My 2-yr-old just cracked the TV screen - arrgghh!!

MadelinesMum

Hi, whilst I was emptying the washing machine my little treasure managed to cause a big spider-like crack in my rather large Samsung TV. There is sound, but a black screen (apart from crack, which is all colours of the rainbow!)

I think I am covered under home contents insurance (I took out accidental cover) but am unsure of what to say when I claim and whether it will be worth claiming at all.

Insured with: Sheilas Wheels
Excess: £150

I think OH paid quite a few hundred pounds for the TV about 3 years ago.

OH is going to go nuts when he gets home :eek:
Thanks in advance
Caz

McKneff

Well dont let him go nuts, accidents happen, especially when two year olds are about and you cant watch them every second otherwise you'd get nothing done. He/she wasnt hurt and that, above all, is the main thing.

Just ring the insurance company, tell them exactly what has happened, never lie or embelish to an insurance company, they know if you do.

You should be able to claim and just have to cope with the excess yourselves.

Good luck.

MadelinesMum

Hi, thanks. OH won't be too bad, I'm just not looking forward to telling him.
I'm in two minds whether to claim. It's a 40" screen but tbh I wouldn't mind having a slightly smaller screen so I'm going to look and see what I can get for around the £200 mark. The excess is £150 and then I will lose the NCB which will probably put my premium up next year. Swings and roundabouts, I suppose. x

McKneff

Youre probably right, what TVs cost 3 years ago you can get the same spec nowadays for £200 or so if you shop around wisely.

Give little madeline lots of cuddles and an extra one from me.

Annie

huckster

Dock it from her pocket money over the next few years, after providing her with an invoice, for the damage, plus pictures of the evidence. In 16 years time or whenever, you can have a chuckle about the invoice !!!

lisyloo

I would probably not bother claiming and certainly work out the costs first.
Your premiums may rise for a few years plus you'll lose any no claims discount plus your excess.
You can work it out by doing quotes for zero claims and then one claim.
Multiply the difference by the number of years they ask about claims (3 years?).

Chances are it isn't worth claiming.

and in case you're wondering what is the point in having insurance.
Well that's in case your whole house burns down. Then it is worth claiming.

MadelinesMum

Hi, thanks for your replies. OH was Ok about it and is going to hunt out the receipt tonight before I phone the insurance company. Apparently the TV cost over £700 (gulp). I'm in the process of searching the internet for similar TVs to see what they cost now.

It was Evan that did it (not Madeline, but I will give her a hug too, lol). The funny thing is I didn't really tell him off, he was so scared when he ran in the kitchen crying that I comforted him before I even knew what had happened. When I walked into the lounge I was more interested in the TV than shouting at him. I think I just wagged my finger, lol.

I think it didn't really hit home to him what had happened until he couldn't watch Milkshake this morning, lol.

Thanks again
Caz x

lisyloo

Apparently the TV cost over £700 (gulp). I'm in the process of searching the internet for similar TVs to see what they cost now.

You wouldn't get £700.
You would get a new TV to whatever spec the old one was (or closest equivalent).
It's probably a lot less to buy now than 3 years ago.

So when you do your calcs work on the new price now.

Alos bear in mind that if you go via insurance then you may get a different brand or a different spe. Theorectically you should not be in a worse position but some people perceive they get an inferior brand (other people are satisfied or might think they have got something better).
So bear in mind, if you pay yourself you can have the choice of exactly what you want.

MadelinesMum

Hi, I found used ones on Amazon for £479 (two available) so I've bookmarked the page to show OH. Does anyone know if I can see how much the insurance company will offer me and then not claim? Am I totally committed to claim if I phone them and start the claim process?

Apparently Sheilas Wheels only do claims over the phone and do not let you fill out a physical claim form, as such.

Thanks in advance
Caz x

Edit
It is (was) a Samsung, and tbh I wasn't over-keen on it - a few niggle things (like you can't turn it off without switching if off at the wall, lol). Also, we bought a DVD player at the same time which had a fault and the customer service was totally carp.

r.mac_2

check your policy. On ours we have 'new for old' clause, so when our old tv had a run in with my mum (she managed to spill a jog of flowers over it and it bew up - eek!) we had it replaced with an equivalent model but the up to date version which was a really nice tv that I never would have thought they would have offered us!

It also didn't effect my premiums by very much - about £10 increase the next year I seem to remember.

could you call them and explain that you aren't sure if its worth you claiming and paying the excess or just taking the hit yourself and see what they sugest?

ETA - they didn't send me money - they sent me the new tv. I had no choice, i think that is often the case on individual itemds

MadelinesMum

Thanks. I did look at the policy but it didn't say anything about new for old. I'm going to phone them tomorrow when, hopefully, OH would have found the receipt in his non-existant filing cabinet, lol. x

I once had a TV that blew up, it was really scary, a massive crack then a burning smell - and I was home alone, lol.