Home insurance claim help?

by **bercleah** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 6:59 pm

ok i have home contents cover with accidental damage cover and my son (2year old)has smashed my fish tank carpet is soked fish all dead and tank well its smashed will i be able to cliam for this on my policy i cant find my booklet thing witch tell you and need to know before i ring

by **collins31** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 7:02 pm

The other answers are partially correct. Contents is usually named perils coverage (fish tank, fish). The carpet is dwelling which is direct physical loss less exclusions. I agree that the fish (animals) are likely not covered as this is a common exclusion under "property not covered". I would heavily shampoo and dry the carpet using a Rug Doctor and see if you can get the moisture/smell out. If not, a commercial company can do it (they may need to move furniture and detach the carpet, replacing wet pad to fully get the odor/water out). This claim is very likely under deductible ($250 to $500) or not enough over that to make it worth having a claim on your record. Two claims in twelve months is normally enough to get you non-renewed which will likely double your rates. Save HO coverage for large losses only. Good luck.

by **rovere** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 7:14 pm

You dont even tell me what insurance company it was so I could have sent you a link to the company,but why do you bother to pay for accidental damage if you cant claim for such mishaps unless you dont claim often. Keep the broken pieces.I would give them a call.You must know the company? and you will have to have your policy.

by **amhuinn** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 7:15 pm

Most carpets dry out without any damage, maybe a bit of cleaning will be required - this costs very little.
The fish will not be covered as livestock is excluded.
The tank on its own would probably not cost much to replace and you will have to check your excess, as it could be £100 or more.

The insurer would also need to know how a 2 year old could be strong enough to accidentally smash a solid tank, and would probably ask to see the damaged tank as evidence.

by **long** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 7:30 pm

Asking the advice of your insurer can mean that it is logged as an incident - this means that it has to be declared to future insurers if they ask whether you have had any claims or incidents.

If you have accidental damage cover then you are most likely covered for the carpet. Water from a fish tank is sometimes classed as contaminated, and therefore the carpet, underlay and floorboards would need to be dried, cleaned and sanitised. Often it is just as cheap to replace the carpet. However, if the tank smashed into pieces then glass shards will have embedded in the carpet and you must insist that the carpet and underlay is replaced.

Ideally you need to check the terms and conditions of your policy, including the policy exclusions, but you can't do this if you haven't got the documents.
If you think that you have accidental damage cover then I think it's worth ringing your insurer and discussing the case.

The insurer will not cover the cost of replacing the fish unless you had special cover for them.

by **harry42** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 7:34 pm

Actually the best thing to do is phone up your Insurance company & ask them if your covered they should then be able to tell you if they are like most then they will tell you simple as that I done something about 5 or more years ago & someone asked If it was covered on my Home policy & I explained what I had done & the results they said I was covered & got it sorted quickly no problems with them N.F.U.. Hope your covered too.

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