Sofa accidental damage

Robynwatson

Hi all,
I have an accidental damage question and would appreciate your thoughts please.
Our sofa is 11 years old, it was quite expensive and we have no children and so I would have expected it to last longer. However my friend's two boys (My husband is blaming them anyway) seem to have snapped the frame on the three seater by having a mad 5 minute cushion fight. I have an accidental damage policy with Aviva, would it be worth me contacting them or will they say the sofa is too old?
Thanks in advance

paddyandstumpy

Check your wording but it's likely to be "new for old", so the age of the sofa is somewhat irrelevant.

Must have been some pillow fight to snap the frame of the sofa...

csgohan4

claim back from your friend so you don't need to use your own insurance?? Only right

rs65

csgohan4 wrote: »

claim back from your friend so you don't need to use your own insurance?? Only right

The friend, if proven liable, would only have to pay on an indemnity basis whereas the home insurance is likely new for old.

Robynwatson

I won't be claiming from my friend or even mentioning it to her. I don't know for certain that it was the boys but it's the only thing I can think of as I've certainly never jumped on it.
I'll have a check through my policy and see if there's any exclusion, and ring them. Thanks.
Maybe it's a design flaw on the bigger one as it's snapped on the two longest lengths of the frame.

Robynwatson

Even if I did know it was the boys, I wouldn't ask my friend. If they'd done something maliciously it would be different, but I know she'd offer the money anyway.
It would be a good way to kill a friendship, your child jumped on my 11 year old sofa, will you buy me a new one?

rs65

Robynwatson wrote: »

Maybe it's a design flaw on the bigger one as it's snapped on the two longest lengths of the frame.

Probably not, as its lasted 11 years.

Can it be repaired? Maybe less than your policy excess.

paddyandstumpy

I wouldn't dream of trying to claim off a friend for their kids jumping on the sofa. They wouldn't be a friend for long! Kids will be kids... this is what insurance is for.

OP, picking up on what you said about "the bigger one", to me that infers there are two or more sofas forming part of a set?

Most policies won't cover replacing the undamaged item to maintain the set. However, there has been precedence set at the FOS that insurers should pay 50% contribution to undamaged items in a set, as well as totally replacing the undamaged item (assuming the sofa is BER).

Don't let them fob you off with less.

csgohan4

Does insurance cover for malicious damage? is it accidental?


Your insurance premiums will also now be higher for the next few years.

rs65

csgohan4 wrote: »

Does insurance cover for malicious damage?

Yes .

Robynwatson

It has lasted 11 years, but that's 11 years of not being used that much but two adults. Plus I'd say they've had equal use and mine (2 seater) is fine but my husband's (3 seater) is broken in both front bits even though he always sits at one end.