Coverage at university for student under 18

Cell

Hi

Will be putting this in the insurance forum as well in case anyone thinks I'm spamming or something.

I've just found out from Endsleigh that my 17 year old son can't get insurance until he's 18 (end of October). His halls (Liberty owned, University linked) provide cover inside the residence, but obviously not when he's taking his laptop etc out with him.

It's only a four week gap, but it does seem harsh that he can't get cover at 17. He can't be alone in this, surely?

Our home insurance covers student possessions within 'University owned halls' and could be extended except for the fact that Liberty Living isn't counted as University Halls of residence and as such no cover can be granted.

Any help or experiences would be appreciated:).

SuperHan

Can you take out the insurance in your name? There may be some issue of insurable interest, but I'm guessing you purchased - or at least contributed to - most of his possessions anyway, and it would be a cost to you as parents if anything needed replacing, so it should be alright.

Cell

Thanks for the reply.

Sheila's Wheels weren't interested because his isn't university run (though it's endorsed and was actually allocated by the university).

The Endsleigh rep did say that their stall at the Freshers Fair would be able to help, but they couldn't do anything over the phone.

I'd want to check the premium and cover (seeing as we'll be paying for it!) so that's not ideal, but it may be the only way.

It seems a tad unfair that because (I presume) an insurer can't check a credit record/electoral roll that young students are denied cover.

mtbbuxton

Does your own policy not provide cover for possessions away from home? That's how my son's belongings were covered by Rias during his first year at Uni.
We've changed Insurers recently and the Accidental Damage excess with our new provider is too high to be practical for him now, so he's taken out a policy with this Company https://www.cover4students.com/#student-contents-and-possessions-insurance

We've not had to claim (and I hope we won't need to) but online reviews I've read seem very positive.
Might be worth giving them a ring and seeing if they can help you.

M x

Cell

Unfortunately the non AD cover for contents in the halls doesn't even operate because it's not university owned, let alone extending the policy!

I think the problem is his age (certainly was with Endsleigh) in terms of getting a standalone policy, though I will take a look at your suggestion, thank you:T

Ettenna

How can he be at university at 17?

Cell

He skipped a year at school about ten years ago.

It's a real pain for him because some of the, err, more eclectic events at Fresher's week will be off limits. Still, only a month or so to go and he's 18.

Voyager2002

Simple solution: leave any expensive possessions at home until after his birthday.

Students are supposed to be poor and not have expensive toys. I do appreciate that he will need a mobile phone and a decent laptop, but these items do not have to be high-spec and in any case insurance companies are notorious for finding reasons to avoid paying claims relating to these items. Other than that, he will not need anything particularly expensive and so will have minimal insurance needs.

Cell

Not really simple, but thanks for the input.

He already has a laptop and mobile phone. It really is the former that is the main concern. It's not expensive (around £450), but if he did lose it we can't necessarily afford to go out and replace it.

And if we based our demand for insurance on a theoretical unwillingness of insurers to pay out we wouldn't bother for any type of cover that wasn't compulsory.

gayleygoo

If it is mainly the laptop you're concerned about, could it be insured by a company that offers coverage for that kind of thing, like "protect my bubble" or similar? If the laptop is fairly new, you might still be able to get a "whatever happens" policy from the likes of PCWorld, which can be cancelled at any time so it can be taken out just for the month if you want. I've claimed on my policy quite a few times just for accidental spillages and various other damages.

Cell

That's a good idea, thanks (the Whatever Happens one)!

The problem with any form of gadget insurance policy is that he is under 18 and can't enter into the contract. That is what started all of this off.