Stolen car - insurance aren’t going to pay out are they?

katiehopps

So our 10 year old Renault Megane was stolen from our drive in the early hours of yesterday morning. A neighbour saw it happening so it was reported quickly but it still hasn’t been found. 

It’s a keyless car with the key being roughly the size of a debit card but a bit thicker. I’ve had it in my coat pocket, took my coat off in the warm weather and drove home. Toddler was being sick in the back of the car so I’ve jumped out to get him, not thinking that my key is in the coat which is still in the car. 
It’s been the first time I’ve ever done it and I’ve been extremely unlucky that someone’s pinched it. 

I know it’s my fault, key in the bloody car, insurance aren’t going to pay out are they? It was a genuine accident, just haven’t engaged my brain.

DullGreyGuy

Depends on the terms of your policy... there may be a discussion over reasonable care but its not an automatic decline with some policies.

katiehopps

It’s with Quotemehappy who are linked to Aviva I believe. I’m thinking they won’t pay, and if they do then that’s lovely.

easy

Yes,  I think they'll probably argue against paying out.  I can see their point,  but I can definitely understand yours too,  dealing with a sicky baby     Been there, done that.    

Check your policy carefully -  just maybe.

Please don't beat yourself up over it.  It's rotten, but no one is perfect.

katiehopps

No, I can totally see their point, why should they pay out as I’m an idiot? I can’t help but wonder if I was driving too fast and crashed, would they pay out?

It wouldn’t be a large claim as the car is old and not worth overly much, but I’m not feeling hopeful.

DullGreyGuy

katiehopps said:

It’s with Quotemehappy who are linked to Aviva I believe. I’m thinking they won’t pay, and if they do then that’s lovely.

The March 2022 version of their wording states:

Exclusions
Loss or damage arising from theft while:
–  your car’s ignition keys (including any key, device or code used to secure, gain access to, or to enable your car to be driven) have been left in or on your car;
–  your car has been left unattended with the engine running.

So unless there is a new version of the wording and that has been changed then unfortunately it does appear unlikely that the claim will be covered.

katiehopps

Yeah I thought as much. Oh well, maybe they’ll take pity on me but I doubt it!

Expensive lesson to learn.

DullGreyGuy

katiehopps said:

Yeah I thought as much. Oh well, maybe they’ll take pity on me but I doubt it!

Not all policy wordings are so strict but unfortunately as their lower cost brand its probably not too surprising that they have stricter wording

Car_54

katiehopps said:

It’s with Quotemehappy who are linked to Aviva I believe. I’m thinking they won’t pay, and if they do then that’s lovely.

It is indeed owned by Aviva.
Aviva are the UK's biggest insurer, and relatively upmarket. QMH was launched to compete at the lower end of the market, without diluting the Aviva brand. 
I would not be optimistic about QMH departing from their Ts and Cs (quoted by DullGreyGuy above). Don't expect Emirates service from Easyjet.

MX5huggy

It’s not clear cut. 

https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/decisions-case-studies/case-studies/insurer-doesnt-make-exclusions-clear-enough

DullGreyGuy

MX5huggy said:

It’s not clear cut. 

Every case has to be looked at individually however the linked case is very peculiar in that they failed to send them the policy book to see the rules on keys not being in the vehicle. An online only insurer almost certainly auto-emails customers a stock message either with the wording attached or instruction to log in to read the wording. 

Always a chance of failure but much lower -v- the case of a broker manually stuffing envelopes with documents.