Home Insurance- Burglar Alarm Question

Grolsch30

Hi,

I am just filling in a quote for my home insurance and one question asked if I have a burglar alarm fitted with a simple tick box yes or no.

Now I do have a burglar alarm fitted but hardly ever ever use it.
Should I tick no or can I still say yes as I am not lieing because it's only asking me if i have one and not if i also use it?

Any thoughts?

cheers

dacouch

If you tick yes then they are likely to either give you a discount and put a warranty on the policy about the alarm or not give you a (Small) discount but still put the warranty on the policy.

If they put a warranty on the policy it is normally to the effect that the alarm must be serviced by a member of SSIAB or similar and that the alarm is used whenever the home is unattended. If the warranty is applied and you do not abide by it they will either exclude theft cover or include theft cover but with a massively increased excess.

Where it asks the question on the quote it generally gives you an explanation about that Insurers views on alarms. If there is a help button near the question have a read of it and see how the Insurer deals with alarms

tfspark

I was in the same predicament. I too have an alarm fitted but haven't used it for years. (kids coming and going at all hours!).
I have just taken a new policy with Direct Line and to be on the safe side told them I don't have one.
I think there question was "do you have a professionally fitted alarm" and the truthful answer to that was no as mine was diy.

If you tell a car insurance company that you have a non factory fitted alarm they usually want proof. I wonder if it the same with house insurance?

Grolsch30

Just checked both quotes with and without a burglar alarm and it does not make any difference on the price, so I think I shall just leave it out and tick no.

cheers

dacouch

Its often the way there is no discount or a small amount, in a lot of cases its best not to declare the alarm to the Insurers then they cannot restrict your cover