Mugging claim urgent questions!

abandc · 21 October 2009 at 9:13PM

Hi All,

I just got mugged while visiting my girlfriend for a week up north. I have reported it to the police, about £2200 worth of loss in all including a Laptop (£700.00) and loads of accessories. I have a house insurance policy with Admiral (underwritten by Fortis) which covers "£1500 of personal unspecified personal away from home" but they never sent me a policy document so I am not sure what is covered.

I also have £10000 of purchase protection cover with my Natwest Advantage Gold account. It does not cover any item under £50 and there is the following clause:

What is not covered:

Any item covered under any other insurance policy, or which would be covered but for the application of an excess or a limit under another policy, or where compensation provided by any guarantee or other agreement exists.

I have never made an insurance claim before but am wary of a minefield of clauses, limits, etc. With both policies I need to report the claim within 24 hours so need to do it now.

I am unsure of who to make the claim with, the cover I have with Admiral, and how to move forward and any advice would be very welcome.

I really can't afford to be losing this much money (who could) but wan't to make a claim or claims that maximises the return against the loss I have incurred while staying within the rules.

A prompt response would be very welcome as I have 23hrs left to make a claim and the clock is ticking!

Many thanks in advance for your replies. :beer:

Anihilator · 21 October 2009 at 10:04PM

I'd expect to be well and truly scrutinised for this claim.

I hope the police have proof you were mugged and you have all receipts etc.

PNPSUKNET · 21 October 2009 at 10:21PM

what did you lose bare in mind I take it you were walking

abandc · 21 October 2009 at 11:45PM

Thanks for your responses.

The police have my report and there was a CCTV camera on the road so presumably if they are not too busy issuing speeding tickets that can be reviewed. I would have thought that any mugger would have had the sense to look for one of these!

Apart from the Laptop & accessories, the remaining items were mostly clothes (I am a clothes horse, somewhat embarrassingly, and these were mostly from Prada.) I hadn't take out a specific insurance policy for the laptop as I had just bought it.

I receipt have receipts for everything, I keep these religiously, it's almost as if I have OCD.

Yes I was walking with a case and laptop bag, in a particularly rough part of Nottingham, and was threatened with a knife, although one was never actually pulled on me. I just handed over my stuff and the guy walked away as if nothing had happened, he was so nonchalant I was surprised he didn't 'whistle as he walked'!

The question remains though, is this a claim against my house insurance or my purchase protection? The travel insurance provided with the bank account only covers me if I have pre-booked accommodation and this was not the case as I am staying at my girlfriends.

Regarding scrutiny, this does not concern me but what do you mean? I have never made an insurance claim before, have no criminal record, am not in debt and because I work in defence am security cleared to 'secret level' so have been extensively vetted and am a pretty reputable member of society!

I have a cousin who works in a department of an insurance company in the states that specifically looks for reasons not to pay out a claim, who has told me of all the devious tricks that insurance companies pull to not pay out on claims, so am wary of insurance companies on the whole!

olly300 · 22 October 2009 at 12:16AM

Claim against your house insurance. If they ask you details of any other policy you have given them details of your purchase protection and if possible send the t&C with the exclusions highlighted.

If they don't pay out than follow the full complaints procedure using recorded delivery for all your letters, and be prepared to take your case to the financial ombudsman service.

BTW it's possible to have SC clearance and have a criminal record. All the vetting agency care about is that you are honest and can't be blackmailed.

abandc · 22 October 2009 at 12:57AM

olly300 wrote: »

BTW it's possible to have SC clearance and have a criminal record. All the vetting agency care about is that you are honest and can't be blackmailed.

Didn't know that, seems a bit ridiculous that they would allow people to have security clearance if they had a criminal record, would seem to negate the honesty credentials of the candidate! In any case I haven't got, or intend to obtain, a criminal record - despite attempts when a student to, idiotically with hindsight, get one for wasting police time. Freshers and alcohol are are lethal combination!

Thanks for your reply. Why do you mention ombudsmen and the like - do you think it would come to that in what in what seems to me, an inexperienced newbie in these matters, a pretty straight forward claim - or are insurance companies as per what I was saying about my cousins job just difficult on the whole?

Many thanks again. :beer:

geri1965_2 · 22 October 2009 at 9:25AM

I wouldn't worry about it too much - it should be relatively straightforward since you've reported it to the police, the only thing of slight concern might be the limits under your policy. From the brief details you've provided, it looks as if they might only pay out £1,500 against the loss of £2,200.

abandc · 22 October 2009 at 10:51AM

geri1965 wrote: »

I wouldn't worry about it too much - it should be relatively straightforward since you've reported it to the police, the only thing of slight concern might be the limits under your policy. From the brief details you've provided, it looks as if they might only pay out £1,500 against the loss of £2,200.

Thanks for your response, it certainly appears that way, well £1450 if I deduct the excess on the policy. It makes me wonder what the point of purchase protection policies are, the seem to have exclusion clauses for everything!

dacouch · 22 October 2009 at 10:48PM

If your with the Insurer Pastra works for then apparantly if your under insured or do not have a high enough cover they will allow you to pay any extra premium so your covered (As long as it's an honest mistake)...