Dealing with insurers - seeking advice

Warble

I'm looking for some advice with regards to bike insurance. I have my Specialized Hardrock insured with Evans Insurance and today I had my front and rear hydraulic brakes (levers, tubing and callipers) stolen off my bike. I'd upgraded the stock brakes with a set of Avid 5 Elixirs. The thief used a knife to cut off the handlebar grips, marking the handlebars underneath and left the grips on the floor. I leave my bike in a busy area, in plain sight, but this obviously wasn't a problem.

Anyway, I rang the insurers up who told me that removable parts are not covered. The customer service rep. gave examples such as wheels or seat posts as not being covered. I argued that all parts of a bike are removable due to the nature of the way they are built. He replied saying that the only way parts would be covered is if the majority of the bikes components had been stolen.

Do I have a leg to stand on here or will I have to lump it? I was wondering if anyone had any advice or experience of a similar situation. There has been damage, albeit small cosmetic scratches, to the bike and I cannot use it in it's current state.

cooldad

What does your policy wording say - you need to read it.
pm me if you need some help with interpretation.

There are 3 on the Evans website. I had a brief read of one of them.

Removable parts are not covered, but are also not defined although they mention tyres and accessories.

This could be argued as being anything with a quick release - seatpost or qr wheels,or something not standard, such as lights but I cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, see how brakes could be considered removable.

There is also an excess of £100, and a requirement to be able to prove purchase/ownership.

So if you have an invoice, and the value is over £100, I don't see the problem.

If they don't play ball, they will have a complaints procedure, which you need to follow, and they have a set time to respond. (will be set out in the wording)

Still no joy you can take it to the ombudsman (should also be info in the policy)

Frankly, having read all the conditions on locks, where the bike can be kept etc, I reckon bike policies are close to pointless.

Won't help you, but my solution is a nice bike locked up in the house, and just let out for specific rides and always attended, and a rat bike for the shops etc.

rocketraz1982

Insurance companys are a bloody nightmare, worst case if they are messing you around just Say the whole bike was stolen. I didn't say that :roll:... A friend had this problem and that was what he did. He had his wheels, seat, brakes and bars stolen all was allen bolted up not quick release this was in central London. He ended up having a massive fight with the company to get anything even had CCTV pic..

Or you may be able to claim on your house insurance without a increse in premium worth a call. Do you have a police incident number???

cooldad

rocketraz1982 wrote:

Insurance companys are a bloody nightmare, worst case if they are messing you around just Say the whole bike was stolen. I didn't say that :roll:... A friend had this problem and that was what he did. He had his wheels, seat, brakes and bars stolen all was allen bolted up not quick release this was in central London. He ended up having a massive fight with the company to get anything even had CCTV pic..

Or you may be able to claim on your house insurance without a increse in premium worth a call. Do you have a police incident number???

Except making a false claim is fraud, and you would also have to lie to the police, which I think is considered naughty.

For a couple of million, and a fair chance of getting away with it, I'd probably be prepared to break the law, but for a set of brakes??

rocketraz1982

Insurance companys commit Fraud everyday.. Not sure I would loose any sleep over it and Im normally the most honest person you will find.

You are right Cycle insurance from most companies isn't worth a thing.

As i said chap if you have no joy put it down to a lesson learned and do look at your home insurance..

Good luck

cooldad

Sleep is not the issue. A large cellmate called Bubba, who thinks you look hot in lycra is.

asquithea

Maybe try your contents insurer next time. When adding a new bike to my Legal & General cover a few weeks ago, I asked some fairly pointed questions about theft of parts (such as a front wheel), and the response was that they'd pay the cost of replacement.

Excess is £100. The bike has to be "locked to a solid object" when left in public, but there are no special terms about what sort of lock should be used.

Warble

Thanks for the information.

I've read my policy documents and it says what you mentioned, cooldad. I'm also of the opinion that bike insurance isn't worth the money you pay. I had the chance to include it under my home insurance but thought I'd be getting a better service from a company specialising in bike insurance. I know I won't be able to claim on my current home policy as the bike was not at my house, but at my work place.

Whoever did this had obviosuly seen my bike and planned it. A friend parks a Rockhopper next to mine every day but the thief obviosuly wanted the better brakes (Elixirs Vs. Juicy 3's).

With regards to the excess of £100, the brakes only cost me £140 so it's probably not even worth it.

I thought I'd learnt my lesson when I had my old bike stolen and it wasn't insured. I'm waiting for the police to call round today to get my incident number.I'll give the insurers one more go on the phone, maybe send off the claim form anyway and leave it after that.

I'm defiantly considered saving my pennies for a nice full sus for mtb and a road bike for commuting. That's the more expensive option but a bit more peace of mind I guess.

blablablacksheep

bike insurance is far worse than trying to deal with car insurance tbh the whole bike insurance system seems 2 steps behind the car insurance system atm.

I would insure a bike unless it worth at least £800 quid tbh or the frame of the bike worth more than £500, i say this as the insurance isnt worth having as the bike parts ie the most important and valuable like forks, wheels, disc brake system,gear system ect can easly cost over £300 quid each AND ISNT COVERED. :shock:

the insurance for bikes is mainly for if you hit some old lady and they sue you, or if your bike nicked as a whole, very unlikely if you got a good lock like you said most people take parts not whole bike.

personally you have more luck taking out a insurance policy via your home insurance or via a broker, at least home insurance policy you can get a decent cover for WHOLE BIKE, or a broker can make a policy for YOU, and will cost around the same cost.

sadly getting insurance requires a lot more effort for a bike than car.:)

hope you get some refund mate as disc breakes are a pain exspencive to buy and fit:

p.s i suggest you regester your bike on immobilse website and or police site, also mark the bike with UV pen and or marker/tracker.

(a simple UV pen on the bike parts will mean he cannot sell the parts to a bike shop as they allways check with black light on all parts sold to them..that what they should legally do anyhow)

nferrar

Yeah I'd forget making a claim given the small amount you'd actually get if successful given the excess. If you're not far into your Evans insurance then you should be able to cancel it and get some money back, use that to help fund new brakes and stick the bike(s) under M&S contents insurance. Specialist cycle insurance is a bit of a joke really (usually around 10% of the bike's value per annum + a whole myriad of conditions), M&S contents should work out cheaper as you don't even have to declare the bike unless it's worth over £4000 and they have a lot less conditions around lock types etc.