Facebook posts invalidate Home Insurance

Helenbak

A friend suggested that if you post on Facebook that you’re going away on holiday, your house insurance policy wouldn’t pay up if your home was broken into while you’re away. Is that right?

Aretnap

Not really.

Most policies will have a clause to say that the house will not be covered if it is left unoccupied for more than X days, where X is usually much longer than the average holiday. If you did post on Facebook "off touring the world for the next 6 months" then claimed for a burglary when you got back, the post might be a bit of a giveaway that the house had been unoccupied for 6 months. But it would be the leaving it unoccupied that invalidated the policy - the post would only be evidence of that fact. 

Or maybe he means that he thinks you're at more risk of burglary if you tell people that you're away (perhaps you have a lot of burglars in your friends list). That's as maybe, but insurers can't just decide to refuse a claim because they think you might have done something a little silly. Unless your policy had a clearly stated clause that it wouldn't provide cover if you'd posted about your holiday on social media, you would still be covered as normal. Mine has no such clause - does yours? 

roddydogs

Someone would be that daft?

TELLIT01

roddydogs said:

Someone would be that daft?

There are plenty of people who post on social media about virtually every aspect of their life, including the fact that they are away on holiday.  There have been a number of instances reported where high profile homes have been burgled shortly after the owner has said they are away.  I would never post any information about holiday dates on social media, nor do I post photos about a holiday until I get back home.

strawb_shortcake

I know someone that, shares pictures of their house, the name of their house, the interior of their house and their expensive furniture, shares pictures of the expensive jewellery they have and posts continually of where they are enjoying a family holiday, so yes people really are that stupid 

MysteryRegular

annabanana82 said:

I know someone that, shares pictures of their house, the name of their house, the interior of their house and their expensive furniture, shares pictures of the expensive jewellery they have and posts continually of where they are enjoying a family holiday, so yes people really are that stupid 

annabanana82 said:

I know someone that, shares pictures of their house, the name of their house, the interior of their house and their expensive furniture, shares pictures of the expensive jewellery they have and posts continually of where they are enjoying a family holiday, so yes people really are that stupid 

Yes, I have a facebook friend that posts every time they are on holiday, constant stream of log ins and pictures

csgohan4

annabanana82 said:

I know someone that, shares pictures of their house, the name of their house, the interior of their house and their expensive furniture, shares pictures of the expensive jewellery they have and posts continually of where they are enjoying a family holiday, so yes people really are that stupid 

Sad really, can't remember last I logged in. I think some people are seeking attention/ bragging, when instead of posting, just pick up the phone and call people or go out. 

strawb_shortcake

csgohan4 said:

annabanana82 said:

I know someone that, shares pictures of their house, the name of their house, the interior of their house and their expensive furniture, shares pictures of the expensive jewellery they have and posts continually of where they are enjoying a family holiday, so yes people really are that stupid 

Sad really, can't remember last I logged in. I think some people are seeking attention/ bragging, when instead of posting, just pick up the phone and call people or go out. 

I agree, when they went to Beijing they announced they wouldn't be on Facebook, but between Heathrow and Beijing they'd managed to get a VPN to allow them access. 
I think you need to just enjoy the holiday and leave social media behind for two weeks

Helenbak

Thanks for your responses. I didn’t think it was true, just another urban myth maybe? I too have friends who live out their entire existence on social media. Facebook and the like do have their uses but many people don’t use their albeit flimsy security settings to their full extent.

BooJewels

I think identity theft might be more of a problem from some indiscreet posting. I'm just taking legal action against someone and most of the information I have at my disposal started from facebook posts (then verified elsewhere) - if not the individual of interest, but their family members - who seemingly just can't help themselves.  They're claiming not to have money to pay a debt, but can't help posting photos of all the work they're having done on their house, including a photo of their new widescreen telly, leather suite, new kitchen, new sports car for the wife etc etc.  Down to even being sure I've got the right family relationships by matching carpet and furniture common between photos and being able to prove information they've used previously is a lie.

It's actually been fascinating putting together a dosier of information about them over time - like building a jigsaw - one snippet at a time - which I'm sure is how identity thieves work - like that advert on TV.  One person wishes them happy birthday on their page, then a sibling makes a comment on another page about their age - now you have their DOB.  Confirmed by a mate posting a drunken photo from their 21st with a date stamp on the photo for just the right date.

I'm strictly an amateur at this, so imagine how much data someone better equipped and motivated than me could amass.  

MovingForwards

Someone I used to work with would always announce on FB when she and the family were going away, where they were going, when they were going and when they would be back. Even photos of the inside of the property when packing suitcases etc.

All of the team said not to but she didn't understand the risks of what she was doing.

I only used to put photos of the holiday after my return, sometimes months after. I also had reserve photos of my regular life to stick up to pretend I was still at home.