Car keys stolen - unlocked house

fatbadger2

Hi - My car was stolen by someone breaking in and stealing the keys. They forced open our garage (which is attached to the house) via the front door and walked into the house via the garege, collected the keys and drove off. However, the door at the back of the garage, where you enter the house, was not locked. Does anyone know if that will be a contentious issue with the loss adjuster? All external doors were locked.
Thanks very much

dacouch

It should not be a problem for your car insurance claim unless in the unlikely event it has a clause requiring internal doors to be locked

Sally_A

Take pics of the forced entry, before you mend it (you are expected to act as if there is no insurance in place, so re-securing asap may have got rid of the proof of FVEE).

Which insurer are you with and do you have a copy of their policy docs you can post a link to? Also what vehicle was it?

Sally_A

Just seen your other thread...2002 Mini with all the knobs and whistles. £2200 seems reasonable as a starter..you can build this up with receipts of work done, MOT's showing mielage.

Guess you're with one of the more decent insurers, or else you'd be looking at £300 offer (i.e. lowest Glass's guide price), and being made to "prove it" when it comes to value.

fatbadger2

Sally_A wrote: »

Take pics of the forced entry, before you mend it (you are expected to act as if there is no insurance in place, so re-securing asap may have got rid of the proof of FVEE).

Which insurer are you with and do you have a copy of their policy docs you can post a link to? Also what vehicle was it?

I'm with direct line. I don't have the policy docs to hand, only the cert. I just wondered if there was any chance of them wriggling because I *could* have locked the internal door from garage to kitchen but didn't as I've never been burgled before and didn't thnk I every would be. Because the burglar took the keys I think DIrect Line are suspicious, so they are sending and 'engineer' to assess the job. Bit nervous...

dacouch

Insurers treat all theft claims with suspicion as traditionally there used to be a very high proportion of fraudulent theft claims.

With the increased security on modern cars the proportion is lower but they still like to ensure everything is correct.

The policy will contain an exclusion if the keys were left in or on the car, as the car was stolen with the keys they will be wanting to ensure this is not what happened.

Just tell the guy the truth and everything should be fine.

lisyloo

dacouch wrote: »

Just tell the guy the truth and everything should be fine.

Top tip: if the engineer is female, don't call her a guy :-)

Sally_A

Don't panic fatbadger2 - they usually investigate all claims where keys are stolen with the car.

A customer of mine was well chuffed that he'd bought a wall safe and mounted it out of view for the family car keys - and insisted they all put them safely away when they come home.

I responded by saying "I'd just go for the spares in your bedside drawer"

Reality check: "How do you know where my spare keys are?" "Because everyone including me, keeps the spares there". (I don't anymore).

As an aside, this website advises you to shop around every year, sometimes, in cases like this - a bit of loyalty, say 3 - 4 years does go in your favour, as they can easily see the pattern of your insurance history, behaviour etc.

System

lisyloo wrote: »

Top tip: if the engineer is female, don't call her a guy :-)

Top tip: don't call the insurance investigator an engineer.