thefts and insurance

[janeyo]

I need advice from knowledgable grapes!

Mum and dad were burgled at the weekend. Nothing big was taken but they have got away with cash and jewelry.

The insurance company are sying they need proof of the items that were taken - such as receipts or photos of itmes being worn. My mum does not have such things! She is in her 60s has lots of family jewelry etc and no recipts at all!

How does she get to claim without being done over again by the insurance company? They are coming to see her and i want to get as many experiences and thoughts as possible before they come.

has anyone been through this and what did you do?

She has to pay excess on the buildings insurance as they smashed a large patio door to get in / and on the contents insurance as this covers what was taken / and on the car insurance as the keys were also taken. She is going to be out of pocket quite considerably after paying all these and then might have a fight on her hands about them paying out!

Thanks

[matthew2riches]

How does she get to claim without being done over again by the insurance company?

All I'll say is they will be complete little wotsits

If I say anymore () I'll get barred from here

[di]

Sorry,I'm not that knowledgable but my sister is in the process of having a claim processed...there was a burst pipe in their airing cupboard that flooded the upstairs room and caused the ceiling to fall down.
Most of their belongings in both that upstairs room and the living room downstairs were ruined and they're having a hard time proving what was in there and it's worth.
I guess so many people(or maybe just a few)have put in false claims in the past that insurance companies have to be more thorough than they used to be.

I can only suggest you sift through as many photos as you can to find your mum wearing said jewellery.

[vicky]

If they make her an offer on the spot tell her not to accept it! They are devious and never offer enough at first.
Don't let her underestimate the value of what was taken, there may be things gone she hasn't noticed/remembered yet. Not suggesting she makes up things, but they will knock the value of it all down... - If she 'thinks' something was gold then it 'is' gold

Sorry to hear about the break in, you must be gutted

[Two_Sheds]

I hate insurance companies: daylight robbers.

Having said that, when I claimed for my bike accident last year I claimed (legitimately) for broken glasses & torn jacket. I wasn't asked for receipts or proof of damage

[di]

I hate insurance companies: daylight robbers.

Having said that, when I claimed for my bike accident last year I claimed (legitimately) for broken glasses & torn jacket. I wasn't asked for receipts or proof of damage

Without wanting to sound too cynical,was it your insurance that paid...or were they acting on your behalf to milk the other parties insurance?

[vicky]

They have certain thresholds, after which they'll ask for more proof. Eg over £1000 and you'll get a visit from the Loss Adjuster to have a look...

[Two_Sheds]

were they acting on your behalf to milk the other parties insurance?

They were acting on my behalf, but no we didn't milk them. My phone was scratched which I didn't claim for, and my bike suffered chips & scratches that I didn't claim for

The other party got off lightly, it now turns out. We settled out of court expecting my injuries to heal in 6 months. I am still unable to kneel 18 months later: my knee is boggered

[di]

Sorry...I didn't mean that to sound like you yourself had milked them,more that they(as in the insurance company)were more prepared to get what they could from another company.

Is it worth pursuing another claim for injuries or isn't that possible now?

[Two_Sheds]

Is it worth pursuing another claim for injuries or isn't that possible now?

No, the book is closed now. I never wanted compensation anyway, I wanted the blind old duffer to resit his driving test
(no offence taken Di, btw)

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

We have a clause in our insurance which states you need to prove ownership of an expensive item when you need to make a claim. Guess it is to stop people claiming for a diamond necklace when all they owned was diamonte. How do you prove your mum had family jewels (nobody will have receipts) - what about photos of your mum wearing the jewellery? The only belongings we have that come under the clause are a couple of Mr Frosty's cameras and a couple of his guitars. Receipts have been scanned and copied, original receipts have been kept. I'm afraid insurance companies like to find the clauses hidden at the back of a policy as a way of getting out of a claim.

[Two_Sheds]

I've now taken photos of all our expensive items, just in case. Thanks for starting this thread

[janeyo]

Yes 2sheds thats what my OH spent all last night doing - he even went so far as to date stamp the camera and switch on the gps in it on so that it shows they have actually been held on this property! he is also getting a camera installed linked to our server and extra pir security for our house. We are also quite exposed, not overlooked at all and not all of our doors are double glazed. (although my mum's was pvc double glazed and was still smashed to bits - the brick landed 20 feet up the lounge)

I have lots of old jewelry and silver, and watches, and lockets and old pearls some valuable some not, but as all were my grandma's, (she had all her mothers and sisters so I've got the lot) all are irreplaceable. We have catalogued them with a (vague) description of what is is and how old. I have lots of expensive new jewelry but they are usually on me - the safest place for it to be (unless I get mugged?!)

Thanks goodness I have them and not my mum or we wouldn't have them any longer...

[Mikey]

I've never experienced a house break in, but realise that we don't have anywhere near enough knowledge of what we own. This is going on my to do list.

[Two_Sheds]

I have lots of old jewelry and silver, and watches, and lockets and old pearls

Do you keep them somewhere "not obvious" ?

I've sewn some jewellery holders that slip over a coat-hanger. You then hang your clothes over them so they can't easily be seen. Designed for hotel rooms really, but equally good for hiding small valuables in the house

OH's watch collection is secreted in his sock drawer (no it's not but you get my drift)