MacBook died - Halifax Accidental Damage

Jabba198

Hi guys

So the mrs spilt a glass of Coke on my MacBook and it is well and truly dead. It went behind the keys and now won't turn on.

I have accidental damage cover but was wondering if it's worth using it.

It is quite an old MacBook, 2007. Was working perfectly though, that's why I haven't bought a new one yet!

Will the insurance likely give me a replacement refurbished old school one, or cash for a new one, as "like for like" would be a new one.

Has anyone had any experience with them, how quick do they "pay out"? Could do with a replacement real quick so not sure wether to just stump up the cost myself!

ThinkingOutLoud_2

OK so it depends.

I think by Halifax you mean you have your home insurance with them.

I am guessing you for sure took out Contents Cove,r hence you hope this is covered.

The key then is if you took out the Accidental damage optional cover.

If you did - then this sounds like a genuine accident and so it is likely to be covered.

As you need a replacement real quick - i would suggest pick up the phone and talk to their claims department. They will be able to confirm coverage and explain any options in terms of settlement / replacement.

With a model as old as 2007 I doubt they will be able to replace like for like whatever.

Hope you had everything backed up in iCloud?

Good luck

paddyandstumpy

Another poster was recently singing praises for Halifax home claims. I can't comment from personal experience though.

Most Home policies are new for old, so it's likely they will just replace for a new one.

Mungo76

home insurance policies tend to give new for old rather than refurb, it'll be to the same or next up spec.
If you buy first you could end up out of pocket as they will only pay their supplier costs (not sure if they get a deal with Apple ?), they will possibly want to inspect it as well, or at least ask you to get a report.

Keep_pedalling

It is almost certainly new for old, although with something that old and of little retail value, apart from asking you to obtain a report that it is unrepairable they may also request proof of purchase, because this is the sort of claim that fraudsters regularly try to file.

ThinkingOutLoud_2

Hmm not sure it is as simple as new for old this time for two reasons.

1) This is 9 year+ Apple so per their policy wording "• If an item is irreplaceable, we will base our payment on expert opinion of its value immediately prior to its loss or damage." - looks like they sell online for <£200
2) As this is a 9 year old computer where the specification is so old as to be "not directly replaceable" and assuming Jabba198 would not want a PC and wishes to stay with Apple - then the cheapest MAC Book Air is £949.

Jabba98 if they will give you one of those - I am envious.

With £700+ more value excluding any discount they get from Apple (Modest) - I can only see them offering a cash value.

At least that way Jabba98 can go and buy what he now wants - but no doubt that will not be an expense he planned on as his much loved MacBook was just fine before it fizzy-demise.

Aretnap

ThinkingOutLoud wrote: »

With £700+ more value excluding any discount they get from Apple (Modest) - I can only see them offering a cash value.

At least that way Jabba98 can go and buy what he now wants - but no doubt that will not be an expense he planned on as his much loved MacBook was just fine before it fizzy-demise.

Interesting. If Jabba *is* looking at a valuation of ~£200, then bearing in mind that there'll be an excess to be deducted from that, and that making a claim will likely result in an increase to his premium for the next few years, it must be doubtful whether it's worth making a claim at all.

ThinkingOutLoud_2

Yes, I think you may be right.

Although you would hope their increase for such minor claim would be proportionately modest if any. But, insurers are not always so transparently fair, I'd agree.

Moreover it may be more effort than it is worth to claim the balance after any excess.

So going out and getting what he wants next / needs seems to be the emerging option per if the prices online are fair as I suspect is the case (and fits per his need for a fast solution).

Nasqueron

Out of interest are you the same poster as jacko198 who also had a 2007 MacBook?

Just curious because that poster had a technical problem with their MacBook and was looking to buy a new one and work how to do it in the cheapest way possible?

paddyandstumpy

ThinkingOutLoud wrote: »

Although you would hope their increase for such minor claim would be proportionately modest if any. But, insurers are not always so transparently fair, I'd agree.

So to flip that on it's head, would you expect if the OP had a total loss fire claim (for example) and had to claim for full contents sum insured and a total rebuild of their home, that the load for the claim the following year was proportionate to the size of the claim??

ThinkingOutLoud_2

paddyandstumpy wrote: »

So to flip that on it's head, would you expect if the OP had a total loss fire claim (for example) and had to claim for full contents sum insured and a total rebuild of their home, that the load for the claim the following year was proportionate to the size of the claim??

I don't think it works like that at all - it is about proportionality.

I think good underwriters are smart enough to build their premiums using discrete risk rates - so they have a rate within the total price for fire and a rate for accidental damage.

I expect the OPs underwriter to load the relevant rate for their Accidental Damage cover - not the whole premium including the rates for fire and flood damage. That may even be by a larger factor if they are nervous of a repeat - but it is a small part of the premium so won't see a massive rise in total. yet, they will now have more risk premium for the A.D. element.

Or to change to travel insurance, if I develop a medical condition which means I present an increased risk - I expect my medical related premium rate to go up - but I should pay the same for baggage cover as the next man.

Finally, there is some commerciality here too. The Op has not claimed on his laptop for 9 years. He is a careful man it would seem. A good risk even?

Sop dump him via a massive price hike? If an insurer has paid a comparison engine £100 in "marketing finder fees" to acquire a new home policyholder and then he has a minor event for the first time in ten years - does it make sense to lumps a load on his premium so he goes and gets another policy elsewhere? Then he has to shell out another £100 to replace that policyholder OR does he add a little to the premium.

Surely, you might expect that every so often everyone will have an accident and a small claim one year does not make the man a terrible risk all of a sudden. Otherwise the premium is for nout.

If he claimed 10 times for Accidental damage this year - then that might be different - there is possible question of moral hazard or lack of reasonable care or at least another aspect to what is happening, if not pure bad luck.