CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

Insurance

(8 posts)
  • Started 11 years ago by Wilmington's Cow
  • Latest reply from rosscbrown

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  1. Fortunately our home insurance does cover the bikes that were stolen - I was pretty certain it did, but until finding the policy document last week there was that creeping doubt. As it is, pedal cycles covered up to £2500. But by eck it's a process.

    Call insurer to initiate claim. Get told incident number from the police isn't what they need, but rather a crime reference number.

    Call police, get crime reference number, call insurance, get it noted on the file.

    3rd party info gathering chap comes out to take all the details into an iPad app and take photos and video of the area of the theft.

    3rd party info gathering chap has to come out to take all the details again as he didn't do it right first time.

    Call insurance company (2 and a half minutes just to get through the menu system, around 9 minutes on hold, 17 minutes total) as I had a message left on my phone to call them - message is just to tell me the claim will now be passed onto 3rd party cycle specialists, and to make sure I get the 'proof of ownership' of the bikes sorted out, and a quote for the broken window.

    3rd party bike people will call within 24 hours, I've got their number, but told best not call them as it'ds a small team.

    The proof of ownership thing is easy if, in the case of Mel's bike, you can go to a recent bank statement and show the purchase. For the cross bike it's going to be a little more difficult. Purchases at lots of places, made more awkward by being spread over 2 and a bit years. Will need to see if Cotic still have the details of it being bought at the end of 2010, as well as the Bike Chain (which has obviously now changed hands) for the expensive chainset in early-ish 2011. Sigh.

    Apparently with custom items it's more likely I'll get a cash payout, rather than them trying to replace like for like. But certainly not certain. This one could run.

    Posted 11 years ago #
  2. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Pfffff. I'm sure their admin costs will probably end up exceed the cost of your bikes!

    Posted 11 years ago #
  3. Stickman
    Member

    Bl**dy insurers, it would be awful to work for one ;-)

    Posted 11 years ago #
  4. @Stickman - given I sit in with our customer service colleagues every other month as part of a 'legal clinic' I can't help but picture that every time I call, and try to remember the little tricks to get them to do what you want! (and I know that while on hold I'm still being recorded, so to watch what I expletive down the line at the length of the hold).

    Posted 11 years ago #
  5. Coxy
    Member

    When I had all my bikes nicked, the insurance was great. They took the details of all the bikes (custom builds) and we worked out a value to replace. Unfortunately there was a limit to the the total value of bikes, but it was only about £500 quid short of what it cost.

    That money was credited to the 'Wheelies' group and I had the run of their website to buy any replacements up the the totalvalue. Not ideal, but a lot better than some of the deals that friends have got from their insurance.

    One the other hand, this company was a PITA when it came to a leaking shower!

    Posted 11 years ago #
  6. crowriver
    Member

    @Coxy, aye that's exactly what happened with us back in 2008. Took three months for the claim to be settled mind you! To be fair they were dealing with the paperwork over the Xmas/New Year period (our bikes got nicked in December). Wheelies Direct were good though, they phoned and talked us through the 'like for like' replacements: we ended up with better bikes than the original EBC ones we had stolen...

    Posted 11 years ago #
  7. Instography
    Member

    When I damaged my frame and it cracked, insurance paid out immediately. Got quote from the Bike Chain for replacement frame and shifting parts, forwarded to insurer and they transferred the money to my account. Might have taken two days, tops.

    Suppose it depends on the insurer and the amounts involved. For hundreds of pounds and a clear claim history, I guess they reckon the costs involved in a big assessment outweigh the cost of the claim. For thousands, the calculation will be different.

    Posted 11 years ago #
  8. rosscbrown
    Member

    Following my accident, my insures tried to mess me around with proof of ownership for all my items.

    I provided sufficient proof of ownership and wrote them a helpful summary on the difference between proof of *ownership* and proof of *purchase* (my claim handler was using the two terms interchangeably). You can usually prove ownership with photos.

    Posted 11 years ago #

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