Contents Insurance - Accidental damage question

Rye93_2

I was hoping someone could help me with this question about claiming on contents insurance.

I play and own a few guitars and recently, an accident happened which resulted in one of them being broken beyond repair. Basically, due to a fall, the neck has been snapped and even with a skilled craftsman, this guitar will never play again.

This was a gift from my dad many years ago and I'm gutted about it being beyond repair due to the sentimental value alone.

I currently pay for contents insurance with Lemonade insurance and pay extra per month for accidental damage. I have read through the T's&C's of the policy and it seems like this should be covered.

The only thing is, when I have went through the app the submit a claim, they ask for pictures of the damage and receipt's of purchase.

As this was a gift, I have no way of providing a receipt or even a bank statement from my dad to show the purchase as this was many years ago and the last thing I thought of doing since the accident was taking a picture of the damage as I was heartbroken to even comprehend that it was broken, nevermind getting my phone out to photograph it.

I have plenty of pictures of me playing the guitar and even photo's of it in the backround while other pictures have been taken.

I suppose my question is, would this be something that could be submitted and accepted if I pursue to make a contents insurance claim? 

I've never had to do this with them before and have been paying them monthly for over 3 years now. I undersntad my monthly premium would increase if it was successful, but I'm unsure on how this all works and if it would based on the circumstances.

Thank you in advance for any advice.

user1977

You can explain about the lack of receipt. Their website even says that "a photo of the item in your possession" may be accepted as evidence that you owned it.

Why can't you now take a photo of the damage?

elsien

Pictures of you playing it don’t prove anything – you could have sold it, for example. 

MyRealNameToo

Rye93_2 said:

I was hoping someone could help me with this question about claiming on contents insurance.

I play and own a few guitars and recently, an accident happened which resulted in one of them being broken beyond repair. Basically, due to a fall, the neck has been snapped and even with a skilled craftsman, this guitar will never play again.

This was a gift from my dad many years ago and I'm gutted about it being beyond repair due to the sentimental value alone.

I currently pay for contents insurance with Lemonade insurance and pay extra per month for accidental damage. I have read through the T's&C's of the policy and it seems like this should be covered.

The only thing is, when I have went through the app the submit a claim, they ask for pictures of the damage and receipt's of purchase.

As this was a gift, I have no way of providing a receipt or even a bank statement from my dad to show the purchase as this was many years ago and the last thing I thought of doing since the accident was taking a picture of the damage as I was heartbroken to even comprehend that it was broken, nevermind getting my phone out to photograph it.

I have plenty of pictures of me playing the guitar and even photo's of it in the backround while other pictures have been taken.

I suppose my question is, would this be something that could be submitted and accepted if I pursue to make a contents insurance claim? 

I've never had to do this with them before and have been paying them monthly for over 3 years now. I undersntad my monthly premium would increase if it was successful, but I'm unsure on how this all works and if it would based on the circumstances.

Thank you in advance for any advice.

Presumably you still have the broken guitar though?

Insurers work on a balance of probabilities and consider a wide range of factors, yes a receipt it nice to have but its generally more important in theft claims where the insurer cannot inspect the damaged item to confirm its identity. They will build up a picture... was this a 2000s Squire guitar worth a few hundred or one of 1960s Gibsons worth £30k? Is you content worth £10,000 plus a £30k guitar or is your content worth £500,000 and you have a series of high end guitars? A parter in a law firm or a self employed odd jobs man? Have you been insured for 3 days or 3 years? 

Pictures whilst not conclusive on their own help tell the story, particularly if there is something distinctive about the guitar like stickers or damage/wear 

Ultimately someone could concoct an elaborate hoax, buy a damaged guitar that looks just like their 1960s Gibson that they had to sell a few years ago to make ends meet, borrow a receipt from a friend that used to own an almost identical guitar etc and some will get away with it, insurers are fairly good at looking into these things though and most give themselves away.