[cathgates]

We have chosen our shipper, and sent of the acceptance form, but we now need to fill out the insurance form. Our furniture is not top of the range, but in very good nick, a lot of it is fairly new but from Ikea - the slightly more expensive range not the banana box range!!!
Not sure where exactly to look for comparisons via the internet, it's a catch 22 really, we need to cover costs incase of total loss, but don't want to hike the price up too much as the cost of insurance is a percentage of the replacement value.
If anyone has any tips or comparable furniture/electrical websites it would be most appreciated.

Thanks

Cath X

[mikewalkerfrom]

For our insurance we just used the cost price (we have the same sort of furniture as you). They wanted the item prices in GBP and the total sum insured is in GBP.

We didn't go crazy on our insurance. We only insured the stuff we'd actually replace if our boat sank (then we'd buy it back from ebay once it got washed up on Boscomb beach :laugh )

Hope this helps.

[Mickstim]

Cath - are you insuring with your moving company? We have found that Letton Percival is a lot cheaper (1.6%) of value, and are busy trying to sort that lot out now. We have nothing of any great value except the beloved Goldwing - so think we will just thumb suck the rest at a price we could replace it with.

Bx

[cathgates]

You have a beautiful machine there B. I had thought about finding another insurer, but hadn't come across any reccomendations. I've just given them a call and the guy I need to speak to is calling me tomorrow.

Thanks

Cath X

[mikewalkerfrom]

We've used Orbit who seem pretty good and less than 2%.

http://www.orbitprotect.com/Marine/default.asp

[chocolate cake]

I've just gone with LettonPercival, at 1.6% value plus govt insurance taz surcharge of 5%. Seems reasonable though I'd have to question the latter as most of the insurance period isn't going to be in the UK, and I'd didn't get charged VAT on my shipping costs.

Was much cheaper than my shippers insurance, did consider Orbit but they never never returned a phone call I left on their voicemail.

[Caroline and Dave]

did consider Orbit but they never never returned a phone call I left on their voicemail.

We have dealt with Orbit on several things now,student insurance,marine insurance and we have always dealt with them by email mainly because of the time difference .They always get back by email. One thing we have learnt about Kiwis. They seldom return your call and we then ring them back and they usually say they were just going to ring but we have found a lot of the time they don't ring back.

[Familyofmonkeys]

When deciding about insurance a couple of points to consider. Not all policies include 'sets and pairs cover', 'Mould and Milder cover' and 'electrical derangement cover'. Also, read small print very carefully because there are some items that are just not covered full stop, for example most jewellery (other than costume jewllery) is not covered as standard (and shold be taken with you in your hand luggage). My collection of mineral rocks was also not covered...and would have cost a bom to get additional cover for. Also, most policies will only provide limited cover on items you have packed yourself. Items over a certain value may require speical mention to the insurance company (not just listing on the inventory) to be fully insured.

In our case, we didn't go with the cheapest insurance cover as it was not comprehensive enough. It was a good job we got good cover. We had a £1200 treadmill damaged. OK, it was only a switch the needed replacing in the end (but the nearest registered servicing agent for the item was in Oz) so the insurance company paid the full value of the item (as we had electrical derangement cover). OH managed to fix it himself in the end too :) We also had a couple of chipped saucers from an espresso set....but as we had pairs and sets cover we got the replacement costs for the full set (as opposed to just money to buy a close matched item). We had a lampshade damaged and got the replacement cost for the full set of 4 lamps back. The same would apply to sets of tables/chairs/sofas etc.

Inevitably, some things DO get damaged. There are very few people whose stuff arrived without even minor damage somewhere, although often it is such small stuff people don't bother to claim. This is the reason why shipping insurance is SO expensive. Unless you really don't have anything of great value, make sure you are well insured.

[cathgates]

Thanks for the advice Monkey - sorry, don't know what else to call you!!!!! I have been looking for cover that includes pairs/sets. Your insurer sounds like they honoured their obligations well. Who did you use if you don't mind me asking?

Cath X

[Carey]

[QUOTE=Familyofmonkeys;189551]When deciding about insurance a couple of points to consider. Not all policies include 'sets and pairs cover', 'Mould and Milder cover' and 'electrical derangement cover'. Also, read small print very carefully because there are some items that are just not covered full stop, for example most jewellery (other than costume jewllery) is not covered as standard (and shold be taken with you in your hand luggage). My collection of mineral rocks was also not covered...and would have cost a bom to get additional cover for. Also, most policies will only provide limited cover on items you have packed yourself. Items over a certain value may require speical mention to the insurance company (not just listing on the inventory) to be fully insured.

In our case, we didn't go with the cheapest insurance cover as it was not comprehensive enough. It was a good job we got good cover. We had a £1200 treadmill damaged. OK, it was only a switch the needed replacing in the end (but the nearest registered servicing agent for the item was in Oz) so the insurance company paid the full value of the item (as we had electrical derangement cover). OH managed to fix it himself in the end too :) We also had a couple of chipped saucers from an espresso set....but as we had pairs and sets cover we got the replacement costs for the full set (as opposed to just money to buy a close matched item). We had a lampshade damaged and got the replacement cost for the full set of 4 lamps back. The same would apply to sets of tables/chairs/sofas etc.

Can I also ask 'FoM' who did you use to insure?

[dusk]

Just started looking into this, the insurance form that came from the shippers is the most long-winded and unclear document I've read in a long while, all I wanted to know was what percentage they used as the iunsurance rate - I don't want to have to fill in 3 pages of form, post it off and wait for a quotation!

anyone used royal sun alliance and can shed any light on whether they are worth using and what percentage of value rate they use (if they use anything that simple!)?

[Genie]

We had a quote from Pickfords for shipping. Has anyone else used them?

Their insurance is 3%! We will be looking elsewhere for the insurance, but probably sticking with them for the actual shipping.

Jeannie

[jonSE]

As others have said don't use the Shipping companies insurance - at best it will be double the price of getting the same insurance elsewhere. Letton Percival and Vero Marine are worth trying.

Also don't insure a car for Electrical and Mechanical derangement - they'll merrily take your premium and omit to tell you that cars aren't covered.

Depending upon your financial circumstances it si worth considering underwriting some of the risk yourself. As others have said there is quite often minor damage but in reality it is minor cost stuff. The main risks with container shipment are total loss ie container falls of ship and is lost forever - it does happen, statistics are difficult to get but somewhere 1/4 and 1 % of containers shipped per year, and container gets dropped smashing everything smashable - no stats on that.

What I am trying to say is insure for total loss and accept a high excess on the partial damage and you should get the premium down to around 1.2% of insured value. At this level you can afford to bump the total value up to cover the actuall excess in the event of total loss.

without doing some sums my gut reaction is that this is only economic if your container contains say £100,000 ish. (When you sit down and itemise absoutely everything you'll be surprised - replace 4 pairs of jeans Levis thats £200 straightaway.)

Idle ramblings hope it helps

[peebles16]

We went for Letton Percival - easy form to fill out and very informative staff. Also significantly cheaper than the insurance through movers. I left the insurance to last minute like a week before container due to leave and given that it was over christmas and new year their service was great :) Container arrived with everything intact so can't comment on their claims process..

Good luck with it all

Karen

[dusk]

thanks all. had a look at the letton percival website, which was useless, I guess people phoned them or used email?

[peebles16]

Yep from what I remember website was pretty rubbish but we did it all by email and they were very good

Karenx

[Familyofmonkeys]

Thanks for the advice Monkey - sorry, don't know what else to call you!!!!! I have been looking for cover that includes pairs/sets. Your insurer sounds like they honoured their obligations well. Who did you use if you don't mind me asking?

Cath X




Can I also ask 'FoM' who did you use to insure?

Sorry for not picking this up sooner....will PM you both!