Contents insurance - noob questions

Hoddie_2

I've never purchased contents insurance previously and would appreciate some advice on the following:

Do you need to have a receipt for an item before you can claim? I have most but not all (some items are many years old)?

How accurate does the 'approximate year built' have to be? Mine was circa mid-90s but I don't know for certain (I rent) - how would an inaccurate estimate affect an claim?

The silliest question of all... how do I check whether my doors conform to the following or not:

* A 5 lever deadlock on the final exit door, and

* 5 lever deadlocks or key operated security bolts to all other exit doors including French windows and patio doors

Finally, my partner actually lives abroad for much of the year and only spends a few odd weeks and weekends here during any one year (max 2 months), should she be named on the policy?

roxy7699

Hi although I cant help with the techie stuff, when I had to do a claim, I found having things like manuals did suffice or perhaps you could take a pic of it in your surroundings with you in the pic should a mishap arise.

Hoddie_2

I found having things like manuals did suffice or perhaps you could take a pic of it in your surroundings with you in the pic should a mishap arise.

Excellent. Never thought of that, pics would be great for all the DVDs I have. For some reason I'm more paranoid about losing my DVD collection than I am about anything else (probably because I go to great lengths to buy them at the cheapest possible prices).

Astaroth

You have to be able to prove ownership of the items you are claiming. The easiest way is normally receipts but then insurers are fairly reasonable and do not expect you to keep a receipt for everything that you ever own indefinitely. Generally the more expensive the item the more proof they will require.

If you dont have receipts then things like boxes, manuals, photos of the item in situ (preferably with something identifiable as yours... eg yourself... also in the picture) etc

For a contents only quote year of build is less important but if in doubt then phone them and say it was "late nineties" or such rather than a specific year.

Generally locks have if they are 5 lever or not written on them if you look at the lock itself (not the key hole)