Can I claim for stolen bike on home insurance

annie42

My son does not live with me but I bought him a bicycle three weeks ago. My name is on the debit card receipt but his name and address is on the actual invoice. The bike was securely locked to a bike stand at our local train station but was stolen last Saturday. The police have told him because I paid for it I should be able to claim on my policy the wording of which says "Personal effects, valuables and money are included if they belong to you or your family". Bikes are covered if they are "secured by a suitable locking device to a permanent structure" which it was. I am rather sceptical of what the police have said and wonder if anyone else has experience of something similar. I would have thought it would have to be a family member living with me for me to claim? Sadly he has no home insurance cover of his own.

Retrogamer

What was the value of the bicycle and what make & model of bicycle lock was being used?

annie42

Thanks for your reply but I have looked at the company's definition of family online and family members have to be living at the same address. I thought it seemed odd as, if that was the case, I would be able to claim for personal effects, valuables and money that any member of my family lost wherever they lived. I think he will just have to make do with a second hand one as a replacement!

dacouch

Is your son still in full time education?

forgotmyname

Check the policy wording to see if its covered and the excess, to cover bicycles on my policies over the last couple of years i needed to add them specifically.

If you contact them regarding the loss you may have to declare that when taking out insurance for upto 5 years even if its not covered so be careful.

Is it worth claiming when you add the excess and any potential increase in premiums?

FutureGirl

'You and Your' refers to You and your family that are living with you.

If your son doesn't live at the property at all, then you can't claim on your own insurance policy.

However if he is merely living away for University or something, then he is still classed as permanently living with you and comes under the You and Your in your policy.