Stolen Orange G2 (Manchester), Insurance advice

Newton1981

So, I live in an apartment building and lock my bike in the car park (you need a fob to get in the building and a fob to get into the car park). My bike was locked to secure posts secured to the ground with 8 bolts, using a kryptonite chain and a kryptonite gold standard d lock.

Some bastard has removed ALL 8 bolts from the floor and just taken my bike, lock and all.

Now I have Evans cycle insurance, but they are closed today (Sunday) and I'm wondering if anyone else has made a claim with them? I've just spoken to the coppers who have given me a crime number and promised to look at the CCTV of the car park.

Anyone know if the fact that they removed the bolts from what it was fixed to and moved it renders it not an 'immovable object' and whether this will affect my claim?

Any help would be appreciated, I guess I better see if I can find the receipts for my lock (dont think I have them though)

supersonic

Hmm, tricky one. Can't beleive the lengths some go to.

Tecnically nothing is imovable if you have the right kit and that would certainly be the argument I would be using - I would say for the purpose the object could be considered imovable.

Newton1981

I think as far as places to lock your bike up it was pretty good and secure, hopefully my claim will go through and I can have a new bike, problem is, I had bought Avid Elixrs for it (the bike was £709 i think, as I had Tora's instead of Darts) and I doubt theyll include the prices of the brakes I bought (Or the locks come to think of it)

What a shitter, I was going to do the Manchester to Blackpool ride again this year, doubt I'll be doing it now!

cat_with_no_tail

Yeh, like sonic says, there is really no such thing as imovable. If someone wants what you've got, they'll get it. Anything can be cut through/dug out given enough time. I think what they are really looking for is that you took reasonable steps to ensure some cnut dosent just walk off with it.

Which it sounds like you did.

Not sure how long the insurance will take. Can't see it taking too long for a fairly straight forward theft like this, but I really have no idea.

matty_boy76

Did you keep the receipts for the upgrades?

When my bike was stolen I had upgraded the chainset to pretty much xt all round (and upgraded the forks too) and let the insurance company know when I made the claim, hence I got a P7 Pro replacement instead of the lower specced one I'd originally bought.

I had the receipts but they didn't even ask to see them!

Good luck!

Newton1981

Yeah Ive spoken to the shops I bought the bike and brakes from, and they are posting out any receipts I havent got so that should be cool, Ive also found the receipt for the lock too!

Does anyone know what the protocol is re a replacement? Do insurers normally provide one, give me money to spend at a certain shop or send a cheque to me? In an ideal world Id love to get the dosh and buy something a bit more expensive this time (but maybe let it live in my flat with me eh!)

cavegiant

Insurance law is quite easy (when you have taken lots of exams in it).

You get what you asked for.

Did you tell them where you were locking it and ask if that was covered? (were the conversations recorded, if they said it was covered, it IS no matter what paperwork says)

I would put money that you would get a like for like bike from Evans.
Just make sure they pay, 1 battle at a time. Only after they have confirmed they will pay start talking upgrading bike.


If they are fucking you around, say you think you are being treated unfairly and are getting legal advice, then PM me.

Or to save me answering the PM, wait a week after you told them you would get legal advice, and say you have been advised that you have abided by conditions of contract and have been advised to give insurer one last chance to pay before reporting to the FSA (they will try and get you to complain elsewhere then back down SO fast you will be amazed.)

Any questions ask, I don't read this forum often so e-mail.

P

Newton1981

Thanks man thats an awesome post, I'm hoping it will go through okay, just for the record here are the images I am providing them of the item the bike was locked to and the fixings, what do we think of this, a decent place to lock up (considering it is a private car park with a fob required to get in and out).





I will send the documents off tomorrow recorded delivery, and give them a ring Thursday/Friday to check they have them and are processing.

Thanks for all the help guys, I'll report back with any news and I guess we will find out how good Evans Cycle Insurance is eh, if they pay out then it may be the best 7 quid a month Ive ever spent!!!!![/img]

Newton1981

Quick update, spoken to insurance, they are working on having a decision to me within 5 working days (shouldn't be any problem with it I don't think) and I'm fairly sure after speaking with the lovely lady that I will get the full value of the bike (£709).

They said that they will deal in vouchers or a cheque to ANY bike shop I like and putting money to a replacement wont be a problem, so I'm now on the lookout for a wicked good hard-tail for around £1100). Do I get a 2010 Orange Crush, wait for 2011 model, or just get an On-One 456?

Mancunianfightingcat

I think the idea with that railing is that you put your lock round the top part, that way, if any one unbolts the railings, they're still attached to your bike with no way of sliding the lock off.

Hope your insurance sorts you out though, I'd be gutted if one of my bikes got nicked!

Newton1981

Oh shit, thats a good point actually, you think they may turn round and say that I'm not covered?

Uh oh, now I am worried, unless I say that the D lock was around that, and that they removed the railing because the chain was around it, and that they must have cut through the D-lock and taken it away with them?

I'm truly fucked if they dont pay out, cant afford another bike at ALL!!!

neninja

I'm sure they will honour the insurance. You'd obviously taken proper steps to avoid the theft.

When the railing gets refitted, get the property management to organise getting the nuts spot welded so they can't be undone so easily in future.

HedleyP

It doesn't matter if you didn't attach the bike to the top part. The nefarious scallys that nicked your bike would have just taken an angle grinder to it later.

And if they couldn't have unbolted the posts they probably would have used a Stihl saw to cut it off.

You would be amazed what the local keeper used to find in Pikeys cars when he caught them on the estate. They would have oxy cutting tools, sometimes compressor driven cutters, etc etc. As someone else stated, there is no such thing as an immovable object.

It's a shame these people don't put so much effort into working for a living and buying the item rather than nicking it.

Newton1981

"It's a shame these people don't put so much effort into working for a living and buying the item rather than nicking it."

Tell me about it, it's the first time (touch wood) I've ever had anything stolen, and to be honest, I'm really quite gutted about it. I know it's only a bike, but I bought it and I don't see why someone else should have it.

It's pretty distinctive as bikes go, I put white forks and white Elixrs on it, so it's not like the thief can ride it around Manchester as he will stand out like a sore thumb to me (I've only seen 1 Orange Crush and 1 Orange clockwork in town in the last 4 months). My guess is he will sell it, for way less than it's worth just to get rid.

Heres a pic anyway: (ignore the long brake hose, I'd only just fitted them!

jayson

I feel ur pain bro my pride and joy was nicked from my work about a year and a half ago and my work didnt care less, i neva got a penny and it wasnt insured either.

God only knows what happened to it cause it was the ONLY Lobster intown and was very distinctive, theres no way u could have missed it but ive never seen it about since.

Bike theft is one of those things that never goes away atleast to me anyways, it still stings hugely even now when i think about and i can feel my blood pressure rising and my temper growing :evil:

I hope all goes well fro you with ur insurance claim and that u get a shiney new ride, good luck mate

Newton1981

Just had a call from Evans Insurance, agreeing to my claim (6 working days after they received it – not too shabby), gave me the option of cycle surgery, halfords, evans or a shop of my choice!

Asked them to send the cheque to on-one which they will do on monday apparently, so hopefully, it will not be too long before I get my new steed.

Thanks for all your advise guys, luckily, I didn't need it and they approved my claim straight away!!!!!!!! Made my Friday that has! Now I just need to see the scrote who stole my bike while I'm out and about, show him what I think of him!

karen44

really pleased you got yourself sorted just make sure you keep your bike in your flat in future! feck what the rules and regs of the management company say. and i will keep my eye out for you on gumtree manchester.com which is endemic with stolen bikes and will pm you if i see your bike. take care and look after yourself. xx

TowerRider

neninja wrote:

I'm sure they will honour the insurance. You'd obviously taken proper steps to avoid the theft.

When the railing gets refitted, get the property management to organise getting the nuts spot welded so they can't be undone so easily in future.

Exactly what I was going to say. Terrible security device..... bit of scrap metal and a bike. That said if they wanted it then you would have been mugged for it or just cut the metal with i.e. grinder.
To be honest it is the reason I havn't bought a shed for £400.00+ Just keep it in doors.

icedillon

Just notuced your post mate, I have had my specialized tarmac stolen from an apartment in town. Unfortunately I don't have any insurance nor do I have the chassis/serial number for it. The police didn't ask for it, is it something they can use because I'm sure I had some documentation with it. At least I know it will be marked and some day it may end up back to me!

btw manchester is a hot spot for bike theft compared to other cities!

icedillon

just noticed that a socket has been conveniently sited by the rack!!