Insurance claim - more of a WWYD

[whatdoiknowanyway]

Dropped my glasses yesterday. They were in their case but still broke. They are varifocals and so replacement cost is quite high (several hundred pounds). Even repair could be a couple of hundred pounds.

Optician has suggested I claim on household insurance. DH doesn't want me to on grounds that if we claim too many times the insurance company might refuse to insure us.

Is that actually a risk? Anyone know?

FWIW we have claimed maybe half a dozen times in the 20+ years we have been in this house. Most recent (and biggest ever claim) was when hidden leak in shower caused major bathroom damage last year. Other than that I claimed for another pair of broken glasses in the mid 1990s, a broken dental crown at about the same time and ... I think that's it.

AIBU in wanting to take optician's advice and claim or is DH right in his concern that we risk claiming too much?

YANBU You don't sound like someone that abuses their household insurance. 6 times in 20 years is hardly excessive. DH is being rather overcautious.

I would claim depending upon the excess of the insurance. If you had a very high excess, then it probably wouldn't be cost effective,but if your replacement costs are significantly higher than the excess, then you ought to claim. That is the purpose of insurance, after all.

I think it is unlikely that your premium would go up by more than you would have to spend to replace the glasses iyswim.

I think 6 claims in 20 years is quite a high number. We've claimed once and not at all for 17 years. I don't think it's a high enough number for your insurance company to refuse cover, but your premiums are likely to increase.

I wouldnt say 6 claims in 20 years is high, depends on the type of claim really. I would make a claim for this type of incident.

My folks had to make 2 claims in 6 weeks and were told that 3 claims in A YEAR would make a difference to their premiums, 6 in 20 seems ok!

Thanks all for feedback - much appreciated. I feel a little vindicated and will discuss further with DH...

I would claim if the cost of repair is more than your excess.

ask your husband what he thinks insurance is for?

You will never be refused insurance. your premiums will just go up.

But seriously what is the point of having insurance of you are not going to use it~?

What Mr Spoc said. If you never use it, then you're paying out money every month needlessly.

"what is the point of having insurance if you are not going to use it"

Have asked that question a LOT. Apparently it's for if something really major happens, not something we can fund ourselves. I really don't agree as you can probably guess and certainly not for a loss of more than £500.

He didn't want us to claim for the bathroom damage which was around £1500. I won that argument.

Speak to your insurance company regarding increased premiums, etc then decide based on what they say.

can you ask your husband what claims are acceptible? what is a major claim?

WhatdoIknow. What would your DH claim for? Seriously.

I think you have to balance the cost of replacing them against the excess (what is it?) and the VERY likely increase in your premiums. Usually for an item like this I agree with your DH - it is not cost effective.

But if the excess is only £50 janinlondon and the repair is £500+ then it is definitely worth claiming!

Can you not phone your insurance and ask their advice?

They can tell you what the excess if and if your premiums will go up if you claim.

My parents have claimed a lot more than that over the years (Mum is a bit of a ditz) and their premiums remained the same.

Major claim would be subsidence requiring major structural work, flooding, fire - that sort of thing.

He is ultra risk averse and admits that himself.

I will check wth our insurers. Seems silly not to. Excess is £75 and cost of glasses £600+ btw - so not exactly spare change!

thanks everyone!

I have claimed twice this year. Once for a damaged laptop and once for a burst pipe. My renewel notice arrived yesterday and I don't think the premiums have gone up.

I work for large insurer- our online home policy would offer insurance if you had had 2 and under household claims in the last 3 years. It would also be best if all former claims are settled/resolved which I presume they are. Go to confused/ go compare etc and do a hypothetical quote. They should ask for previous claims history and will, on this basis, give u a list of insurers that would underwrite u back.

I would advise u to get one of these "aggregator" site quotes when your renewal comes through and use it to negotiate your premium down with your existing provider. You will find they may may hack hundreds off your price to keep u. Try direct line too as they don't play on the aggregators but their prices are keen

Good advice thank you

I think many insurers are 3 claims over 3 years before they start hitting your premiums.

For low value items (e.g. pair of glasses) IMO its better to just pay for a new pair. Save the insurance for when you really need it (say an 'accidental' iron burn on the carpet when you want the place redecorating ). When they start increasing the premiums, the amount soon adds up to more than you claimed in the first place.

£600 for glasses?! Take them back to the jewellers first - perhaps they can salvage some of the diamonds.

I am really surprised by the number of people on here saying they don't think their premiums have gone up!? Ours go up EVERY year and we have never made a claim. What are we doing wrong????!

is DH avoiding the issue of inadvertently not renewing the contents/accidental damage insurance cover