Lost my camera on a business trip, how should I go about making an insurance claim?

Parm

Hi all,

I'm going to need to make an insurance claim, and as I've never made one before, i'm hoping to get a little help.

I'm currently in Las Vegas on a business trip and I left my camera bag in a cab during my first day here - did it on the way from the airport to the hotel.

Can't recall ever losing anything before, but the camera was brand new, and I just wasn't used to having the bag with me. Can't believe I left it in the cab! Must have been tired from the ten-hour flight, and it only hit me when I got up to my room. Boy was I gutted - I'd wanted the camera for a while and the missus had bought it for me as a Christmas present.

Anyhow, I tried everything - called every taxi cab company (which probably cost me a fortune in phone calls), went to the taxi authority, tried to get the hotel to look at its surveilance, the lot. I've had a lot of help from the taxi authority - and I've a written affidavit to show for it - but there's no sign of recovering the camera. I wasn't paying attention when I caught the cab, and I've no idea which cab company it was.

Anyhow, I lost a Nikon D3000 camera, a 60mm Nikkon lens, a 16GB SD card and a black Lowepro bag. The total worth of the items is around £850.

I've brought my travel insurance documents with me (I have annual Post Office insurance), but it doesn't look as though it'll be much help. I have cover for lost items and personal belongings of up to £1,500, but the finer details in the policy booklet state:

• We will not pay for more than £300 per person in total for valuables
• We will not pay for more than £300 per person for any one article, pair or set of articles
• We will not pay for loss or theft of valuables left at any time in an unattended vehicle

I don't think the last one counts, as the cab was occupied the whole time. But I'm worried about the first two - the way I read it, I'll only be able to claim up to £300. And I'd have to pay £50 excess, too.

If that's the case, I'm thinking maybe I should claim it on my home insurance - which does cover items away from the home. I'm reluctant to use my home insurance, though, as I figure my premium will skyrocket the following year...?

Any help on what course of action I should take would be very much appreciated. I'm still not thinking straight cause I can't believe I lost my camera in the first place.

property.advert

Have you reported it to the police ? if not, why not ? Your insurers will want a police statement and might ask why you did not report it for XYZ period of time ?

You are now finding out that your policy is rubbish. Without the first clause, you might be able to argue that the camera, the lens, the SD card and the bag were all separate items and claim up to £300 for each. However, clause 1 would seem to trump that as it will likely count items such as cameras, lenses, SD cards etc. as valuables. You will need to check their wording. I suspect you are at the £300 minus a £50 excess.

But, where is the receipt for the camera ? You will need that. Think about it. Goes to Vegas, loses cash at the tables, claims for an expensive camera to make it up. You'll need some proof of purchase, easy if your wife bought it.

You could claim on your home insurance and they would liaise with your travel insurers and one would act as lead. Check your home policy. You may be totally covered by that and if you wish to claim, I might not claim on the travel policy. I might tell my insurers about the travel policy and they would decide whether to claw back some of the cost from them, as effectively, for some part, you would be doubly insured.

Last time I claimed on my home contents policy it did not go up that much but these days there is a lot more riding on it, what with discounts and stuff. You are now asked about claims in the last 5 years, not the last 2 or 3 years. The total cost will be the increased premiums going out for the next 5 years.

That said, if you never intend to claim, then you should have a very high excess and not pay for anything other than total loss cover. At some point, you claim, you get paid out but you pay more for the next few years.

bouncydog1

As you were on a business trip, you may find that the claim is excluded under your household contents all risks extension - check the wording. Alternatively this may be covered under a business policy - ask your employer.

Parm

I don't have a police statement, but I do have a written statement from an officer at the Las Vegas taxi authority. I didn't think it was a police matter (leaving a camera in a cab), but I will call the local police tomorrow to see if I can get a statement.

I've just checked the policy booklet and it does state in another section that I need to get a police statement within 24 hours of loss. Crap!

I do, however, definitely have the receipt for the camera. On the other hand, I don't think I have the receipt for the bag and the SD camera.

I didn't think about how dodgy it looks, but you're right, any claim in Vegas must be met with raised eyebrows. Certainly doesn't fill me with confidence.

I don't have my home insurance policy with me, so I'll check the details on that when I get back. I've checked with my employer, and it doesn't offer business insurance.

It's so depressing. Still keep thinking my camera will somehow turn up, but there's surely no chance of that now.

dacouch

You need a crime reference of report from the police, without that you have virtually no chance of claiming off anyone