Homeprotect Contents Insurance not fit for purpose

ibrindley

In over 40 years of having home contents policies with cover for personal belongings away from home, I have never known it not to include loss, only damage and theft, so to discover this is hidden in the small print with Homeprotect, is nothing less than infuriating. I took out this policy via comparethemarket where I specifically state that loss away from home is required so it should never have shown a quote from Homeprotect. As, for me, this is a critical aspect of any home contents policy, it makes this policy not fit for purpose. I have had to cancel and take out a proper policy with LBIS.

Ayr_Rage

If the terms are clearly stated then it's fit for purpose.

If you buy through a comparison site then you are always directed to the insurer where you need to check what you are buying is suitable.

You just purchased the wrong policy for your needs.

DullGreyGuy

ibrindley said:

In over 40 years of having home contents policies with cover for personal belongings away from home, I have never known it not to include loss, only damage and theft, so to discover this is hidden in the small print with Homeprotect, is nothing less than infuriating. I took out this policy via comparethemarket where I specifically state that loss away from home is required so it should never have shown a quote from Homeprotect. As, for me, this is a critical aspect of any home contents policy, it makes this policy not fit for purpose. I have had to cancel and take out a proper policy with LBIS.

So you mean you misplaced the item? 

Normally it would be written as "losses away from the home" meaning like if you drop your camera whilst on holiday and broke it or someone stole it from you... these are all examples of perils that may cause losses. Simply leaving someone on a bus could be another example but may or may not be covered depending on the quality of the product. 

If you did just leave it on the bus then there is also going to be the question of if that triggers the general exclusion of taking reasonable care of the insured items. 

Ultimate each policy is uniquely worded, if you look at the HomeProtect it will cover all physical damage to your property away from the home but the Lloyds Bank policy only covers accidental damage, loss or theft. So whilst in this case LBIS may have responded but HomeProtect doesnt if there had been a fire that damaged your property whilst outside the home then HomeProtect would have responded and LBIS probably wouldnt.  LBIS also have a reasonable care clause so also may raise questions on the circumstances that lead to the lost property.