Lost diamond from engagement ring - Policy Expert home insurance will not cover

Doozergirl

When I got undressed last night, my clothes caught on the claw of my engagement ring - the diamond is missing.

I have searched the house and the car but it's not the world's largest item at 3.5mm. I was at home virtually all day yesterday. I got into the car to fetch the children (they're big so I don't get out of the car) and filled up at the petrol station briefly. I have ransacked the house and gone back to the petrol forecourt this morning.

I called my home insurer today and they're telling me it's not covered as I either need extended "accidental damage" cover or away from home.

I have the policy and have scanned through it but am so confused. Their own website features articles which talk about wedding rings being covered for loss but does talk about getting correct valuations so individual items are covered. For accidental damage, they talk about spilling paint on sofas and breaking vases, not stones falling out of rings - they talk about accidents being specific incidents. Clearly I need to consider away from home insurance in the future, but the likelihood is that it is not lost away from home as I left the house twice between Sunday morning and last night - and last night I was out of the car for a matter of minutes.

So what does a policy cover? Only for it being stolen? This event seems unavoidable - what could I possibly have done do to prevent it falling out? It shouldn't get lost (or even stolen in a burglary) as it's always on my finger!

It will be under the item limit - it was valued at £550 in 2001, so while I expect an increase, probably not a fourfold one!

I've clearly shed quite a few tears this morning. Go gentle on me.

Doozergirl

Reading the Home Select policy, I don't know what section of regular cover the loss would be covered under.

Their accidental damage add on says "accidental damage and loss"

They sell it as covering smashed vases or paint spilled on sofas. Their definition of Accidental Damage is "Sudden and unexpected damage, which happens at  a specific time and is caused by something external." There is no definition of accidental loss but I guess that is what it is.

I just wouldn't think to cover the disappearance of a diamond, designed to be in place permanently under accidental damage. But I guess that's that then I've had accidental damage in the past, but couldn't think of a singular item I owned that would warrant a claim.

And now I have a claim registered which will cost more money, just to have them tell me it isn't covered. I've not claimed for a thing in the 18 years I've had home insurance.

Where do I find a decent policy? Clearly this one needs throwing in the bin.

Quentin

If you aren't happy with an insurer then your avenue is to complain to them in line with their complaints procedure which will be set out in the policy.

If you are not happy with the reply or they ignore you for 8 weeks you can escalate to the FOS for their adjudication at no cost to you

FutureGirl

You have accidentally damaged your ring, you will therefore need Accidental damage to contents cover.

If you don't have this, but have personal possessions, they should then cover it under that, as personal possessions usually covers 'accidental loss' and you've, in effect, lost the diamond.

What has happened doesn't fit anywhere else under the policy IE the ring wasn't damages due to storm, fire etc

Blibble

I don't understand why they would try and cover this under accidental damage, personally, as surely this would be an incidence of wear and tear unless they can prove otherwise (which clearly they can't as you yourself don't know the circumstances of how the ring has become damaged).

In the absence of an accidental damage claim, it would therefore be covered under accidental loss. Which insurer are you with / what is the precise wording of their definition of accidental loss under the definitions section (or similar) of the policy? Also, do you have AL cover on here (accidental loss is different from personal possessions as the latter is usually related to theft)?

FutureGirl

Depends what policy you have / what insurer OP is with. Some insurers cover accidental loss under personal possessions.

rs65

Doozergirl wrote: »

Reading the Home Select policy, I don't know what section of regular cover the loss would be covered under.

None of them. Regular cover is things like fire, explosion, theft etc.

Accidental damage extension with most insurers would cover this.

rs65

Blibble wrote: »

I don't understand why they would try and cover this under accidental damage, personally, as surely this would be an incidence of wear and tear unless they can prove otherwise (which clearly they can't as you yourself don't know the circumstances of how the ring has become damaged).

In the absence of an accidental damage claim, it would therefore be covered under accidental loss. Which insurer are you with / what is the precise wording of their definition of accidental loss under the definitions section (or similar) of the policy? Also, do you have AL cover on here (accidental loss is different from personal possessions as the latter is usually related to theft)?

Personal possessions is more than just theft with most insurers.

Regards wear and tear, some insurers used to ask for evidence of recent inspection by a jeweller to satisfy themselves that a missing stone wasn't wear and tear.

trailingspouse

So very sorry to hear of the loss of your diamond. As it's beginning to look like your insurers won't cover you, can I suggest something practical? (You might have already done this, if so my apologies).

Vacuum everywhere - carpets, bedding, sofa, all the nooks and crannies. Do it with some gauze (eg an old pair of tights) over the nozzle, to catch anything that might get sucked up. Who knows, you might just find it.

[Deleted User]

Im with policy expert too. Wife has just lost her engagement ring.

BUT we have personal possessions cover. Guess I'm ok?