Home contents claim denied HELP!

hugoshavez

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

A lot of policies will require the alarm to be set when you go to bed at night. From your statement this doesn't happen.

Wrong. No "off the shelf" policies require this. Any such requirement is only added as a warranty/endorsement which must be clearly highlighted to the policyholder.

FlameCloud

hugoshavez wrote: »

Wrong. No "off the shelf" policies require this. Any such requirement is only added as a warranty/endorsement which must be clearly highlighted to the policyholder.

Really? Have you read every single policy wording for every insurer and broker? In every postcode?

hugoshavez

FlameCloud wrote: »

Really? Have you read every single policy wording for every insurer and broker? In every postcode?

In every postcode? That wouldn't really be "off the shelf" would it?

Funnily enough, I haven't read them all. It would make no sense to write a standard wording with such restrictive cover.

If you can find one, link to it and I'll stand corrected.

FlameCloud

hugoshavez wrote: »

In every postcode? That wouldn't really be "off the shelf" would it?

Funnily enough, I haven't read them all. It would make no sense to write a standard wording with such restrictive cover.

If you can find one, link to it and I'll stand corrected.

You gave that qualification, not me.

One of the countries largest domestic insurers automatically places differing levels of warranties on policies dependent on postcode, and at least one of them I've seen requires an alarm to be set.

hugoshavez

FlameCloud wrote: »

One of the countries largest domestic insurers automatically places differing levels of warranties on policies dependent on postcode, and at least one of them I've seen requires an alarm to be set.

Which is what I said. The standard wording doesn't require it.

Hugoshavez wrote: »

Wrong. No "off the shelf" policies require this. Any such requirement is only added as a warranty/endorsement which must be clearly highlighted to the policyholder.

Where's the argument here?

brethg

It seems that there is no clause in the paperwork they sent us but they directed us to an online version has the clause that the alarm must be on overnight. Surly for it to be valid we have to have it in paper?

InsideInsurance

It wouldnt only be valid if it is in paper format - some insurers are e-documents only.

There is an issue however if the paper format says one thing and the electronic ones say something else

magpiecottage

brethg wrote: »

It seems that there is no clause in the paperwork they sent us but they directed us to an online version has the clause that the alarm must be on overnight. Surly for it to be valid we have to have it in paper?

I have seen FOS tell firms that the mere fact that something is in the T&Cs does not necessarily make it enforcible.

If they sent you a paper document which then told you to go online and look at something they may have some difficulty persuading FOS that this was fair and reasonable.

In addition, I am not at all sure that having an alarm on would make much difference to a smash and grab. £3 worth of equipment could be grabbed very quickly and it is unlikely that you could have intervened without endangering yourselves.

So I recommend a complaint on these grounds.

This should be sent to

Bank of Ireland (UK) PLC
1 Temple Back East
Temple Quay
Bristol
Avon
BS1 6DX

Get proof of posting - free from the Post Office(!). No need for recorded delivery.

Better still, fax it to 0117 9293787 - that way you get an instant receipt.

inoutnotsure

Agree with Insideinsure... does not really matter if the policy is in paper or electronic format. The fact of the matter is that you have a policy setup. Most now ask you to download their policy from their website.

You should have cover for forceable entry/theft element of your policy. Therefore you should be able to claim under this cover. As some have asked in this post, if you have a specific reference to your 'alarm must be on at all times' policy, then people here may be able to 'interprete' what this actually means?

pimento

What if you have an intruder alarm and a cat?