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Worldwide laptop insurance

cinereus
cinereus Posts: 2,707 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
edited 31 January 2015 at 10:20PM in Insurance & life assurance
I need to take a laptop on a month long trip to Latin America. It was bought from eBay and would cost about £1200 to replace. I'm struggling to find anyone who will insure it. There are no comparison sites and I've already ruled out every insurer on http://www.money.co.uk/gadget-insurance/laptop-travel-insurance.htm

Possible issues:

1) Coverage excluding theft (utterly useless where I'll be)
2) >30 days abroad excluded
3) Don't accept ebay purchases (who's stupid enough to pay more than necessary?)
4) Don't accept non-new purchases (erm?)
5) Travel insurance policies have single item limits ~£200
6) First 14 days excluded (!!!!!!???)
7) More than 12 months from new

I only need coverage for theft, not accidental damage, etc. I'm not going to break it or pour a glass of water on it...

Any ideas?
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Comments

  • Endsleigh gadget insurance?
  • cinereus
    cinereus Posts: 2,707 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    See the list of insurers I've already RULED OUT and especially points 3 and 4.
    This insurance only covers gadget(s) purchased as new. Second hand items are not eligible for cover.
  • forgotmyname
    forgotmyname Posts: 32,957 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    4, Dont accept non new = They dont cover used devices you bought cheaply because they were faulty and intend to claim for as soon as you take out the policy, which links to point 6. Stops you making a claim the instant you pay them.

    I can imagine someone who just bought a cheap faulty laptop, on the phone to the insurance, am i covered now? (yes) bang.. oops i just dropped it can i now make a claim.

    If its that valuable, dont take it.
    Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...

  • cinereus
    cinereus Posts: 2,707 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    edited 1 February 2015 at 6:56AM
    a) As I said in the OP, I need to take it. Not bringing it isn't an option. Please help by answering what I've actually asked.

    b) While insurance fraud is a reality, it's clearly irrelevant as I've made it clear I only need theft insurance since I can handle any non-existent risk of it spontaneously breaking and don't intend to defraud anyone with a high-value item I've owned and used for several months already. As we are both aware, a second hand item is indistinguishable from buying an item of the same age that was bought new, especially when it's an item such as this. It's disingenuous or simply ignorant to say that a "cheaper" laptop is in any way more likely to break than one bought from "official" channels. Your responses to point 4 are not related to my requirements.

    c) As with all the points, I understand the reasoning but it doesn't stop it being faulty. This sort of term is completely unheard of in the industry and borderline fraudulent if not patently in breach of the unfair terms aspect of contract law. If I pay for 1 month of car insurance I'm only actually allowed to receive 15 days because, for some reason, the first two weeks are exempt? Don't be absurd!

    I thought I made it clear in my original post that I'm aware of the potential issues underwriters are concerned about. My question is about what is available with these taken into account. Again I'm afraid I need to be very clear - and I don't think this is unreasonable - I'd respectfully request for advice to specifically address what I'm actually asking rather than explaining reasoning I'm already aware of or lecturing me on how you think you know better than me about what I need to do or not do.
  • rs65
    rs65 Posts: 5,682 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I'm pretty sure that a decent home insurance policy with personal possessions cover would address all the issues you have.
  • cinereus
    cinereus Posts: 2,707 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    Thanks, I've been led to believe the same thing. But would it really be okay for high-value single items worldwide for >30 days a year?

    I guess the main problem would then be that I don't have a home insurance policy, it would be hideously expensive and - worse of all - would need to be for a year minimum rather than just for my trip meaning it's 12x more expensive than even that!
  • rs65
    rs65 Posts: 5,682 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Mine has worldwide cover for up to 60 days and £4000 single article limit.

    If you can't get what you need for a month, how do you know annual home insurance will be 12x more expensive.

    Price it up. You might be surprised - and it might be your only option so 12x is irrelevant. My home insurance includes annual travel too.
  • SimonSays
    SimonSays Posts: 716 Forumite
    cinereus wrote: »
    See the list of insurers I've already RULED OUT and especially points 3 and 4.

    No need to be rude.

    When I renewed with them. I was open I had an item from ebay. They didn't really mind upon referral.
  • Pincher
    Pincher Posts: 6,552 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    It's all rigged against you any way.


    I actually have the receipt for a 10MegaPixel camera that was worth about £180 ten years ago. Still works fine, until it got stolen in 2014. I dutifully got a police report etc. Guess what, they applied a 75% discount for age, so it's only worth £45 to claim. If I actually proceeded with the claim, they expect me to pay £50 excess, so I would actually be paying them £5!


    It was pure luck that I had the time to find the police station.
    If I had a train to catch in 30 minutes, so I miss it to get the police report, I would feel really stupid right now.


    I get travel insurance for the big ticket items, like medical emergencies. Claiming for small items is just wasting your time.
    Obviously, if you had a Rolex, that's a different ball game.
  • cinereus
    cinereus Posts: 2,707 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    rs65 wrote: »
    Mine has worldwide cover for up to 60 days and £4000 single article limit.
    Do you have any recommendations?
    SimonSays wrote: »
    No need to be rude.

    When I renewed with them. I was open I had an item from ebay. They didn't really mind upon referral.

    I wasn't being rude? I did request for people to have the courtesy of reading beyond the first sentence. Thanks for explaining that it's worth actually calling people...
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