Contents insurance and second hand items

bitsnbytes

Thanks everyone, really helpful
I don't mind trying and getting the repair done myself. But since it is an ASUS laptop, I'd rather it is done by ASUS (appalling customer service BTW). I'll need to lookup how I can get a quote to get this repaired. It still has loads of warranty left, was 2 years starting this May but they don't cover accidental damage.

Initially while taking out the contents insurance, my only thought was how much I paid for it which is £1000, much lesser than £1500 so I thought I should be fine. It never struck me that since I got a good deal, how much will it cost me to replace it which is around £1800 (since the OH is now quite attached to it and is gutted for dropping it). So in hindsight I should have gone for the extra cover. But if I do get a payout of £1500, I'll have no choice but to cough up the extra cash towards a new one.

BTW, an interesting thing while speaking to the claim guys at Allianz (I think, since AA whom I took out the insurance with only act as brokers) mentioned that they weren't sure if I was covered since I don't have proof of ownership. I do have the original box, manuals etc but since the receipt is in the sellers name they said it might cause a problem. They said they would get back to me but haven't yet. Any thoughts, what I should do if they say this can't be covered?

vaio

mikey72 wrote: »

But I wouldn't get a new car.

If it was only a month or two old you would

In fact I think most companies will give a new one for the first year

chanz4

I work in the industry, the shells dont cost that much to replace just the labour takes about 2 hours

TSx

bitsnbytes wrote: »

Thanks everyone, really helpful
I don't mind trying and getting the repair done myself. But since it is an ASUS laptop, I'd rather it is done by ASUS (appalling customer service BTW). I'll need to lookup how I can get a quote to get this repaired. It still has loads of warranty left, was 2 years starting this May but they don't cover accidental damage.

Initially while taking out the contents insurance, my only thought was how much I paid for it which is £1000, much lesser than £1500 so I thought I should be fine. It never struck me that since I got a good deal, how much will it cost me to replace it which is around £1800 (since the OH is now quite attached to it and is gutted for dropping it). So in hindsight I should have gone for the extra cover. But if I do get a payout of £1500, I'll have no choice but to cough up the extra cash towards a new one.

BTW, an interesting thing while speaking to the claim guys at Allianz (I think, since AA whom I took out the insurance with only act as brokers) mentioned that they weren't sure if I was covered since I don't have proof of ownership. I do have the original box, manuals etc but since the receipt is in the sellers name they said it might cause a problem. They said they would get back to me but haven't yet. Any thoughts, what I should do if they say this can't be covered?

Conveniently most of my advice on this topic is related to AA contents policies

How did you pay for the laptop? Cash? could you show a withdrawl reciept (or bank statement) for the cash taken out to pay for it? Do you still have the sellers contact details.

They can't require a reciept, they can require evidence of ownership. In your circumstances though, a reciept isn't appropriate so they need to consider alternate methods of proving ownership.

InsideInsurance

At the end of the day you have the laptop and it has damage. It legally wouldnt even have to be yours to be covered by your own insurance anyway as if a friend had lent it to you to look after for them and your broke it whilst it is in your care they'd still have to cover the damage.

Proof of ownership is much more for theft/ loss/ total loss fires etc where you no longer have identifiable salvage

Merseysippi

Used advice in this forum for my claim, thanks for your help.
Mine worked out as follows:-
Break in to garage. Garage damaged and "used" cycle stolen.

New equivalent spec cycle £650 minus policy excess £150 = £500
Maximum for Cycles £500, so payout for cycle was £500, but:-
Total of ALL equivalent accessories (over £300) was paid in full.

Garage damage Paid out on lower of 2 quotes.

Replacement garage doors quotes were for unpainted doors so I claimed for paint and a nominal £100 for my time painting. They did not pay out for this. Anyone any comments on that bit?

Insurer required proof of ownership of cycle, photos (if possible), 2 quotes for new cycle, 2 quotes for new accessories. One quote to be from a cycle shop and one allowed with online prices.

Very satisfied with the way mine was handled, hope this helps others.

Spikey1

Hi there,

If the laptop cost £1800 brand new there is a good chance, even if its only a few months old, that a current equivalent would be less than that now...perhaps even under £1500.

On top of that your Insurers will get a discount...usually around 10% for laptops and that will bring down the replacement cost even further. Where a limit applies, the Insurer will pass that discount to their customer (Insurers are not all monsters !).

There is every chance that the Insurer can replace your laptop within your £1500 limit. They will, of course, repair it if that is possible.

As per other posters comments it doesn't matter that you bought it second hand. One thing I would forewarn you of though is that, to prevent fraud, they will interrogate the hard drive and make sure that this computer had indeed been used by you and your family. Fraudsters are known to pass damaged laptops around with several people making a claim for the same item. So don't be alarmed if that happens....its just a routine enquiry.

Good luck

rs65

I think the OP may be sorted by now.

vaio

Spikey1 wrote: »

......... One thing I would forewarn you of though is that, to prevent fraud, they will interrogate the hard drive and make sure that this computer had indeed been used by you and your family. Fraudsters are known to pass damaged laptops around with several people making a claim for the same item. So don't be alarmed if that happens....its just a routine enquiry.........

I'd be less than impressed if an insurer want to interrogate my hard drive. Apart from privacy issues I don't see how it would prevent fraud as it would be so easy to get around.

Fraudsters passing damaged laptops around with several people making a claim for the same item would be easy to stop, all that is required is for the insurer to take possession of the damaged laptop when they make the payout.

I'd have thought the system would be...punter sends computer in for assessment, insurer inspects and either repairs & returns or pays out for a new one and drops the old one in the skip

dacouch

vaio wrote: »

I'd be less than impressed if an insurer want to interrogate my hard drive. Apart from privacy issues I don't see how it would prevent fraud as it would be so easy to get around.

Fraudsters passing damaged laptops around with several people making a claim for the same item would be easy to stop, all that is required is for the insurer to take possession of the damaged laptop when they make the payout.

I'd have thought the system would be...punter sends computer in for assessment, insurer inspects and either repairs & returns or pays out for a new one and drops the old one in the skip

It can help confirm or disprove the stories the policyholder gives eg the pc was working fine just before they dropped it down the stairs etc