worth close to £1000 but I'd settle for less and don't keep proof of purchase for such things and bank statements / credit card statements will not prove I have DVD's or music CD's, they will just say "HMV" or "WH Smiths" or maybe even "Tesco" or "Morrisons" :money:

Sorry for a bit long of a post, any thoughts, experiences to share with regards having to provide or even being asked for proof of purchase for items under £1,000 in the event of a burglary?

As long as I have been 100% honest in my application for Home Insurance and have stuck to the agreements of my policy if I get burgled and there's clear evidence (smashed window, broken door, police reports) and my DVD player, Labtop, PC, DVD's, some clothes and books get stolen I want to be reimbursed. End of!!!!!

FlameCloud

Playing devils advocate, how does the insurer know you are telling the truth? Or would you just like a nice blank cheque to the value of whatever goods you claim to have had?

Its not had to keep receipts in a folder or box- lots of people do it. Take photos of your items, or keep the digital receipts they send you in a folder on your internet email.

FYI, the quoted passage applies to specified items, it is not a general condition of the policy. POO for specified items is a very common term in any policy.

mighty_reds

FlameCloud wrote: »

Playing devils advocate, how does the insurer know you are telling the truth? Or would you just like a nice blank cheque to the value of whatever goods you claim to have had?

Its not had to keep receipts in a folder or box- lots of people do it. Take photos of your items, or keep the digital receipts they send you in a folder on your internet email.

FYI, the quoted passage applies to specified items, it is not a general condition of the policy. POO for specified items is a very common term in any policy.

Yep all fair points, thats fine from now onwards but what about all the items purchased over the last 10-15 years?

And what if someone steals the folder of receipts? Just to play Devil's Advocate lol

Digital pictures is a possibility I suppose just to be on the safe side.

I'm perfectly happy if an Home Insurance company wants proof of something you have listed as over £1000 that seems fair enough, I wouldn't list any as don't have any! Max is probably my lap-top, £600 when new, probably worth £200 or less now.

dacouch

Why don't you take photographs or film your contents and then keep the pictures / film at another house.

The Insurers will often accept this as proof of ownership, it also helps the police trace items / connect them to a crime and may also help remind you what items you had should you need to make a claim

mighty_reds

dacouch wrote: »

Why don't you take photographs or film your contents and then keep the pictures / film at another house.

The Insurers will often accept this as proof of ownership, it also helps the police trace items / connect them to a crime and may also help remind you what items you had should you need to make a claim

yep, going to do that, might as well. Thanks for input

dmarks

But what if that house gets robbed and they take the pictures....:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

dacouch

Thats why I said keep the pictures / film at a different house...

dogbot

I wouldn't list any as don't have any! Max is probably my lap-top, £600 when new, probably worth £200 or less now.

Just thought this would be worth clarifying just in case. You insure items on a New For Old basis. You need to make sure you are insuring the total value of your contents as the cost of replacing each item with a new one of a similar standard or specification. So if you paid £600 for your laptop 12 months ago, it may now only be worth £200, but to replace it with a new one of the same spec could be, say, £450.