Gap in insurance for tools

[ouch]

I recently had a visit from the local pond life who emptied my garage of about £500 worth of power tools (drills, saws etc) among other things.

My insurance has paid out on everything bar one item:

A diesel compression tester kit.

They state that as it is for use on a motor vehicle, it is not covered by their house & contents policy.
This leaves me short of a few quid for the replacement, which isn't the end of the world, yet quite irritating. Bit it also leaves me worried that any specialist tools for car maintenance isn't covered. When I consider things like my engine crane, trolley jack, various test kits and diagnostic devices I get a worryingly large replacement bill.

I'm guessing this is a nugget of common knowledge that I've missed out on, so what do others folks do?

[ouch]

I can't find the policy document online, however the wording goes as follows:

[quote]
Contents are not:
motor vehicles (including motor cycles, quad bikes and motorized scooters), caravans, trailers, watercraft aircraft and all their accessories.
[/quote]

I guess the question is, would a compression test kit be counted as a motor vehicle accessory?

[ouch]

I've called them back and told another call-centre drone to go back to the underwriters for a second opinion, stating the case that it's a tool not an accessory. We'll see what they come back with..

[ouch]

ouch said:

I've called them back and told another call-centre drone to go back to the underwriters for a second opinion, stating the case that it's a tool not an accessory. We'll see what they come back with..

Nada.

Definitely not covered. As also the £60 battery charger that had also gone missing. Likewise I guess my trolley jack, axle stands, engine crane and a ton & a half of other hardware that the pencilnecks will call motoring accessories, rather than tools.

So, any suggestions as to an insurer who will cover these items?

[ouch]

Jimmyarm said:

Very odd !

Can you name the insurer ?

If it was me, I'd be making a formal written complaint about it using the insurers procedures and escalating it to the ombudsman. If they want to exclude those tools fair enough but the wording is far too ambiguous. If they want too exclude specific tools/equipment like that it should be made clear in the wording. Relying on 'accessories' is definately poor form.

I would probably also get a 'friend' to phone them for a quote on a different address and asking them generically about tool cover in the garage and then ask specifically about special tools and see what is said.

Boils my piss a bit that the insurance world is like this and part of the reason I now spin spammers !

Would prefer not to name and shame, but a quick call to your own insurance company would probably set your mind at ease, or open a can of worms..

I've written to their complaints/feedback and also the chairman of the board, we'll see what they come back with before escalating any further.

[ouch]

I'd posted on another thread back at the time, but neglected to update this one.

I wrote an email to their 'feedback' centre, and cc'd the chairman of the board. I got a call back within a couple of working days from their customer care team, saying they'd reviewed the case and had chosen to honour my claim in full.

Bottom line: your tools are most probably covered, even if your insurers don't know it..