Home Insurance Discussion

dacouch

maxdp wrote: »

Thank you so much for your time and help. This was the bit that I was querying as it did not make sense to me. I will write to them with your suggestions. Will let you know how i get on. Again thank you for your time.:D

Would be nice if you do post back as other MSE members who are in the same position may find you post and answers when they google

deebee

I was declined a come contents insurance application over 5 years ago, as I put in the wrong date for a previous claim at a previous property ( who remembers these things? ), anyway just wondered if I would have any problem getting insurance now, any advice appreciated

maxdp

dacouch wrote: »

Here's there definition of "Personal Belongings"

"Personal Belongings – Articles normally
worn, used or carried about the person,
in everyday life, including sports
equipment, musical instruments and
mobile telephones" (Under "words and phrases with special meanings" near the start of the policy

This part is the relevant part saying when personal belongings are covered when in the UK

"Theft or accidental loss of, or
accidental damage to you or your
family’s personal belongings and
money" (Page 25)

This exclusion will (I think) exclude a claim for a strimmer or rotavator as well as the definition referred to before eg "Articles normally worn, used or carried about the person, in everyday life" as you would not wear,use or carry them about in every day life.

You seem to also be referring to what we would normally call "Contents Temporarily Removed" eg page 19.

This is the wording to cover it
"• Anywhere in the British Isles when
temporarily removed from your home
for a period not exceeding
3 calendar months."

This section has this exclusion.

"Loss or damage caused by theft or
attempted theft, other than from:
i) An occupied, private home or any
building where you or your family
are working or temporarily living.
ii) Any other building or caravan but
only if force and violence are used to
gain entry or exit"

Which basically means they exclude theft unless it's from an occupied house or a home your family are temporary living in. Which obviously the shed is not. However part ii) might well cover you as it's not very well worded.

"Any other building or caravan but
only if force and violence are used to
gain entry or exit."

This covers any building not falling in the definition of part i) which the shed is not. The Oxford definition of building is basically structure with walls and roof. They don't really define wall very well which works in your favour.

The Temp Removed cover is not really designed for theft from allotment sheds, however as their bad wording eg "Building" and not defining building as being a brick or stone structure or excluding sheds. I think you might be able to force them to pay the claim assuming violence or force was used to enter the shed.

You need to forget about personal belongings as it's not covered by that. Concentrate on the cover provided on page 19. Refer to the Oxford definition of a "Building".

You need to send them a letter headed "Official Complaint" details are on page 47. Keep the letter concise and polite. Draw their attention to the this

"Anywhere in the British Isles when
temporarily removed from your home
for a period not exceeding
3 calendar months" as being what cover they provide.

and this "Loss or damage caused by theft or
attempted theft, other than from:" and this "ii) Any other building or caravan but
only if force and violence are used to
gain entry or exit." as being sections that specifically confirm that theft form your shed eg a building are covered as the shed is not an "An occupied, private home or any building where you or your family are working or temporarily living."

Advise them you expect the claim to be settled forth with as the cover specifically states it's covered and that should you not receive satisfaction you will refer the matter to the Ombudsman.

Keep your complaint to basically saying the policy wording which after all is a contract between you. Is saying that this incident is clearly covered. If they query the definition of "Building" as they don't define it in their policy then it's fair to use the Oxford Dictionary definition so refer them to this.

They are allowed 8 weeks to investigate your complaint and get back to you.

Incidently you could probably claim it under the general contents section as that is also badly worded in your favour.

eg This is what they say they cover

"The contents are insured against loss or
damage by the following causes:" Page 10

This section specifically covers sheds "6. Theft or attempted theft." page 11 with this exclusion "More than £2,000 for any one claim for
contents stolen from a garage,
outbuilding, shed or greenhouse"

So they say theft from a shed is covered, but (In my opinion) as they have not inserted "Of the Home" into this wording "The contents Home) are insured against loss or damage by the following causes" you could possibly force a claim through this section. They do define "Home" as basically your house and outbuildings within it's boundary which would exclude the shed but as they don't refer to it they have left it very open.

I would use the first argument for your complaint though.

I think your lucky as most policies would exclude theft of garden tools from an allotment shed due to the wording of their policy and it's not normally their intention to cover this type of situation.

Sorry if the post is long winded, tried to put it in laymans terms, so hopefully it makes sense.

Good luck, it may take a while to get the claim sorted, hopefully if someone with any intelligence reads your complaint and how poorly worded the policy is they will pay the claim rather than let it go to the Ombudsman.

P.S I would be surprised if Axa don't change the wording of their policy in the future to tighten it up in these sections as they're open to claims they don't intend to pay

If you don't have a paper copy of your current Axa Policy then download the ones from the Lloyd's website just to be on the safe side

Sent letter on Monday to their complaints Dept. Got a phone call this morning from head of Department. Stating there had been a mistake etc etc and they were willing to settle the claim, waive my excess and give me £75.00 as a goodwill gesture.:T:T Will write out contents of the letter on here when I receive it.

Thank you DACOUCH for all your help.

stevieinsurance

russian wrote: »

Building & contents; i thought my garage contents were insured but now discover they are only insured up to £1000. Having looked on confused.com etc I find even more expensive insurance goes up to only £5000. Companies are not very helpful about telling us what we are or aren't actually insured for.
Does anyone know how to get good garage contents insurance?

A number of insurance companies will only cover you to a max of £5000 in your garage unless you speak to them direct, however there are a couple of brokers out there that might be able to help. Try R K Shipman who are a broker (google them and you should be able to find them) but have insurers that cover all types of risks such as subsidence, thatched, flood etc. They are based in Exeter devon and been going around for years.

stevieinsurance

deebee wrote: »

I was declined a come contents insurance application over 5 years ago, as I put in the wrong date for a previous claim at a previous property ( who remembers these things? ), anyway just wondered if I would have any problem getting insurance now, any advice appreciated

If it was over 5 years ago then there should be no problems, most insurers will look for the last 3 to decide if they will quote, the rest is just circumstance. Not sure why you would have a claim refused for giving the wrong date unless it happened in the same year!! If you go on MSM or Confused most companies would quote.

dacouch

stevieinsurance wrote: »

If it was over 5 years ago then there should be no problems, most insurers will look for the last 3 to decide if they will quote, the rest is just circumstance. Not sure why you would have a claim refused for giving the wrong date unless it happened in the same year!! If you go on MSM or Confused most companies would quote.

On what basis are you quoting five years as the cut off for declaring whether you've had a policy cancelled.

dacouch

maxdp wrote: »

Sent letter on Monday to their complaints Dept. Got a phone call this morning from head of Department. Stating there had been a mistake etc etc and they were willing to settle the claim, waive my excess and give me £75.00 as a goodwill gesture.:T:T Will write out contents of the letter on here when I receive it.

Thank you DACOUCH for all your help.

Glad you got it was sorted out, we often slate Axa as their customer service is often poor / very slow, they seemed to move quickly for you.

As I mentioned before, the claim would probably be declined by most other Insurers, fortunately for you, the wording of the policy was very badly written but in your favour. I would not be surprised if Axa change their policy wording in the future.

Waiving the excess was a bonus.

As Axa sorted out your problem fairly quickly and gave you the excess back, it might be worth repaying them with some loyalty.

P.S I recommend you invest in some security for the shed as the thief may return

philjay50

This question may be a little premature but my mother had some jewellery stolen in January of this year, her insurers, Churchill have dragged there feet the whole time, they have finally made an offer today. My mother is 90 and has no interest in having the properly replaced. The about quoted to me for cash settlement seemed a lot less than the amount they were prepared to pay out on replacement items. Is there a formula to to calculate these numbers or are they just trying it on. What is the best way forward. By the way, I think that the service from Churchill is as bad as it gets.

dacouch

Have a very good read of this link from the Ombudsman, your Insurer should follow the guidelines. Seems to be written for someone in your mums situation.

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/ombudsman-news/10/oct-repair-replace-cash.htm

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/ombudsman-news/92/92-insurance-claims.html

philjay50

Wow, thanks for the speedy reply, and yes I think that these do apply to my mothers situation. May be a close run thing tho'