Removal companies - insurance excess?

DragonQ

We're moving soon and have been inundated with a dozen flyers from removal companies. We got a full quote from one which is £2.6-3k (depending on notice given) including dismantling, packing, and reassembly. However, their T&Cs say that while they are insured, the insurance doesn't cover anything arising from dismantling or reassembly, plus there's a £250 excess "per claim", which presumably means per item damaged? This essentially makes the insurance useless so we'd be relying on them not breaking anything.

Is this the same for all removal companies or is there better out there? Most companies' websites don't tell you these small print details until you get a full quote, which takes a long time to get given the detail required.

user1977

If they've got an excess on their insurance, that's their problem, not yours (and I'd probably expect their excess to be higher than that anyway).

rickyroma

We moved last year. The removal men damaged a couple of items. After the initial communication with the removal company we dealt with the insurance people until the claim was settled. There was no excess.
  Your situation sounds a bit cheeky to me. The removal company benefit with a lower premium but its their customer who suffers from the excess being in place

Edit... I can't believe it is £250 excess per item. That really would be ridiculous. It must be per claim 

rickyroma

user1977 said:

If they've got an excess on their insurance, that's their problem, not yours (and I'd probably expect their excess to be higher than that anyway).

But aren't they passing on the excess to the customer? That's how I understood the post. I could be wrong 

DragonQ

rickyroma said:

user1977 said:

If they've got an excess on their insurance, that's their problem, not yours (and I'd probably expect their excess to be higher than that anyway).

But aren't they passing on the excess to the customer? That's how I understood the post. I could be wrong 

Yes, the T&Cs say there is an excess per claim. Why would they mention that if the removal company was paying it behind the scenes?

youth_leader

It is worth seeing which of these companies offer the 'late key' insurance.  A friend was caught out as she didn't receive the keys by 5 pm and the removal men said they had to leave.  

user1977

rickyroma said:

user1977 said:

If they've got an excess on their insurance, that's their problem, not yours (and I'd probably expect their excess to be higher than that anyway).

But aren't they passing on the excess to the customer? That's how I understood the post. I could be wrong 

Yes, that's how I understood it too. I'm just pointing out that they shouldn't be doing that - if they negligently cause £1000 worth of damage to your stuff, they owe you £1000. Doesn't matter whether they're insured for £1000, £750 or £0.

DragonQ

Got another quote from a different company and they also have an excess but don't even provide the policy details, they say I have to contact their broker directly to get the details. Seems very strange to me.

biscan25

This would definitely be an unfair contract term. Companies cannot make customers their insurer. 
When they damage something, you would be claiming off them, and presumably they would be recovering the sum they pay you from their insurer.