The Insurance and my Laptop!

[Michael Alexander]

As some of you know, my trusty laptop fried itself yesterday. It cost me N$15 000 about three years ago, so I insured it for 15 000 , I even specified the model and serial number and paid the premium of $158 per month for the last few years..... When  I enquired about my claim for my laptop, I found out  that I will only be getting a similar laptop for the value of N$ 9700  and not anywhere near the 15 000 that I had been paying the premium for...... On top of it all, I also have to pay excess of 2000 ..... Somewhere this does'nt seem fair, the insurance guys were happy to takemy money on premiums but are'nt sticking to their end of the deal.... Once I have my laptop back, I think I will be making a move to another broker.....

What is your opinion, am I wrong or not?

[Robert Bruce]

You have been good and properly verneeked! Those insurance bar stewards always win.

Sorry about the spelling!

[Charles Scheepers]

Thats why the SHARKS lost the Curry Cup ;-) 

[Robert Bruce]

Mike, next time read the small print very, very, very carefully and then ask for a detailed explanation from them!

[SandyB]

 Mike ,, Generally  if it was  under all risks , the norm is  they must replace  it with  the same spec  ,,, however  if the  price of replacing with the same had dropped ( as with electronic goods  has possibly happened ) then its unfortunately  in order , a good thing to do is always check yearly  or more often the  value of a new equivalent  replacement and if  it drops then adjust the value and premium ...
its the same with car insurance  some folk  keep on paying the  same premium from the day of purchase forgetting the market value drops .. I  do a  once/ twice yearly  adjustment to my car premium according to the new market  value .. why pay a premium above  what they  going to pay you out for ?? unfortunately the onus is upon the insured to keep up to speed on these things , sadly so they will happily take your overvalued premium  and then not pay out for it .. the old saying  " buyer beware " applies here ..
I have   for a mere R 49 a month added to my car insurance  excess buster ,,  its a bargain ...
What  I do however find  strange is normally under  specified all risks  items I also pay no  excess ..  maybe its  just my luck .. again read the small  print ,, and yes gove your broker a punch in the gob ,, they are supposed to be looking after your interests ,, they after all collect a fee  for it ............   

[SandyB]

Which reminds me ..  I too have not  down adjusted the value  of  the laptop ...   

[Mike Stenson (RIP)]

Mike.... Check out the Alienware laptops...
http://www.alienware.com/Landings/laptops.aspx

[toonfandangl]

Mike trusting an insurance company is like believing in the tooth fairy!......... then the Government then ..........................dare I say it the Banks.....................................

[henniek]

My recent experience with insurers :
Due to the munucipalities failed pressure regulators at the pumpstation , a lot of people had burst waterpipes . Including me - while I was away for 4 days .
Insurance reasoning on home insurance was as follows : 1]They will only pay if the work was done by a registered plummer
2] they will only pay for the damage as a RESULT of the burst pipe and water leak.
Since the pipe burst on my property , under the brick paving , the insurance payed for the labour to lift and re do the paving . Not for material - pipes - fittings - new regulator or labour to replace pipes etc .. etc . as the burst pipe was the cause of damage and is not considered as a resultant loss  . so I got R850 . or about 20% of total cost

[Michael Alexander]

I guess, I should'nt complain, I'm getting a better Pc with up to date specs,

it just does'nt seem 100% right though.... kinda like the insurance boys were taking me money under false pretences....

[toonfandangl]

I have noticed on the commercial channels in the last few years they are trying to scare the s**** out of us oldies telling us we all should have funeral insurance and their main gig is telling us how we would feel when we died and left the cost of the funeral arrangement's to our loved ones and how much they would be out of pocket $5000 and upwards really really sticking the knife in so to speak, for me its the cardboard box and as I live at the coast scatter what's left over the sea, but found out you can't even do that without council's permission you have to have a permit............................tell you what the world is screwed! 

[SandyB]

Mike  have you      your broker yet ??    remember always update  the premium , the price of  electronics  per spec do  drop , why pay more , and enquire about the excess buster ...   

[Michael Alexander]

@Sandy, my neighbour was here 2 hours ago, she is also a broker (not mine, yet) ... she gave me a dressing down, explaining that it was my responsibility to readjust my premiums... on a yearly basis.... My new laptop is way better than my old one, so I am gonna let it slide, although I did grab my broker in the store yesterday, but she seemed oblivious to my query..... hardened by years of the same complaint..... wonder what her commission has been over the last 3 years....

[Michael Alexander]

I was meant to be receiving my spanking new DELL 17.3 inch Laptop today...... but the forces of Murphy conspired against me..... seem's I might be waiting till next week....