Thunder and lightning

[Prizam]

Very very frightening. Especially when a couple buildings, not very far from you get struck.

One house caught fire, everyone ok and we had an exciting evening watching it all.

However, the next day I discover that a LOT of our electrical gadgets are knackered.

It seems a power surge has knackered everything that was attached to the TV or wired network in the house.

The list is quite extensive... Annoyingly a lot of them still work but have broken HDMI ports or network ports. Rendering them useless.

1. How does an insurance claim on contents insurance work? Whats the process?

2. How do they value difficult items? 3yr old home built computer for example?

3. What proof of purchase do I need? If any? In the computer example... I will be trying to remember where I got the graphics card from, RAM from etc... A huge task, and in the end possibly fruitless... How do you value a 3-year-old gaming graphics card? I think I paid around £400 for it, I would still need around £400 to get a like for like.

Going to give the insurance company a call later today, but want to be armed with as much information about the process as possible.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Alucidnation]

They will put this down to an 'act of god' so I expect you are fked with regards to claiming.

[essayer]

Pretty sure every house insurance policy I've taken out covered damage to buildings or contents caused by lightning.

[craig1912]

Alucidnation said:

They will put this down to an 'act of god' so I expect you are fked with regards to claiming.

Rubbish- no such thing- don't worry OP you will be covered

Edited by craig1912 on Thursday 20th July 13:05

[Prizam]

Had a word with them. I am covered and my excess is suitably small.

Their method of valuing items seems a little bit "ad-hock", so I guess we will wait and see what they come up with.

Example: Sonos sound system purchased for my wife for Christmas... I'm sure I can find the invoice... but the price of these has gone nuts since.. so I wouldn't be able to get another one for the same amount.

[DanL]

Prizam said:

Example: Sonos sound system purchased for my wife for Christmas... I'm sure I can find the invoice... but the price of these has gone nuts since.. so I wouldn't be able to get another one for the same amount.

Do you have new for old cover? If so, I'd assume they just look up the price of the same (or equivalent) model to the one you have. Is this not the case?

[Prizam]

DanL said:

Prizam said:

Example: Sonos sound system purchased for my wife for Christmas... I'm sure I can find the invoice... but the price of these has gone nuts since.. so I wouldn't be able to get another one for the same amount.

Do you have new for old cover? If so, I'd assume they just look up the price of the same (or equivalent) model to the one you have. Is this not the case?

Now you mention it... i belive it is the case.

[Mr GrimNasty]

craig1912 said:

Alucidnation said:

They will put this down to an 'act of god' so I expect you are fked with regards to claiming.

Rubbish- no such thing- don't worry OP you will be covered

Edited by craig1912 on Thursday 20th July 13:05

Do we really have to go over................

Yes 'Acts of God' are enshrined in UK common/contract law, like it or not, explicitly mentioned in the terms or not.

If you don't believe it - then you best tell all the UK law colleges and Unis and law firms offering training and advice on the matter!

That does not mean that you are automatically not covered for some types of incidents that qualify as Acts of God - only way to find out if a particular loss will get a payout is to read the full contract.

[northwest monkey]

Prizam said:

Had a word with them. I am covered and my excess is suitably small.

Their method of valuing items seems a little bit "ad-hock", so I guess we will wait and see what they come up with.

Example: Sonos sound system purchased for my wife for Christmas... I'm sure I can find the invoice... but the price of these has gone nuts since.. so I wouldn't be able to get another one for the same amount.

We had something similar and I asked the insurance company to replace rather than pay out cash.

[Simpo Two]

On 'Act of God', surely the insurance company would first have to prove the existence of said deity to avoid paying out?

I find this discrimination against atheists. Send compensation!

[craig1912]

Mr GrimNasty said:

Do we really have to go over................

Yes 'Acts of God' are enshrined in UK common/contract law, like it or not, explicitly mentioned in the terms or not.

If you don't believe it - then you best tell all the UK law colleges and Unis and law firms offering training and advice on the matter!

That does not mean that you are automatically not covered for some types of incidents that qualify as Acts of God - only way to find out if a particular loss will get a payout is to read the full contract.

I was responding to the comment that the OP would not be covered not that there is no such thing as an act of god.
https://www.abi.org.uk/globalassets/sitecore/files...

I have heard of an ‘act of God’ exclusion – what is this?
An ‘act of God’ refers to an event that was outside your reasonable control, such as a natural disaster. The term ‘act of God’ is not used in insurance policies, although many people think that it is. Insurers do not exclude any losses or damage caused by natural disasters and things outside your control, and your insurance will cover things such as fire, flood and theft.

Edited by craig1912 on Friday 21st July 05:22

Edited by craig1912 on Friday 21st July 05:23

[anonymous-user]

I'm not sure of the details of his insurance but my Dad's monoblock amps were destroyed by lighting hitting the house next door, as they had been discontinued the insurance company paid out for newer updated ones which cost more than the original ones. He was well happy, hope you get a good result OP

[Oceanic]

Alucidnation said:

They will put this down to an 'act of god' so I expect you are fked with regards to claiming.

Surely they need to prove "god" exists first, there is no such thing as an act of god FFS. It is no different to a wind storm or flood.

[Zetec-S]

Prizam said:

Example: Sonos sound system purchased for my wife for Christmas... I'm sure I can find the invoice... but the price of these has gone nuts since.. so I wouldn't be able to get another one for the same amount.

Worst case, "lose" the invoice, and just supply details of the replacement cost.

[mcflurry]

Zetec-S said:

Worst case, "lose" the invoice, and just supply details of the replacement cost.

The insurance co will know the existing model, so expect they will send a Curry's / Richer Sounds voucher for the value of today's equivalent model.
For example, when my brother's 3 year old telly was claimed for, they sent him a Curry's note for £550

[Prizam]

I am covered.

assessor matey coming out on Friday. hopefully, he just agrees with me. I have a feeling he will try and take away for repair.

[Mr GrimNasty]

Oceanic said:

Alucidnation said:

They will put this down to an 'act of god' so I expect you are fked with regards to claiming.

Surely they need to prove "god" exists first, there is no such thing as an act of god FFS. It is no different to a wind storm or flood.

It's an idiom, similar to idiot, but not quite.

"An event that is not the fault of any individual, such as a natural disaster."

From the Association Of British Insurers glossary page - for people who still don't believe!

https://www.abi.org.uk/data-and-resources/tools-an...

Legal explanations and case law/precedent is well covered on wiki.

Edited by Mr GrimNasty on Tuesday 25th July 20:11