Home Insurance not paying after burglary, any way to get compensation?

Aretnap

EdGasket wrote: »

Good luck with your claim but it seems quite reasonable of Admiral to refuse it if you left the door unlocked.

No, really it doesn't. It's quite reasonable for an insurer to refuse a claim which results from the householder's failure to follow a term which is detailed in his policy. However it would not be reasonable for them to refuse a claim based on your (or anybody else's) subjective opinion about when people should keep their doors locked.

In the OP's case his responsibilities are clearly set out on page 55 of Admiral's policy book*. It says that he has to lock his doors and windows (a) when the house is unoccupied and (b) when he goes to bed. That's it. If Admiral did think that people should keep their doors locked 24 hours a day then it would be the easiest thing in the world for them to change their policy terms to reflect that. They've chosen not to do that - so they can't refuse a claim by retrospectively adding a requirement which the customer never agreed to and was never told about.

*Assuming that the minimum security endorsement applies to his policy of course. If it doesn't then he's on Admiral's standard terms, which are even less strict.

EdGasket

The statement "You and your family must maintain your property in a good state of repair and take care to prevent any accidents, loss, damage or injury."

could be interpreted that you shouldn't be leaving doors unlocked at night but agree its subjective. Also it is reasonable to assume that as both people had gone upstairs 'late at night' and one was already in bed; that they had in effect 'gone to bed' as far as locking doors was concerned.

dacouch

EdGasket wrote: »

The statement "You and your family must maintain your property in a good state of repair and take care to prevent any accidents, loss, damage or injury."

could be interpreted that you shouldn't be leaving doors unlocked at night but agree its subjective. Also it is reasonable to assume that as both people had gone upstairs 'late at night' and one was already in bed; that they had in effect 'gone to bed' as far as locking doors was concerned.

Luckily the Ombudsman expects an Insurer to spell any restrictions in the cover out very clearly.

The FOS also tend to look at what's fair.

jimmynoon

9/10 the door is locked, just forgot that one day and happened to be the day that someone tried there luck.

jimmynoon

Btw, they rang today to say a cheque is on its way. Very quick turn around! Just goes to show don't take no for an answer. They didn't even really adjust the amount I was claiming. Although to be fair, I was very thorough and just used amazon as a basis for replacement costs.

jimmynoon

Mojisola wrote: »

Separate from the insurance claim - why didn't you lock the door?

Do you usually leave the door to the outside unlocked?

We should all take some responsibility for looking after ourselves and our belongings.

It was left unlocked accidentally, it's normally locked when I go to bed. But usually when I am in the house and up and awake, I don't usually make sure doors are locked. Obviously I will lock all doors at all times now. My area of town has a relatively low crime rate.

Having said all that, your post is very patronising, don't be. It's infuriating.

Mojisola

jimmynoon wrote: »

It was left unlocked accidentally, it's normally locked when I go to bed. But usually when I am in the house and up and awake, I don't usually make sure doors are locked. Obviously I will lock all doors at all times now. My area of town has a relatively low crime rate.

Having said all that, your post is very patronising, don't be. It's infuriating.

Sorry if it came over that way - it wasn't intended to be so. It's interesting to hear other people's opinions on things.

I have friends who don't see why they should keep their doors locked when they are at home - they see as 'the doors are closed, people shouldn't be coming in without an invite and if they try, they'll have us to reckon with'.

I tend to lock the doors all the time - I don't want to have to remember to do it if I want to go upstairs for something, I don't want to make life easy for opportunistic thieves and I know, with increasing age and health problems, that I couldn't defend myself if someone did walk in.

PersianCatLady

Mojisola wrote: »

Sorry if it came over that way - it wasn't intended to be so. It's interesting to hear other people's opinions on things.

I have friends who don't see why they should keep their doors locked when they are at home - they see as 'the doors are closed, people shouldn't be coming in without an invite and if they try, they'll have us to reckon with'.

I tend to lock the doors all the time - I don't want to have to remember to do it if I want to go upstairs for something, I don't want to make life easy for opportunistic thieves and I know, with increasing age and health problems, that I couldn't defend myself if someone did walk in.

Regardless of the rights and wrongs of this particular case, what is to stop less honest people claiming that they were burgled when the doors were unlocked and claiming on their insurance???

FlameCloud

PersianCatLady wrote: »

Regardless of the rights and wrongs of this particular case, what is to stop less honest people claiming that they were burgled when the doors were unlocked and claiming on their insurance???

Multiple things.

Few claims are outright made up, most fraudulent ones are exaggerated.

Sparx

Do the insurance co's not ask for the police crime ref numbers to verify the claim?

Mine asked for it when I had a shed break in a few years back.