Contents insurance won’t pay out after I was broken into.

TylerDurden36

Hi,

I was recently broken into and had all my things stolen. TV, Games consoles, laptop all of which are pretty straight forward to claim for.
I also had almost £3000 worth of DJing equipment stolen. I started the claim with my insurance company and they have told me that the DJing equipment will not be covered under the contents insurance as this is considered as being used for business use.
I have told them that I do not have my own business and have only ever done the DJing as a hobby for friends.

On NYE I was given £50 for DJing for a friend who owns a pub and this is the only time I have ever been given anything for doing it.

The insurance company say that because I took the money then all of my equipment is classed as a tool for business use and not covered under my contents insurance.

This has absolutely destroyed me. I have had some of this equipment for almost 10 years and is my only real hobby. Now to be told that even though I have always paid my insurance that all this equipment is not covered has broken my heart.

I have had all the stress of the break in and now I am never going to be able to afford to replace the equipment.

What is the point in having contents insurance if the stuff inside my house isn’t covered because it just happens to be musical equipment.

Is there anything I can do?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Quentin

Whenever you are not happy with your insurance company the route to go down is a complaint in line with their complaints procedure

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

dacouch

As Quentin has said, make an official complaint and you can then go onto the Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman tends to be very consumer focused and looks at what is fair, if you genuinely only DJed professionally once you have a very good chance.

Be aware your Insurers are likely to have or will check social media etc for evidence of you DJing professionally or advertising for work

ACG

You could possibly argue £50 is not the going rate for a DJ and literally just covered your costs (ie petrol and drinks) and it was a favour for a friend. When we had a pub 9-10 years ago we used to pay between £100-150 for a weekend and closer to double that for NYE so £50 is well off the mark.

That being said, if you have not followed the terms of the policy it is not surprising they are looking for a reason to not pay out. Other insurers may have declined you for not disclosing expensive items - basically, check your policy in future otherwise you are right, there is no point having a policy that would not be valid when you want to claim.

As has been suggested, put a complaint in. If it goes to the ombudsman it will likely cost the insurance company so they may make you an offer to avoid the work/cost that goes in to a complaint.

TylerDurden36

Thanks for the replies.

I told the insurer that I was in shock after the break in and that I didn’t understand what I was being asked when they asked if I had been paid. They said that it doesn’t matter as I have used the equipment for financial gain. The woman said even if I had been given £1 then it would still have invalidated the insurance.

I went on to say that I have never been paid to do a gig and that I have only ever done it as a hobby but she said she has to take my first answer to a question.

I tried arguing that because I was in shock after the break in that I wasn’t of sound mind when I was asked the questions but she was having none of it.

Absolutely torn up inside as I had collected the equipment over the course of a decade and now I have nothing and no means to get any of it back.

AndyMc.....

When were you broken into and when did the policy start?

You weren't too sure about the policy three days ago.

TylerDurden36

Had the policy for about 3 years. Broken into last week.

I assumed everything inside the house was classed as contents but obviously not. All I can say is be careful. Should have checked the wording on my policy. Stupid really.

stator

Was the equipment added to the policy as high value equipment?

TylerDurden36

It’s not high value. The most expensive thing was a Pioneer Mixer which I bought about 7 years and that cost £600.

High value items are anything over £1500 or so I understand.

It’s my own stupid fault. When they asked me if I had been paid i simply should have said no but I was that shook up after the break in I just said I got £50 as a good will gesture for playing NYE.

As soon as I said that then that was all they needed to deny the claim saying I had used the equipment for financial gain and therefore it was classed as business use.

Doesn’t matter what I say from now on because they say they have to take my first answer.

It’s so infuriating. Had that equipment for years and years and now it’s all gone with no possible way of replacing it.

Totally ruined my life.

ConMan

Still worth a punt at the FOS in my opinion.

stator

Yes, put in a comlpaint and if they don't give you the answer you want take it to the ombudsman