I could cry - high value possessions not insured abroad (& a word of warning)

[holidayinsurancehell]

Our villa was broken into whilst on holiday which was horrible but also a complete logistical nightmare as it was our last day so we had to extend our stay for 5 days whilst we sorted emergency travel documents in a country that does not do speed! Our travel insurers are covering most of the additional travel expenses incurred thankfully plus and a fair amount to replace some if not all of the clothes & baggage lost (we were packed ready to go and they took our suitcases with EVERYTHNG in). We knew there would be excesses to pay and it was unlikely everything would be covered, but we certainly didn't expect our home insurers to turn us down flat for our high value personal possession claim. I could cry. My diamond eternity ring, my husband's laptop, a very expensive heirloom watch that ironically has sat in a safe for about 5 years until very recently when I thought sod it, I'm wearing this everyday🙄

We paid a sizeable additional premium to specifically cover these & when we changed providers about a year ago we obviously read the T&C's but just didn't register they are only covered in the UK - I just took 'away from home' to mean exactly that😭. Obviously we would have left them at home had we know but hindsight is a great thing. I'm gutted. There's literally no way we are ever going to be able to replace these items financially let alone the sentimental value.

Please people, before you go away, check your home insurance covers you or leave high value items behind.

(Name changed as all my friends & family now about our drama and I don't want my posting history linked!)

It is a hard lesson and I'm very sorry it has happened but yes, your home insurance including specific valuable items will not be for travel abroad, hence why travel insurance also covers baggage and personal items. Unfortunately most of us just skim read our policies but the onus is on us to read and understand what we have signed for and take out the appropriate level of cover.

People are shits though aren't they. Probably either observing or with insider knowledge of who is leaving so they can swoop in and grab the cases.

Our home insurance insures items overseas up to £4k per item.

So it's not unheard of.

Oh i feel so bad for you! I had a really valuable ring stolen. It was a gift from my husband when my first DC was born. I took it abroad for a wedding and it was taken out of DHs backpack at the airport somewhere or at the hotel during checkout. The bag was never unattended, they were very skilled.
We even had a valuables insurance that covered it in full, but like in your case only in the country. Abroad the limit was a fraction of what it cost.

I wouldn’t have assumed home insurance covers this stuff abroad. That’s what travel insurance is for. But even paying a premium for high value coverage it’s usually still pitifully low e.g. £200 per item of jewellery or £500 for a phone. I don’t take anything important away now as it’s too much of a risk…except for my phone.

How devastating for you OP. I’ve sadly heard similar tales of villas targeted abroad (despite being locked up). I do think people are being specifically targeted.

I hope home and travel insurance can cover some of it but it’s the sentimental value.

A reminder for us all really. I didn’t take any jewellery on holiday this year. Hid it away in my house. I think criminals are literally watching what you are wearing - watches, jewellery and specifically targeting holiday makers in villas. My more suspicious mind thinks it’s a group crime and many are involved. Just leave it all at home.

Taking them to the beach seems way more risky!

There’s no safe option unfortunately.Burgled whilst away on holiday..why didnt you take your valuable ring with you? Etc etc. The only thing we can realistically do is to know what our travel and home insurances policies cover, decide whether we are comfortable with the level of risk etc etc but not beat ourselves up with “if only” when ultimately its down to the utter bastards that do this sort of thing.

A friend used to live in Portugal, it's organised gangs. Her neighbour came home early and was beaten up badly by the intruders. They're not only targeting tourists. She luckily had five rescue dogs a couple of them really fierce so she thinks they swerved her place but they did five villas along her road.

I should add that these gangs aren't Portuguese.

I’m so sorry this has happened to you @holidayinsurancehell. I hope you manage to get some money to pay for what you’ve lost but of course nothing can replace the sentimental value.

We had a villa in Lanzarote a few years ago and DH noticed that the door frame around the front door was damaged, like a crow bar had been used to force the door. When we checked the reviews the people who’d let the villa before us had been burgled. I couldn’t relax properly the whole time we were there.

There’s a spate of thefts going on in an apartment complex we’ve stayed in in Menorca this Summer too. I don’t know what’s got into people.

Travel insurance tends to have very low valuables limits. Certainly wouldn't cover single items worth thousands.

Did you receive a "needs and demands" document from your broker?
If you did this should have clearly stated that you wanted cover abroad, if you'd mentioned it, and you would be able to claim against the broker.
If it's an insurer then write a FCA complaint under "Treating Customers Fairly" to the insurer but be clear in your mind that you did ask for cover away from home.
All "consumer" insurance customers have a right to fair treatment.
You can, ultimately, take this to the Financial Ombudsman but you must do the procedure in the correct order first them to consider your case.