Insurance for removals damage waiver?

elkinator

Hello
I am moving house in January and this time we have decided to pay for a removals service rather than doing it ourselves. Of course the quotes come packed with 'extras' including contents insurance and a damage waiver for each property. I've checked and my contents insurance already covers my possessions during the move as it's being handled by a reputable company, but they don't offer an insurance to cover for the damage waiver. The damage waiver is £30 PER Property + VAT, or £72 in total!

Does anyone know of an insurer who will provide insurance against this? I'm thinking it's a bit like rental car excess insurance which renters offer you for about £20 when a regular insurer will offer it for about a fiver.

Thanks very much :-)

Mark

Katgrit

Hang on, if I'm understanding this right.....they want YOU to take out an additional options for insurance incase THEY damage your property? That's very different to car excess waiver which is over whether YOU damage THEIRS. Thats ridiculous!!

G_M

Surely if they damage your property, they are liable. You make a claim and either

* they pay you compensation
* they claim on their professional insurance, who pays you
* they refuse to pay, and you sue them (does your buildings insurance include legal cover?)

But I'll admit I'm not familiar with the 'norms' of this industry.

davidmcn

elkinator wrote: »

I've checked and my contents insurance already covers my possessions during the move as it's being handled by a reputable company, but they don't offer an insurance to cover for the damage waiver.

Not sure what this "damage waiver" is meant to cover - just the excess on your contents policy? Or additional risks? As already said, if the removers are negligent then you claim the money from them, you don't need insurance.

elkinator

Thanks everyone. They have a limit of liability in their Ts&Cs, but I don't know what the consumer rights position is around this. They say:

"9. LIMITS OF LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE TO PREMISES
If We are negligent or in breach of contract or otherwise responsible for causing loss or damage to Your premises We will
pay You either;
A the cost of repairing the damaged area to a maximum limit of £75; or
B up to a maximum of £75 on each premises.
It is Your responsibility to insure Your premises against loss or damage.
You must complete the relevant sections on the acceptance form and pay the premium in advance."

So if they put a hole in the wall, it surely would cost more than £75 to repair...

davidmcn

elkinator wrote: »

Thanks everyone. They have a limit of liability in their Ts&Cs, but I don't know what the consumer rights position is around this. They say:

"9. LIMITS OF LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE TO PREMISES
If We are negligent or in breach of contract or otherwise responsible for causing loss or damage to Your premises We will
pay You either;
A the cost of repairing the damaged area to a maximum limit of £75; or
B up to a maximum of £75 on each premises.
It is Your responsibility to insure Your premises against loss or damage.
You must complete the relevant sections on the acceptance form and pay the premium in advance."

So if they put a hole in the wall, it surely would cost more than £75 to repair...

Sounds like nonsense to me. Surely one of the reasons for using professional removers is that they're experts in shifting your stuff safely and efficiently without causing damage? Imagine if your solicitors said they'll do your conveyancing but you can only sue them for more than £75 if you've paid for their insurance?

pinkteapot

Use a different removal company!

Agree with everyone else above. Any decent remover will have proper professional liability insurance which will cover them damaging your goods, property, vehicle or those of your old/new neighbours. Or people they might run over while driving to your new house. Etc.

Flogging this insurance is a really cheeky money spinner. :mad:

G_M

A company cannot avoid their liability simply by writing into their contract that they are not liable (or in this case only liable up to a certain limit).

They have a professional duy of care and consumer law, both statute and common law, imposes responsibilities on any supplier of goods or services.

That clause would never stand up if a customer took the removals firm to court.

Of course, in probobly 75% of cases the customer sees the clause and signs up to the insurance (with the removals firm getting a commission from the insurer).

In another 24% of cases, no damage occurs, so there is no issue.

In 1% of cases, a customer who did not sign up to the insurance suffers damage. Of those, let's say half have damage within the £75 threshold (generous statistic). Which leaves 0.5% of customers who shout at the company demanding compensation greater than £75. The company points to the clause, tells the customer they chose not to insure and "there's nothing we can do."

The customer is disgruntled but gives up.

The contract is never adjudicated upon in a court.

So you have 3 choices:

1) sign up, and take out the insurance

2) sign up, without the insurance, hope there's no damage over £75, and if there is, sue them

3) Find another company without such a clause (I'd be interested in how widespread the practice is)

4) Ask the company how careful they are. When they say, 'very careful', ask why then they need this clause to protect them. "If you are that confidant in your ability and attention to detail, please remove the clause. If you are not that confidant, why should I trust you with my possessions and property?"

elkinator

Now That's a great idea!

giraffe69

When I moved (4 years ago) the quote from the removal firm included a fee for insurance for damage but no waiver fee. I also checked and found my building and contents insurance covered this. I didn't tick the box and no more was said (nor was any damage done).

elkinator

Yes I should check the buildings insurance. I got some clarity from the removers. They say if the damage is through their negligence they would cover the cost of repairs but not if it was 'accidental'