Insurance...

Hi All...

Just after a little info please - I'm just about to get insurance sorted out for my kit and wondered if anybody has any specific recommendations on who to use? I travel abroad quite a bit so worldwide cover is a must for me...

I have been using a company called AUA who are based in Norwich (think they have ads in the likes of AP) - I've been pretty happy with the service having had a couple of claims but they seem to be a little on the expensive side especially as I have all the new digital kit to add to my policy...

I have just tried to call the number of the company that's advertised on the main site here but the recored voice tells me that it's unobtainable... Does anyone use these guys and what's the service like - if anybody has had the unfortunate experience of making a claim?

Would appreciate anyone's advice/input...

Thanks, regards,

Will

We have an "all risks" section in our household contents policy that covers unspecified items such as cameras for up to £500 each. Any items over this value can be specified. This is a lot less expensive than specialised insurance. That's what we found anyway!

John, that kind of policy is fine so long as it's not for professional equipment
Matt

Hi John,

Thanks, but I've tried that approach in the past... I tends to be fine when you're in this country (although when trying to make a claim in the past via the household they've wanted to deduct this and that for the age of the equip...) but it's a little tricker if you're having to do things like stick a peli-case full of equip in the hold of an aircraft... and as Matt says Household insurers start to think that you're taking the .... if you've got a couple of systems with x number of lenses!!!

Surely someone on here has or is using the Pentax recommended insurers???

Cheers, Will

Hi,
I tend to agree with John. The most cost effective option is your household policy. However, this will depend on the type of cover you pay for. On mine, it is new for old or in the case of "collectables" market value, It covers me worldwide as long as I am not out of the country for more than 3 months and only 10% of the total sum insured can be out of the house at any one time.

I have also found out (courtesy of my then 2 year old daughter who decided to burn the house down!) that having more than one policy can cause problems in the event of a claim. If you have a policy to cover your photo gear, you must put an exclusion clause on your household contents. Otherwise, it could be deemed that the gear is covered twice. In which case the photo policy could only pay out a portion which would be based on total sums insured on both policies. For instance - House contents £18000, camera gear £2000, the camera insurance would only pay 10% of the claim!

Regards
Kim