Been burgled, any tips on dealing with insurance nightmare?

[wilbur]

Got burgled on Sunday night and lost a load of stuff (mostly electronic) inc laptop. Feeling v fed up and sorry for myself, even though they didn't take much sentimental stuff except for work and photos on the computer (most was backed up, but not all ).

Anyway, I now have an insurance problem - I need a new computer, but I don't know if I get just a computer to the same spec as my old one (top of range Dell, but 2 yrs old) which would cost a lot less than my old one cost me or if they replace it with an up-to-date equivalent. Insurers are being v vague and saying it all has to go to loss adjusters before any decision can be made. Ditto car - they won't give us an idea for a while of what money we might get (not much, I imagine) and so I have no idea what cars to look at for replacement. Does anyone know anything about this? Should I wait a few weeks and see if they recover our car? I have to get a new computer asap as I have work to do, but realy don't know what to go for.

Any ideas, and any general tips on dealing with large insurance claims gratefully received.

can't help you with you question but just wanted to say, how awful for you

How awful for you, they pinched your car as well??
Sorry no experience, but I would badger the company if I were you

BTW it should say on your policy whether it is new for old

what a nightmare
I claimed for a new laptop when ds cracked the screen on an old one and they sent me a brand new up to date one which had a slightly higher spec than the old one

Have they told you which loss adjuster it will be yet ? The claims person on the end of the phone honestly won't be able to tell you, as if a LA is being appointed it is all up to them.

However, if your laptop is still available today, that is what you will get, irrespective of it being cheaper now. If it isn't, then they will do nearest equivalent.

Look at Parkers online for how much you can expect for the car based on age and mileage. LA will use Glass' but they are about the same. If your car wasn't newish, then they probably only took it to get the electronics away and it will either be recovered or found burnt out (alas the most likely). Check your policy to see whether you can get a hire car for a period.

DH is a claims specialist, and will be happy to help if you need anything.

Whoops - that's interesting. We do have a new for old policy, but of course in computer world our laptop was v whizzy at the time but is now v out of date. Just wasn't sure how they judge it, and I can't wait for them to send me the cash. I just didn't want to spend 800 quid and then find I am only offered 300 becasue that's what a similar spec laptop would cost now.

Norkinmywaistbend (love the name) - yes, they took the car key and just drove it off.

I'm having a panic about how likely it is that they will go through everything on the computer - there's a lot of stuff there that would help them nick our identities. I have changed most of my online passwords, but can't help worrying about other stuff.

Sympathies. This happened to us in July.

Our insurers were very fair with us. Loss adjusters worked out equivalent models of video, laptop etc - not by price but by function and quality.

Where they couldn't do that (eg 10-year-old camera) they gave us the money instead so we could choose.

Everyone we dealt with was very helpful. We didn't have receipts, serial numbers etc for some things but they accepted manuals, repair tickets or similar.

Could you hire a car for a week or so?

Make sure you think of everything you need to claim. I forgot camera cases, Tom-tom case, video carrying case etc. which adds up to quite a bit.

And think about software - they took the box that my Office 2007 came in, so although I still had the disk I couldn't reinstall it (hadn't written down the 28-digit key anywhere) and had to pay for another disk. Forgot all the additional country maps my husband had paid for on the Tom-tom. Also forgot to claim for a DVD player which had been a gift.

It is a pain sorting it all out but take your time. All the best

DOn't buy new laptop until you've discussed with them - they may want to send you a laptop, not the money

Def worth checking how the insurance company arranges stuff like this though - when we were burgled a few years ago we were given credit with an electronic shop to spend, not the cash itself.

Having said that, when the car burnt to the ground, we got a cheque for the value of the contents from the insurance people, so it does depend. I imagine the last thing you want is to buy a new laptop and then find they want to replace it themselves.

When I was burgled the ins co replaced everything themselves using a co they deal with. I got everything to same spec (or better if no longer made, ie DH had special edition ps1 but they sent him a new ps2)
DONT buy anything yourself without talking to them or you prob wont get money back for it!

Thank you for all this. I guess all companies have a different way of doing things. I will have to call the insurers again and see how they approach the laptop as I will miss work deadlines if I don't have a new one by next week. Am currently using my au pair's one, but I can't expect her to lend it to me for work!

Eemie - I've just joined Streetcar so hopefully that will tide us over until we can decide about a car - I loathe the whole car thing so the thought of buying a new one makes me want to stick my head in a bucket and never emerge.

We've started a ist and it's shocking how much stuff there is in a car and nhandbag, let alone the other stuff. Camera case - good point. And memory stick. They do cover software and "reconstituting electronic data" which hopefully will mean I can claim for some of the iTunes stuff I bought.

Sorry to hear this wilbur
I can't offer any advice as I have only ever claimed for cash/phone etc

Thanks, Blonde - police said there had been a bit of a rash of professional thefts around us, so lock your doors well (and back up your computers...).

We always double lock after me waking up to burglars in the house when pg with DS
I doubt they were pros though tbh!

Someone has told me that in general, car insurers will "make an offer" for the car, which will be below the replacement value () and then it's up to us to try and negotiate more. Is this true, does anyone know? I can't stand the thought of getting into a debate about it, it's bad enough finding all the info they want and filling in the forms. Surely they would have to show me where I could buy the equivalent car for the money they are offering?

Am very fed up and sad about all this. We realised a couple of days ago that he had got into the cupboard where we keep the video camera and taken that too, with all the footage from my 40th b'day party, inc the dcs wishing me happy birthday and dh making a speech.

Anyone? Would really appreciate some tips on how to negotiate a better car payment, if this is the case.

Our insurers did try to knock us down on the car but dh just told them the value as on Parkers and they accepted it.

Actually, just remembered dh told them the car had a full service history and so would be worth more and they accepted that too (didn't ask for evidence).

Oh, that's good, Ladylaura, yes we have (had) a full service history and receipts for two new tyres we just put on it.

They will offer you the Glass' guide price for the car - with cars you are insured for the worth of the car, not replacing the car iyswim, so even if you have loved and cared for it, you won't get an adjustment for that