Motorhome engine fire not covered by insurance

johntbudge

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Hi had a engine fire in our motorhome in Spain on holiday

The breakdown insurance with national breakdown.got us the garage then then next day said it a write-off and they dropped us leaving us stranded.no explanation 

So called my motor insurance Lexham who right away said it not covered, due to one line in their insurance policy booklet, the part they says why it's not covered in the We will not pay part 7 of their booklet.( For any mechanical, electrical, electronic, computer or computer software breakdown, failure, fault or breakage.)

Everything else that's not covered says the words, in bold print your motorhome.

The part 7 is open to more than one interpretation, have a read of the whole wording below part of we will not pay out, in their insurance policy booklet below, am I missing something or when it's to do with the motorhome it says your motorhome, the parts that covers personal belongings don't.Below is copy and pasted from the Lexham motorhome insurance policy booklet. The bold print not showing up but anything that says your motorhome would of been bold text 

We will not pay

1. The sum of all policy excesses shown in the policy schedule. 

2. More than £100 in total for any one claim in a policy year for all child car seats damaged in claim covered by the policy. 

3. For audio and visual equipment unless it is permanently fitted to your motorhome or supplied by the manufacturer of your motorhome or their approved dealer. 

4. For loss or damage to external television, radio and satellite fittings and masts. 

5. For audio cassettes, digital visual discs, compact discs, telephone systems and telephone accessories. 

6. For loss or damage to clothing and personal belongings. 

7. For any mechanical, electrical, electronic, computer or computer software breakdown, failure, fault or breakage. 

8. For lost or damaged keys (or keyless entry system). 

9. For loss or damage to any form of credit or debit card, money, stamps or tickets.

10. For loss or damage to your motorhome caused by theft or attempted theft if the keys (or keyless entry system) an ignition key and /or other ignition activation device has been left in or on your motorhome, where you have failed to adequately safeguard your motorhome keys, or when your motorhome has been left unattended with the engine running. 

11. For loss of food and drink 

12. For loss or damage to your motorhome caused by theft or attempted theft if your motorhome was not properly locked or if any window, roof opening, roof panel or skylight was left open or unlocked. 

13. For loss or damage caused by water entering your motorhome through seams or seals

14. For loss or damage caused by rust, corrosion, wear and tear or any loss of market value following repair to your motorhome. 

15. For loss or damage caused by domestic animals, vermin, insects, fungus, wet rot or frost. 

16. For any living creature including pets, livestock and associated equipment. 

17. For loss or damage arising from the use of portable heaters with a naked flame.

18. For loss or damage resulting from fire or explosion in connection with the on-board domestic gas supply to privately converted motorhomes where the supply is not fitted or serviced in accordance with the Gas Safety Regulations (installation and use). 

19. For loss or damage during the months of November, December, January, February and March if you do not drain your motorhomes’ internal sanitary system and water systems when in storage.

20. For the cost of replacing any undamaged item or part of any item solely because it forms part of a suite or set or is one of a number of items of a similar colour, design or nature. 

21. For loss or damage to your motorhome if, at the time of the incident, it was under the custody or control of anyone with your permission who is not covered under this policy. 

22. For loss or damage to your motorhome if, at the time of the incident, it was under the custody or control of anyone who is covered by other insurance. 

23. For loss or damage to your motorhome if, at the time of the incident, it was under the custody or control of anyone we agree to cover who does not keep to the conditions of this insurance. 

24. For loss or damage to your motorhome if, at the time of the incident, it was under the custody or control of anyone using your motorhome for their business or employment. 

25. For loss or damage to your motorhome as a result of a member of your immediate family or a person living in your home taking or using your motorhome without your permission unless you report that person to the police for taking your motorhome without your permission. 

26. For repairs or replacements which improve your motorhome beyond its condition before the loss or damage took place. 

27. For damage to tyres caused by braking or by cuts, punctures or bursts.

28. For loss or damage to any modifications to your motorhome unless they form part of the manufacturer’s standard specification or are optional extras that you have disclosed to us and we have agreed to cover. 

29. For loss or damage to your motorhome following the inappropriate or incorrect type or grade of fuel being used. This includes the cost of draining and cleaning the fuel tank and fuel system. 

30. For loss of excise licence or fuel. 

31. For loss or damage arising from or in consequence of water freezing in the cooling circulation system of your motorhome. 

32. For any loss or damage caused by the confiscation or requisition or destruction by or under the order of any government or public or local authority. 

33. For loss or damage to your motorhome and its contents due to deception or fraud. 

34. For any loss in value of your motorhome. 

35. For loss or damage to your motorhome as a result of road rage or deliberate act caused by you or any person who is covered to drive your motorhome. 

36. For loss of use, extra expense or consequential loss which happens as a result of the loss or damage for which you are claiming. 

37. For loss, damage, or costs from returning your motorhome to its legal owner or arising out of its seizure or repossession by any company or person having a financial interest in your motorhome. 

38. For loss or damage to your motorhome if a security system and/or tracking device which we have required you to use has not been set, is not in full working order or any network subscription for the maintenance contract of the system and/or airtime is not current at the time of any loss.

39. For loss or damage to your motorhome caused directly by pressure waves from aircraft or other aerial devices travelling at sonic or supersonic speeds. 

40. For loss or damage to your motorhome caused by explosions, chemicals or gasses

cw8825

It’s fairly common that the cause of the fire isn’t covered but any resultant damage is

who is the policy with?

saker75

Sorry OP but I’m struggling to understand the situation. What insurance? Breakdown or Motor? Is the van hired and insured separately? Are you saying that the motor insurer is stating that they are not liable for repair / replacement of the vehicle? 

Keep_pedalling

johntbudge said:

Hii thanks for the reply I won't name them in public but the wording states and thing to do with me or the motorhome will be in bold print such as your motorhome or you would be in bold letters as when speaking about themselves it would be lexham or we in bold as this excuses is written the same as CDs DVDs credit cards food drinks as well as clothes then it seems in their own wording it's none  motorhome or me as it's not iin bold letters but personal belongings 

You are allowed to name them, and it would help us to help you especially as nothing else you posted here is making sense. 

Hoenir

Why has the garage said that the vehicle is a write off?  What was the cause of the fire? 

DullGreyGuy

The bold text makes it dam hard to read. 

So, presumably this is your motorhome insured under a UK Motor policy with Comprehensive cover inc Europe?

Whilst driving you experienced an engine fire and the vehicle is beyond economical repair. You have attempted to claim but been referred to the clause in the policy about breakdown/mechanical defect and the claim has been declined. Am I correct so far?


So, when did this happen, both the fire and the claim being declined? Was it just one call to the First Notification of Loss number? Or did they record the claim and someone some time later has come back to you?

What is the approximate value of the Motor Home? What is your excess? 


As always the devil is in the detail of the whole wording of the policy and with you being unwilling to name them then nothing really can be said other than the generic comments that if you aren't happy then register a complaint, if you aren't happy with their response to the complaint (or 8 weeks pass) then escalate the complaint to the ombudsman. 

cw8825 said:

It’s fairly common that the cause of the fire isn’t covered but any resultant damage is

who is the policy with?

It can vary and it also depends on if the fire in the faulty part (the engine in this case) is sufficient to write it off on its own. 

There are lots of Ombudsman decisions like the below one where the whole Fire claim is declined because of the fire being caused by a fault.

https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/decision/DRN-3806719.pdf

redped

@johntbudge - your post is really hard to follow, can you edit it to add some basic punctuation?  There also appear to be some typos, which is making it difficult to actually understand what the post is about, e.g. "when talking about the motorhome it says you motorhome the line 7"

sheramber

The OP seems to be complaining that all the wording is in bold. He expected bold to apply to 'you. your motor home and we.

He seems to be  saying that what has been quoted  ( excuses) is the companies own words rather than a quote from the policy.

But  he should have his pwn copy of the policy document/booklet to confirm  what is excluded.

It is all very difficult to understand.

born_again

Would seem odd that a engine fire means Ins will not pay out.
Not heard of this with cars not being payed out for engine fires.

Would defer to @DullGreyGuy as the expert though.

OP is this a home you live in full time so may not be a standard ins policy that people are used to dealing with?

johntbudge

Born_again
We were on holiday, we don't live full time in it, they have a none payout in the insurance policy booklet that says .( For any mechanical, electrical, electronic, computer or computer software breakdown, failure, fault or breakage).
But when ever it's to do with the motorhome such as this part
(For loss or damage caused by water entering your motorhome through seams or seals.)
The words your motorhome is used in bold print, which is clearly to do with the vehicle it's self  but the mechanical,. electrical, electronic computer, computer software breakdown and so on is open to anything from a light bulb to windscreen wiper, fridge to the flushing toilet .
The wording open to  more than one interpretation 

cw8825

johntbudge said:

Born_again
We were on holiday, we don't live full time in it, they have a none payout in the insurance policy booklet that says .( For any mechanical, electrical, electronic, computer or computer software breakdown, failure, fault or breakage).
But when ever it's to do with the motorhome such as this part
(For loss or damage caused by water entering your motorhome through seams or seals.)
The words you motorhome is used in bold print, which is clearly to do with the vehicle it's self  but the mechanical,. electrical, electronic computer, computer software breakdown and so on is open to anything from a light bulb to windscreen wiper, fridge to the flushing toilet .
The wording open to  more than one interpretation 

Are they telling you it’s a breakdown so not covered?

is the damage solely to the engine or is it the whole motor home fire damaged?