Insurance query - lost item on self planned holiday

woolythoughts

Hi

I'm anticipating getting knocked back by our travel insurance so trying to prepare in advance. 

We were on a self planned and organised road trip around France/Spain/Switzerland.  When taking pictures  using my GoPro 10 near the top of Great St Bernard pass, the wind got up and I lost my balance.  Trying to break my fall, it was me or the GoPro so I dropped the camera which kindly bounced and ended up down a ravine - small by inaccessible.

No problem, insurance claim - or so I thought

The small print of my Aviva insurance says I need to do one of three things:

1. Report it to the police - no police force is going to be interested as the only crime committed was potentially littering as I had to leave the camera behind
2. Report it to the tour operator - we don't have one
3. Report it to the hotel - not only was it not on hotel property when it happened but we changed hotels each day so were not checked into anywhere 

I'm expecting them to knock it back but I feel the above is unfair and there must be a way to deal with it.  I have tried calling them but their message still says government advice is not to travel as they haven't updated ti for two years.  last time I tried I was on hold for 2.5 hours waiting for an answer when I lost the will to live.

onashoestring

Looking at Aviva’s travel insurance T&Cs this loss is probably not covered . 

“ Special conditions

 1.

   You must take reasonable care to keep your personal belongings, baggage, and valuables safe.”

“What is not covered: 

                 8.

   Any loss or theft which you do not report to the police within 24 hours or as soon as reasonably possible following discovery and get a written report “ 

It’s unlikely that your claim will be successful but nothing lost in trying.

Voyager2002

woolythoughts said:

1. Report it to the police - no police force is going to be interested as the only crime committed was potentially littering as I had to leave the camera behind
2. Report it to the tour operator - we don't have one
3. Report it to the hotel - not only was it not on hotel property when it happened but we changed hotels each day so were not checked into anywhere

The obligation to make a police report is not to enable them to catch the thief. Rather, it is because the police are good at catching liars and so this obligation will deter many people who might be tempted to make a fraudulent claim.

woolythoughts

I have tried since I got home - police do not want to know about it.  

I fully appreciate why they want it - but there seems to be no work around without it.

sheramber

But it is not lost. You know where it is.  it is just not retrievable unless a mountain rescue organisation want a training exercise.

tightauldgit

woolythoughts said:

Hi

I'm anticipating getting knocked back by our travel insurance so trying to prepare in advance. 

We were on a self planned and organised road trip around France/Spain/Switzerland.  When taking pictures  using my GoPro 10 near the top of Great St Bernard pass, the wind got up and I lost my balance.  Trying to break my fall, it was me or the GoPro so I dropped the camera which kindly bounced and ended up down a ravine - small by inaccessible.

No problem, insurance claim - or so I thought

The small print of my Aviva insurance says I need to do one of three things:

1. Report it to the police - no police force is going to be interested as the only crime committed was potentially littering as I had to leave the camera behind
2. Report it to the tour operator - we don't have one
3. Report it to the hotel - not only was it not on hotel property when it happened but we changed hotels each day so were not checked into anywhere 

I'm expecting them to knock it back but I feel the above is unfair and there must be a way to deal with it.  I have tried calling them but their message still says government advice is not to travel as they haven't updated ti for two years.  last time I tried I was on hold for 2.5 hours waiting for an answer when I lost the will to live.

What evidence can you provide that a) you owned this item b) you lost the item on holiday. 

Insurance companies need some evidence to support a claim hence why they ask you to report it to the police. 

I think you've no chance without something. 

Brie

any chance it was still taking pictures as it bounced into the ravine and that they have been uploaded into the cloud?  Might be proof of a sort.

but as others say I think it will be difficult to make a claim - doesn't mean you shouldn't try though!  Good luck!!!

woolythoughts

My latest attempt…..

Voyager2002

woolythoughts said:

The small print of my Aviva insurance says I need to do one of three things:

1. Report it to the police - no police force is going to be interested as the only crime committed was potentially littering as I had to leave the camera behind
2. Report it to the tour operator - we don't have one
3. Report it to the hotel - not only was it not on hotel property when it happened but we changed hotels each day so were not checked into anywhere

Check where in the policy this occurs: it would be nonsense to ask for this if you dropped your camera and smashed it, for instance. Maybe you can submit a claim for accidental damage?

sheramber

https://www.theukrules.co.uk/news/homes-and-lifestyle/reporting-lost-property.html

New Rules for Reporting Lost Property

Not everyone is happy about the new rules for reporting lost property now they are in full force. Of most concern, is how seniors and the most vulnerable will report missing valuables.

All police forces in England and Wales no longer take responsibility for the handing in and recording of missing valuables.

The public are now instructed to report lost property online, instead.

As a rule, police have stopped reporting or recording lost property. In fact, they also stopped issuing lost property reference numbers.

So, how should members of the public log their mislaid possessions?

They should use one of the online websites that deal with lost properties. Most notable are immobilise.com, lostbox.co.uk, and reportmyloss.com.

Note: These websites are already familiar to police forces in the United Kingdom. They provide information and details about lost property to forces and to insurance companies.

...............................................................

onashoestring

woolythoughts said:

My latest attempt…..

I thought your Go pro was in Switzerland - not Avon & Somerset ?