Removals - should I pay for insurance?

deaston

Hello - we're moving house soon and, although it's the third time I've bought/sold, it'll be the first time I've used a removal firm.

My preferred firm wants to do the job over two days due to access into/out of my property, meaning the van will be half loaded overnight. I've got concerns about if the van gets broken into and our stuff gets stolen.

But it seems harsh to make me pay £1,800 for them to do the job and then another £300 to insure my stuff. Surely this is what I'm paying £1,800 for??

agrinnall

Check your contents insurance, it may cover your belongings while they are in the process of being moved. Will the half load be stored securely (i.e. back at the removal company's depot) overnight?

I ended up paying the insurance when I moved as my preferred company didn't offer the option of excluding it, but had a chosen another provider that did I would have been covered by my contents insurance for up to 7 days.

csgohan4

Some removals companies have insurance, check

davidmcn

£300 for one night's insurance?! You'd be cheaper to hire somebody to sit and watch it!

Freeraine

When my removal company added £300 insurance to their quote, (like yours, it was a two day job) I said that I would contact my own house insurance people to see what cover I could get.

When I phoned the insurers, they said that I was already covered and referred me to a particular section in my home insurance policy. :j

The removal company were very glum about that and asked for proof of insurance. I was happy to scan the relevant sections and my proof of cover and email the documents to them. Even if I hadn't been covered by my own policy, the insurer (Churchill) nearly choked when I told them of the quote for £300.

jbainbridge

Our house insurance for the YEAR won't be much more than £300 ... that's taking the mick I think!

TBeckett100

Some insurance policies for removals replace old for old. When I read the policy on offer I concluded that I'd risk it for a biscuit. The Lorry was so well packed you couldn't squeeze a Syrian in

boliston

The removals company are basically telling you that they have a load stolen from their depot on average every 6 days (the premium is 1/6th of the goods value for a one day insurance period) - I would tell them you would prefer to use a less risky firm!

dacouch

boliston wrote: »

The removals company are basically telling you that they have a load stolen from their depot on average every 6 days (the premium is 1/6th of the goods value for a one day insurance period) - I would tell them you would prefer to use a less risky firm!

The Insurance cover is actually for the entire move eg including them damaging the items when they load / unload etc.

As has been pointed out, the cost of the removal insurance is very expensive especially when you take into account it's likely to be "Indemnity" cover eg they deduct "Wear and Tear" from the value of the items where as the free cover under most home insurance policies will cover most claims for "New for old" meaning they replace a used item with a brand new item.

It's worth bearing in mind that either option is likely to exclude cover for valuable items eg jewellery which are best carried on your person