Insuring university student laptop

[YanTanTetheraPetheraBumfitt]

Dd will be taking an expensive laptop to uni for her masters. She needs an expensive one for the software which needs to be used. I’m worried about theft and am looking to insure it as a named item on a specific policy.

Am looking at protect my bubble for £15 a month. I’m confident if she got mugged it would be covered. I can’t imagine it would be stolen out her flat as she’s living in a fancy apartment block, 20 floors up with a 24 hour concierge.

But I’m worried if she takes it to uni and leaves it in the studio while nipping to the loo it wouldn’t be covered. Obviously I’d tell her not to do this but I know what she’s like. The terms and conditions say that leaving it where others can see it and she can’t it wouldn’t be covered. But then says something about wouldn’t be covered if you left someone you didn’t know well keeping an eye on it. So if she left someone from her class keeping an eye on it and they got distracted and it was taken would it be covered or not? Because it seems to suggest that would be ok???

has anyone being in such a situation and the insurance has paid out?

From my experience, insurance companies will do everything they can to get out of paying. I wouldn’t leave it on its own at all.

No, I know you’re right. And I will absolutely tell her this. But I can imagine it’s tempting in the uni studio where you think it’s only other architecture students and you’re only going to be five mins to nip to the loo and leave it. I will read her the riot act before she goes 😁

Have a look at Switched On for laptop insurance too.

Just remind her that if it gets damaged or stolen and not covered by insurance she’ll be screwed until she can buy herself a new laptop. Sounds like you’re already forking out a wad of money anyway!

Buy her a lock that attaches directly to her laptop. Many laptops will have a dedicated slot for this purpose but if hers doesn’t you can get an anchor adapter that locks into another accessory slot. You can also get an alarm that plugs into the usb-c slot and makes a very loud noise if anyone tries to unplug it.

These devices aren’t foolproof and I still wouldn’t leave it unattended for long periods of time but they should be enough to discourage an opportunistic thief from nicking it in the five minutes your daughter pops to the loo.

Thanks, didn’t know about the laptop alarm, will investigate this. Technically the uni studios should be secure, as in only people on her course can use them but you never know.