Insurance claim for tv - like for like?

loracan1

Bought a tv back in March, 42" plasma, top of the range, 5 year warranty. Unfortunately teenage boys, guitars and tvs don't mix.

I've got accidental damage on audio/visual but what I want to know before I contact them is what their obligations are to replacement - are they obliged to replace it with similar or merely refund me what I paid for it? I got it at a good price and can't hope to get similar for the same price. Same tv is still available in argos for £300 more than I paid without warranty:(

Can anyone offer any help or advice, even if just to share what their experience was?

rs65

Check your policy wording for the basis on which claims are settled.

If its new for old, it shouldn't matter what you paid. Even if you were given it as a gift (ie paid nothing) it should still be replaced with a current equivalent - or repaired if possible.

InsideInsurance

If it is under your home insurance then it will almost certainly be a new for old policy and so it will be at the same specification as you're existing one.

Given you bought it in March this year presumably the same model is available and so they will ideally just give you a new one of them if your current set is unrepairable.

loracan1

Adding to this - if they decide on replacement rather than repair, what do they class as being of the same specification? Can they argue that other makes of plasma are of an equal quality? That having integrated freesat isn't something they have to take into account? Also, if they opted to supply me with a replacement where would I stand with the warranty? I know I can't insist on a 5yr warranty but for the remaining portion of this year's (I'd have no proof of purchase).

I know no-one can second-guess what will happen, I just want to get an idea of what steps I take if they offer an LG with only freeview.

luci

You should be entitled to a replacement with the same spec as your current one. When I had a camera stolen the supplier suggested a replacement. However when I checked the spec, it didn't take short videos as the original one had. They came up with another one with the correct spec.

InsideInsurance

Generally they look at the headline information as you would see on the product card in the likes of Currys. If there are particular sub features you need then you can argue for them. Where it becomes more challenging is when it is a discussion of quality; the Pioneer plasmas were simply the best screens until they stopped making them and walked home with every award going, even the latest screens from the likes of Panasonic don't measure up but do have more bells and whistles. In these cases it becomes hard to argue, especially as you tend not to be dealing with "experts" but standard superstore staff (walk into a decent AV store and mention Pioneer plasmas and see how they go misty eyed)

keith1950

are they obliged to replace it with similar or merely refund me what I paid for it?

In addition to the above two possibilities there is also the possibility that they will give you vouchers to buy a replacement from their preffered suppliers.