hifi insurance

Southweststokie posted:

I speak with john Lewis on the phone every time I renew to ensure that the hifi is still fully covered but as has been said one never really knows for sure until you have to make a claim. The problem is no one will ever give you assurances in writing anymore, you have to hope that your interpretation of the small print and what you have been advised over the phone is correct.

You should note on your renewal, the date and time of the call and who you spoke to, most interactions are recorded, so if pushed they should be able to retrieve the recording of 'the promise'.  In addition, there should be a note of the call on your customer record too, if the company is good, that is.

Chubb

Is anyone aware of 'bumping' of locks, enabling someone tinget into your home leaving no visible means of entry - when there is a serious risk that insurers won't cough up?

Plenty of videos online...  you can get 'bump proof' lock cylinders to guard against, but I'm wondering how widely known this risk is, and how much of a risk it is (both to happen then ins companies not coughing up). The fact that insurers don't seem to display much about it could be simply because to them it is a benefit not a problem...

It's only a risk with pin tumbler cylinders (e.g. "Yale" locks / rim latches and "Euro" Cylinders and a few others).  N.B. they can also be picked using a single tooth pick, however that takes skill and time, but it's much quieter than 'bumping' the lock.

5 lever deadlocks are much more secure provided they're manufactured to an appropriate security standard (BSI or other).  I've encountered a 5 level lock that wasn't BSI approved and, in that case, due to a design flaw, I was routinely able to defeat it in less than ten seconds.

Yes, but an awful lot of people have them as their primary defence on doors where lever locks can't be fitted (e.g  most uPVC doors), while "pick-proof" cylinders (for that read more skill and time needed to pick) have been available for longer than the bump-proof ones. From a video I saw, whilst bumping makes some noise, it isn't loud, and is instantaneous, whereas someone standing their picking a lock has much more chance of discovery so is less likely unless the burgars are real pros and have identified the property as having sufficient readily shiftable valuables.

most insurance companies require either locks to the relevant BS (in the UK) or those "with a 3-point locking mechanism", which doesn't address the cylinder, though it is possible to get cylinders certified to the same BS

blythe posted:

Chubb

Are you able to give an indication of cost, as they are less accessible, not doing online quotes?

IB, that's why a pin tumbler cylinder lock should never be specified in a location where a tea leaf can work unobserved.

Actually the earlier anti pick systems (e.g. mushroom pins) are easily defeated; the current ones that are anti-bump and anti pick are more effective, but most* can still be picked with persistence (hence not putting them in a position where the perp can work unobserved).

* I actually don't know of any pin tumbler that can't be picked with a few simple techniques and an hour or so to do the work in, but the best protected ones do require a lot of skill and sensitivity.  One of the better protection systems involves two sets of pins at different angles (typically 90°).  Disc locks are exceptionally difficult to pick manually, and can't be bumped, but just the same as for pin tumblers the're often vulnerable to an ultrasonic pick.

Like others my HiFi is covered under general contents and I have no need to individually specify items. the items that are required to be specified over a certain value seem to be things the insurance company (or underwriters) consider are easily or regularly stolen such as jewellery, bicycles, etc. 

It's not just lock bumping you have to be concerned about, thieves can also snap locks in a matter of seconds to gain entry just by using a pair of mole grips and a long bar.  Look up Avocet locks which prevent snapping and bumping (by making one of the pins magnetic).  Others are of course available and they're very easy to replace without using a locksmith.

A vote here for Hiscox for hifi insurance.  They didn't bat an eyelid when I mentioned that my system is into six figures cost wise.  In fact they were concerned that my contents might be under insured.  If under insured and you make a claim (even not for the full amount) then you won't get full replacement amount back.  So I increased my insured amount significantly for only about £30 more.  Despite them saying it wasn't needed, I asked them to put a note on my policy regarding the overall system value and the high single item value of my S1 Pre.

ChrisSU posted:

ayisgroovy posted:

Hi Chrissu, may I ask which insurance company you went with please?

Swinton. Never used them before, but the price was right, as was the level of cover. When I e-mailed them a query, I received a reply a few hours later from a real, English-first-language human from their local office a few miles from me, which helped.

I've been with Swinton for several years and with the the upgrade of my Naim system last year I thought I'd better check the level of cover during renewal.

The local Swinton office in Bath were most helpful all Naim kit with a value above £2000 is individually listed on the Policy which is through AXA.

The only query was the SL speaker cables and as the chap dealing with the Policy was interested in Stereo systems he queried if they could be bought on an individual basis which would bring each cable under the £2000 limit.

A quick call to the dealer in Bath confirmed it would be better if they were replaced as a pair and the Policy indicates this.

All in all very pleased with the level of service and the renewal cost bearing in mind the level of cover.

Aceone posted:

Hi could anyone plz recommend any insurance companies for hifi mine has gone up 50 percent and I haven't made any claims in years .

Curious  after some of the low costs cited on here from insurers from which  I have had recent quotes, and mindful that it is the detail/add ons that can make a lot of difference, I looked a bit deeper - and yes, the add-ons can double or triple the basic quote, even with the 'unlimited' policies, and some of course are judgement calls based on your acceptance of risk, e.g size of excess, no claims protection, add-od legal protection, even cover for relatively minor things like bicycles. However where you live makes a huge difference: as with others I was already aware of that, and when I moved to my present location my insurance costs dropped. But last year my renewal cost  jumped significantly, and a couple of comparative quotes were not dissimilar, so I put it down to the general industry as a consequence of increased claims over recent years like from flooding..But the different premiums quoted here made me dig a bit deeper

I live in an isolated cul-de-sac of about 20 houses in a rural area a couple of miles outside the main town of an island, where the police annually report that it is a low crime area - the sort of place where it is not uncommon for people to not bother locking doors. In common with the vast majority my house doesn't have a burglar alarm. I took one my recent online quotes and changed the house address to those of thtee previous locations I have lived, Cardiff suburb, Washington (Tyne & Wear) and outskirts of Manchester. All three I considered to be  moderately high risk areas for burglary, where most people have burglar alarms, but not as high as, say, inner cities. I also put an address about 3 miles away from my house, with a different first part of postcode. The Cardiff came out at about 3/4 and Washington under 2/3rds of mine, Manchester in betwee those - while the other local one was identical to mine so my area is now significantly more expensive than any of those. Turning back to the major jump in premium last year, there had been a spate of burglaries (by the same perpetrators) over a period of about a month on this island two years ago, with about 20 houses hit across several locations. Regardless of general crime ratings, including low burglaries, it seems my location has been rated as higher burglary risk than major mainland suburban areas by the insurance industry just because of that one spate.

There's an awful lot of knowledge about housebreaking being demonstrated. I've sometimes wondered how people afford such expensive systems. Perhaps I now have the answer...

Huge posted:

IB, that's why a pin tumbler cylinder lock should never be specified in a location where a tea leaf can work unobserved.

 

I fully agree  - but often people don't have a choice unless they change doors (and sometimes a lot more that goes with it, especially in the case of PVC), or may simply be unaware, with the insurance companies' demands for certain types of locks not leading the inquirer to think beyond that. However it is easy to change cylinders and go for the most difficult to pick and bump- and snap-proof that are available to try to minimise the risk, though good cylinders can cost more than an entire 5-lever BS rated deadlock.

Hungryhalibut posted:

There's an awful lot of knowledge about housebreaking being demonstrated. I've sometimes wondered how people afford such expensive systems. Perhaps I now have the answer...

A good reason for not providing true identities on a forum where people declare their ownership of mega expensive stuff? Of course, everyone on here could be bluffing, with no-one actually owning any expensive hifi, just liking to talk as if they do - any burglars informed through the forum would be identifiable by police by the scratches on their heads...

I was with the Prudential for years. Their policy was very good and adaptable, but they would increase the premium each year slightly and never budge when asked. I took out a policy with John Lewis at the end of last year, fully covered, unlimited contents, etc...£270 and I got a free Nest Protect (worth £90) which is actually excellent. Can't complain really.

I was with the Prudential for many years. Having moved address plus other factors I was classified as a new customer. The following year my premium increased by over 50%. When I asked why they said I was an existing customer hence the rise. They also refused to quote on any price match. I left them!!

Graham Clarke posted:

A vote here for Hiscox for hifi insurance.  They didn't bat an eyelid when I mentioned that my system is into six figures cost wise.  In fact they were concerned that my contents might be under insured.  If under insured and you make a claim (even not for the full amount) then you won't get full replacement amount back.  So I increased my insured amount significantly for only about £30 more.  Despite them saying it wasn't needed, I asked them to put a note on my policy regarding the overall system value and the high single item value of my S1 Pre.

Another vote for Hiscox. No problems insuring my system. When the house was struck by lightning earlier this year they couldn't have been more helpful. 

The problem with Hiscox is their price. Once I already had my quote of £270 from John Lewis in Nov'16, I asked Hiscox for a quote and they were about £800. Unnecessary rip-off. They always have been. 

I had a similar quote from Hiscox 5 years ago. £600. Other quotes around £300. Maybe you get what you pay for?

count.d posted:

The problem with Hiscox is their price. Once I already had my quote of £270 from John Lewis in Nov'16, I asked Hiscox for a quote and they were about £800. Unnecessary rip-off. They always have been. 

Hiscox were about £800 for me, too , but in my case John Lewis was much closer, just under £700 IIRC, whereas M&S, my existing insurers , were £730.

The trouble with insurance is you never know if it is good until you have to claim - and personal experience of different insurers' approach is invaluable, though in some cases there could be differences between locations, depending on loss adjuster used. (And that very title is anathema - they exist to adjust the loss, presumably to minimise it for the insurer!)

When we moved here the first insurance company, on receiving the valuation of my then system, decided I had a recording studio and was working from home! We've a thatched roof, which considerably reduces the number of companies prepared to insure either buildings or contents. We're currently with the National Farmer's Union, who seem to be very efficient.

We had an alarm system fitted many years ago, and the company who carried out the work employed an ex-crime prevention officer to advise on the security of the property. When the fella turned up he might just as well have had "Plod" tattooed on his forehead, but he was full of very good advice - "Are these paintings security marked sir? And have you photographs of them? No? Well don't you think it would be wise to do so sir?". He also pointed out that a skilled and determined burglar would break into anything, so an alarm system in our type of environment would be the best option.

sheffieldgraham posted:

 Maybe you get what you pay for?

I don't agree. The price you pay for your insurance has virtually no bearing on how your claim is handled. If you are honest, correct and upfront about all your answers and requirements when taking out the cover, there's not going to be a claim problem.

P.S. John lewis were joint 1st in the Which insurance list and Googling reviews shows them to be excellent.

As Tony has said, sometimes your house, contents, running a business from home, etc...does make insurance a bit more difficult to find.

Innocent Bystander posted:

I hope my naming of companies below doesn't infringe forum rules: it is not advertising, nor recommending any in particular, just factual info for anyone it may assist.

I'm insured with M&S, and the cover is good - unlimited total and per item, other than what they call valuables (which apparently doesn't mean hifi), including anywhere in the world so if I take something expensive to a demo it is covered, subject to certain limitations (e.g. Restrictions if in an unoccupied car). But I don't know how good they are when it comes to the crunch. I've renewed several years in a row, but with increasing premiums and hearing suggestions of much lower premiums from others I sought other quotes at renewal recently.

Hiscox, who were mentioned by someone in another forum), sounded good but were slightly more expensive. John Lewis also similar, and slightly cheaper but don't cover anything other than specified valuables or a quite low total amount away from home, though one or two other things were better like the amount of cash covered. Liverpool Victoria were frustrating because I had to list things over £3k (IIRC), and it said or implied that this applied to high value non-valuables but there was nowhere to put in online, and the nearest I could do with online quote to get a rough idea wasn't sufficiently low to be worth pursuing. Also NFU Mutual, though I can't remenpmbervthe amount.  On balance it seemed that what I thought was exorbitant £730 for buildings and contents (in a rural, relatively low crime, area) is actually par for the course if you have moderately high value posessions while not being in the 'high net worth' category. (New for old, accidental damage, protected no claims, minimum excess)

NFU mutual had a good comparator that popped up with the summary of their policy cover, allowing selection of other companies' policies allowing very easy comparison of the different amounts covered under the different carptegories, which made light work of picking out differences.

I assume everyone is aware, but in case not, if an insurance company judges that you are under-insured - say policy cover £100k but they assess as worth £150k, it doesn't just limit what you get in the event of a total loss, but you will get only that proportion (in this case 2/3rds) of the value of each item, which can be very significant in more common instances of partial loss. And that leads to a question to which I don't know the answer, which is with new for old, what happens if ian item was bought secondhand? Perhaps even only recently before a loss, when the only proof of ownership you might have is a receipt for the low price you paid? I have always assumed that new for old really does mean that, but that then becomes significant if you have quite a bit of old stuff of low resale but high new replacement value, especially if a loss adjustor visits and sees it, so you would need to factor the cost of buying new today (whatever is the nearest current equivalent) into your total posessions value.

 Given that Aasgaard is insured with JL, I can only disagree with your statement. All is covered, new for old, even the second hand stuff. My Tudor watch, for example, is no longer made but the Rolex equivalent is deemed to be a suitable replacement even though it is more than 8 times the cost of current Tudors, because that design is the most similar. The significant issue here is that the dealer is considered the reference point, as the specialist supplier they are considered suitably knowledgeable in their field for their quote to stand scrutiny.

I contacted John Lewis customer services by email a couple of days ago and they finally advised me in writing that my Naim equipment is covered. They have changed the policy wording which now states a single item value of £15,000 and that applies to all items and not just 'valuables'. That level of cover should satisfy the majority of Naim owners though not the 500 series owners.

Ken

Thanks Ken.