Theft in dwelling - claim too easy?

llh189

I have standard house insurance with a well known bank.

This morning when I went to my jewellery box and noticed a diamond pendent was missing, on further inspection I also noted 5 or 6 items were missing in total.

These items are old'ish like a Rotary watch given to me 17 years ago on my 21st, the other items are high street stuff, no more than £250 purchase price but go back several years ago.

I have no idea when they went missing, the police are treating it as theft in dwelling, I have a crime ref number etc. nothing else is missing the police think it was opportunistic. I last saw the items for definite in February.

I rang my insurer before I got my crime ref number but after I spoke to the police for the first time.

I have never claimed on my house insurance and my excess it £100. A young lady found my policy, took my details, and made a note of the missing items! She gave me a claim number & told me that Goldsmiths deal with their jewellery claims and to expect a call in the next two days! I asked how we proceed, she said that was it, I asked about paperwork, she said not to expect any as all was now done over the phone!

I honestly can't believe it is that simple? Am I missing something? She didn't even say to ring back with crime ref number, should I ring back?

Having never made a claim in 20 years of having insurance I simply can't understand why it is that simple? Any experiences to share?

I estimate my total claim will be less than £1000.

Thanks

lisyloo

I'd be more concenred about who you've had in the house that had nicked stuff !!

Is there any possible logical explanation e.g. items misplaced by curious child.
You didn't go away and leave them in a travel bag? (I've left odd earrings in a travel pouch before).
Could you have left them at a hotel? (they might still have them put aside).

InsideInsurance

Insurers use risk/fraud indicators and this, along with seasonality, determine the level of investigation made into a claim.

By the sounds of it you are deemed low risk with a relatively small claim and so their supplier will act as loss adjuster and supplier in one.

You'll find with many people the "old" rolex gets called a vintage, classic etc rolex and those "high street" items become "tiffany" etc which all start ticking more boxes and require more investigation

C_Mababejive

I dont understand. Do you live in a shared house? Why /who do you beleive the items have been stolen. Couldnt they just be misplaced?

lisyloo

I dont understand. Do you live in a shared house?

Most people have guests or work people in their house at some point.
In general you don't follow them upstairs when they go to the bathroom :-)
Although of course it's a great concern if it might be an invited guest.

llh189

I last saw the items for definite at the end of January'ish.

Since then I have had an ex boyfriend sleep on the sofa - no contact since then, a quarterly check by my letting agent without me being present( if you look at my previous posts one was asking advice about a cupboard door being left a jar after their last visit when there was no need to look in cupboards etc and should I report it).

A gas check done with my elderly landlord in tow - by a firm the agents don't use themselves again without me being here.

A BBQ in March, where good friends came and some of their friends too, who I am just familiar with, a friend also stayed over in my spare room but I have only known her a year!

My bestfriend and her kids, who get freedom all over the house and a guy who came to fix my wardrobe, I got his details from trust a trader.

These people are to name just a few, after three hours with my local bobby, I am amazed how many people have been here in four months.

When you are actually forced to think about it I am surprised and quite frankly feel stupid BUT the police did say that this type of crime happens all the time and people are often shocked about the freedom people get in their house.

Although still amazed about the insurance people although "goldsmiths" or weren't quite as laid back and asked for receipts of which I don't have or photographs with me wearing the jewellery, which again I don't have. So maybe this won't be that easy after all, my claim looks to be about £700 including my excess. I am glad to say that my Rotary watch did not become a rolex, my Elizabeth Duke ring did not become a Tiffany ring. But the experience has taught me a hard lesson!

VictorM_2

The jewellery suppliers like LMG / Signet will validate the items for the insurer as it is a specialist subject - they also need receipts to validate the item to get a current price.

If it was an electrical item those types of suppliers don't validate ownership, so if you lose an iPhone then the insurer will ask for ownership rather than the supplier.

llh189

Most of the items were gifts - and most years and years old, so no hope of receipts, so not overly sure how they will proceed!

VictorM_2

They can do wonders with a photograph. I am sure if they were that old you would have a photograph of you wearing them over the years.

They are usually lenient on inherited things.

lisyloo

We have a safe which is the same as the small ones you find in hotels.
It was inexpensive from Screwfix and is out of sight from opportunists.

I always get told this is not counted by insurers and would be of no use in an armed robbery :-)

I agree with those comments, but I still believe it's of great benefit.
An "opportunist" would probably not come across it, but even if they did, they wouldn't have the combination to open it, which rules out the vast majority of crimes.
As you know sentimental items can never be replaced.
I once misplaced my wedding and engagement ring by knocking them off a table when I had a migraine without being aware of it. I was beside myself and ready to empty the hotel vacuum and go through their laundry and bins.
Any replacement would never be the one my husband gave me on our wedding day.

So you may wish to consider a small safe and consider bolting it to the wall/floor out of sight. The is relatively inexpensive.

P.S. Found the rings when I got my husband to help me move the bed. Was totally unaware of knocking stuff off bedside table.