Contents insurance?

JS2006

I own a flat in a building of mixed council/bought flats and I pay collective buildings insurance to GHA but I was wondering if I should get contents insurance.

I'm on the bottom floor and don't have very good security (old windows/doors) The only expensive things I will have are TV, Hifi, Laptop and small electrical goods (this is assuming they don't have the time/manpower/van to steal a sofa/washing machine/fridge/bed etc) My area isn't bad but the surrounding areas used to be and there are still some dodgy characters about.

I can't really afford to pay high premiums but I don't want to go without it if I'll really need it.

Thanks

webuserisme

With the quite ridiculous amounts of cashback available from the insurance companies thru Quidco at the moment, I would be very surprised if the contents insurance will actually cost you anything!

JS2006

webuserisme wrote:

With the quite ridiculous amounts of cashback available from the insurance companies thru Quidco at the moment, I would be very surprised if the contents insurance will actually cost you anything!

I'm intrigued WUIM. Can you explain? I'll look into quidco just now.

JS2006

I actually signed up for Quidco and got to Lloyds TSB through them but because I'm a student and work less than 16 hours a week they gave me a number to ring. Will I still get cashback if done by phone?

webuserisme

JS2006 wrote:

I actually signed up for Quidco and got to Lloyds TSB through them but because I'm a student and work less than 16 hours a week they gave me a number to ring. Will I still get cashback if done by phone?

Stay away from that phone!! :eek: To get the cashback the transaction must be completed wholly online. LloydsTSB are a bit funny like that, try Barclays instead. £125 cashback and IME their rates are similar.

JS2006

i went on to Barclays and used their first time buyer package option and got a quote of £24 per month over 12 months which covers me up to £20,000.

This seems pretty good since they have a new for old and accidental damage covered as well and it seems attractive because most of my things won't be brand new anyway! Also the neighbur upstairs wears incontinence nappies and has a habit of flushing them and it floods me (yuck!) so I need to be covered for that as well.

Just a quick note. What exactly constitutes "accidental damage" Say I'm drunk one night and fall into the TV, can I claim that?

DavidHM

Have you used Moneysupermarket to get quotes? I've had quotes beteween £80 and £320 for the year (!)

And if you use Quidco and then go with Barclays online, you'll get £120 cashback, which is roughly half your premium.

Astaroth

An accident is non-intentional active force that causes damage not covered by other risks (eg fire). Wear and tear is normally excluded specifically even though it is arguable it is not the result of an active force. Your example of falling over and breaking something or spilling something are the 2 classic examples of AD claims on home contents.

JS2006

Thanks Astaroth, good to know I can bounce about drunk safe in the knowledge I can claim if I go through the TV (or the wall )

jennifernil

£24 per month for that cover sounds a lot. We have both house (5 bedrooms) and contents covered with Halifax for just over £29 per month.

Astaroth

JS2006 wrote:

Thanks Astaroth, good to know I can bounce about drunk safe in the knowledge I can claim if I go through the TV (or the wall )

Bounce around drunk normally is ok.... deciding that seeing how many people can stand on your priceless ming vase when drunk is unlikely to be though

Generally speaking however if you do make a claim under the AD cover it will have a much bigger impact on premiums than say fire or a burst pipe.