Home Insurance for Naim?

May I suggest Hiscox are worth checking out.

Gordon

I have the same problem and went to Hiscox but that is only for contents.They don't have an item limit you have to tell them what the whole lot is worth (replacement cost).

We use Hiscox too. We get £90,000 of contents, plus the buildings, with full accidental damage and no silly security requirements, for under £40 a month. The excess is £300, which is probably why the premiums are so reasonable. They are very good to deal with and you get to speak to nice friendly people on the phone.

Nigel

Hiscox is very good for building & contents insurance IME too.
When are your B&C policies for renewal Don?
Get Hiscox to give you a quote.

Thanks for your advice guys. Munch I will check the small print to ensure CD's and LP's are covered.
Don

A word of caution with Nationwide - I went into my local branch and entered all the details to ensure no errors on my part - sorted (or so I thought). When I received the policy details, buried in the small print was a requirement for an alarm system installed and maintained by an approved supplier - an item which I had specifically agreed in the branch would not be required!! Without it, I was in breach of the policy and had no cover. 'Policy' cancelled immediately.
My policy is with Hiscox.
Peter

Another one for Hiscox. Easy to arrange and no over the top alarms, barbed wire, security fence, dig a moat around house arrangements. CD and Vinyl I dont think are a problem to insure as there is a solid object but downloads and music kept as data are another thing insurance companies might have a problem with.

Another vote for Hiscox, however their one stipulation was that our alarm is checked once a year by an approved (NACOSS?) engineer. This despite the fact that I told them we never use it.

Quite frankly they were the only insurance company that I spoke to who were remotely interested and understood the slightly odd requirements of someone wanting to cover their hi-fi equipment. It was another insurance company that put me on to them.

Regards

Nic

Hiscox is the only insurance co. I've dealt with recently that don't use scripted call center staff.

We had our motor insurance with Nationwide,
& using the call centre to manage a claim was horrible!
IME Nationwide's current bank account is excellent.
(Off topic, but to be fair.)

I used to pay £350-£400 for house & contents insurance, but last month I researched and got it for £230 from the AA. It could have been just under £200, but I had a couple of stipulations.

It doesn't cover accidental damage, but I've never had that before anyway. It was for up to £75,000 contents (more than before), £1,500 limit on valuables (jewellery/art) and no limit on all other items including hifi. New for old.

I checked all policy details and asked all relevant questions and there are no catches.

Just be very careful about the alarm details in your policy. When you get a discount for a NACOSS approved fitted and annually serviced alarm, many of the insurance also state you must have it set every single night (even if your at home) and every time you're out. If you don't set it and you have a burglary, they won't cover you. They will ask to see the alarm log.

Be careful about cutting accidental damage.
If you set fire to your house (say knocking over a candle) & it burns down you're not covered.
Many eventualities are considered 'accidental' for B&C insurance - e.g. house subsides/heaves due to plant roots.

When I mentioned accidental damage wasn't covered, I meant extra cover for accidents such as spillages on carpet/upholstery, foot through the ceiling. Electrical appliances (hifi) are all covered for accidents.

If I accidentally knocked a candle over and the house went up, that would be covered under loss due to fire. If we start analysing whether a company will pay out due to it being your fault, negligence, mains uncertified, poorly maintained home, etc, you could say that about any of the companies.

Also the excess is only £150.

In answer to the original question, I simply would not.

My recommendation is to buy a set that you could afford to replace. Over time if you insure than you buy what is insured again in any case.

Insurance companies keep investors in a living from profits.

It is a gamble. When did you last see a bookmaker riding round in a cheap car ...

I have one insurance policy, and that is to keep the car legal for third party claims on the road. That is something that cannot be avoided, for none of of us could afford to keep a wheel chair bound criple for 50 years ...

ATB from George

I am become disenchanted with Hiscox since they told me my premium was remaining the same - but they increased the policy excess from £100 to £250. I think this increase is a joke. I am currently looking for alternative insurers and will watch this thread with interest.

Did Hiscox say why Rob? Did you make a claim in the last year?

quote:

... that would be covered under loss due to fire.
... you could say that about any of the companies.

Not necessarily. I think you'll find you pay for what you get with insurance,
but it's only if/when you claim you really find out what quality of cover you have.
Nearly 50% of claims Hiscox pay-out under B&C insurance wouldn't be payed by other insurers.
My excess with Hiscox (606 policy) is £150.

quote:

Originally posted by 555:
Did Hiscox say why Rob? Did you make a claim in the last year?

quote:

... that would be covered under loss due to fire.
... you could say that about any of the companies.

Not necessarily. I think you'll find you pay for what you get with insurance,
but it's only if/when you claim you really find out what quality of cover you have.
Nearly 50% of claims Hiscox pay-out under B&C insurance wouldn't be payed by other insurers.
My excess with Hiscox (606 policy) is £150.

555, I don't know what experiences you've had with insurers, but I totally disagree with your comments. You don't get what you pay for with insurance, you pay what they can do you for. I've had enough different business, photography, car, home, motorsport, travel, life and God knows what other insurance to have my own ideas about offers and claims. I also have a very close friend who had his own broker business for thirty years. I think you have gone a little over the top with scaremongering about who's willing to pay out. There are short term offers that you have to keep your eyes on and also when you apply for insurance (even online), ring them up and you will often be offered it for less. It seems all these call centre people are on commission and they will help you if you push them. I renewed my insurance 11.11.08, I've just checked online again and they've reduced the standard contents cover to new customers to £40,000 from the £75,000 that I got. Offers, offers, offers.

The insurance is worked out purely on statistics and even the slightest change in some answers can drop the quote a lot.

Since my original post, I've read the small print and I can't see any problems anywhere.

I've halved my home & contents insurance and the policy covers me for 50%more than the old one and includes accidental cover for my hifi & appliances.

My broker friend informed me most claims are questioned because of customers giving false information (mistake or lying) and change of circumstances and not informing insurance co, e.g. If you work from home, you better tell the insurers the complete truth and how many people visit your home connected with the business. If you have a tree over 5m tall within 5m of your house, again tell them (and trees grow over the years!). There are obviously dozens of questions like this.

Insurers are quite happy to increase your renewing premium each year or reduce the level of cover sometimes without you realising it, unless you read the small print. Like Banks, they don't really give a damn about existing customers. It's good to shop around at least every two years.

Sorry for the rant, but it does annoy me when people think there's a catch to all insurance offers.

i use the AA. you can specify how much contents cover you would like and theres a £5K limit per item

Sorry count.d, I didn't intend to scare you.



I didn't get were I am today ...