Insurance claims for things bought on this forum?

mrjames

mrjames

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I recently had my bag stolen, and i'm putting in a claim with insurance, but wanted to ask where I stand regarding things purchased used, on this forum that obviously don't have a receipt, would a copy of the thread and a link to the paypal/bank transfer be sufficient as a 'receipt' of purchase?

theoretically if I met up with the buyer and paid cash would that change things, that there was no 'on record' financial transaction?
 
Agreements and ITrader notifications should suffice, however most policies have a condition that items under a specific value do not require sale receipts, have you been asked for some or are you planning just in case the insurers ask?
 
Flightphoto said:
Agreements and ITrader notifications should suffice, however most policies have a condition that items under a specific value do not require sale receipts, have you been asked for some or are you planning just in case the insurers ask?
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I was just asking in case they ask- wanted to know where I stand and be informed

not sure how much I should put through- lost a 16-35, couple of flashes, and other bits and pieces- but not sure if I should put the bag itself through too, it cost like £40 but feels like pocket change in comparison to the rest of the stuff
 
Put everything through, down to the memory cards and battery. What use is loads of gear without a bag? You should be in the same position post claim as you were pre claim and a claim is a claim.

I had my camera stolen, 2nd hand body and lens. Had the eBay receipt for the body (£160) but not the lens. All I was asked for was a picture taken with my body and that lens so they could check the Exif data. 4 days later £990 worth of gear arrived at my house, I was mightily impressed.
 
For future, it's worth having records of serial numbers and a couple of photos of your kit. I've also kept the boxes
 
WelshNoob said:
Put everything through, down to the memory cards and battery. What use is loads of gear without a bag? You should be in the same position post claim as you were pre claim and a claim is a claim.

I had my camera stolen, 2nd hand body and lens. Had the eBay receipt for the body (£160) but not the lens. All I was asked for was a picture taken with my body and that lens so they could check the Exif data. 4 days later £990 worth of gear arrived at my house, I was mightily impressed.
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thing is, it's only contents insurance I have not professional insurence, and since I was on a job at the time (it was actually my assistant who misplaced the bag, leading to it's disappearance). So I don't want to put a whole bunch of stuff through and then they say "but why would an amateur snapping photos for a friends show have so much fancy equipment?"


so they replaced the gear, not just gave you the cash?
A lot of the stuff I lost was second hand, and some you can't buy anymore (like the canon 550ex flashes), not sure if i'll get the stuff, or the money- if I even have the choice

Byker28i said:
For future, it's worth having records of serial numbers and a couple of photos of your kit. I've also kept the boxes
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great advice
 
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Does your contents insurance cover you for professional use then? Because mine doesn't.

...or are you not going to mention that you were on a job?



Heather
 
WelshNoob said:
Put everything through, down to the memory cards and battery. What use is loads of gear without a bag? You should be in the same position post claim as you were pre claim and a claim is a claim........
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If it's a "new for old" policy then technically you could even be better off :cool:
 
It was on my contents insurance but as you say I'm not a professional or on a job. My policy was on a new for old basis and I was ready to argue with them as I presumed they would offer me a new 1100d to replace my 20d, you could have knocked me down with a feather when they asked would a 60d be ok! Erm, yes.

No cash was offered but a replacement sent out directly, I presume the claims handling company get items at a very discounted rate from the retailers they use for the gear. My stuff came from Wex via the claims handlers. My excess was only £25 aswell.
 
boliston said:
If it's a "new for old" policy then technically you could even be better off :cool:
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fantastic, we shall see :)

i've already replaced some of the lighting gear as I needed it for a shoot, but I replaced it with cheap nissin flashes and i've yet to make up my mind whether to keep them or return them

Tigger.ufo said:
Does your contents insurance cover you for professional use then? Because mine doesn't.

...or are you not going to mention that you were on a job?



Heather
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It's just contents insurence, so probably not for professional use- but it actually wasn't a job, but it sort of was too- it's a gray area, it was a friends exhibition opening, which I was going to anyway so it was one of those 'if you're there anyway can you take pictures', which I agreed to at a much reduced rate, the only reason I had my entire kit bag is because I didn't want to split it up (and you never know what you might need), most of the night I just went about with a 5d and 50mm, taking shots when I saw something interesting- I only used the flashes for the 'formal' picture of the artist,

money did change hands (although that reminds me I haven't been paid for it yet- so there's no record of payment on my bank statement etc) if I refuse payment then there is perhaps no change of it being 'professional', I was just a friend with nice camera gear helping out by taking some pictures


total equipment lost was:


16-35 f2.8 L mk 2
canon 430ex
canon 550ex
canon 550ex
yongnuo st-e2 flash trigger

AA rechargeable battery sets x 4
battery charger for 5d

Giottos vitruvian tripod
kirk bh1 ball head with benro pc-1 rotating head

westcott 43" silver collapsible umbrella
2 white shoot through umbrellas
light stands x2
umbrella brackets x2

neutral gray card

bag to hold all the equipment
bag for light stands and umbrellas


not sure how much of this I can put through as a 'non professional taking photos for a friend'

I'm thinking my limit might be:
16-35
1x550ex (would an amateur have multiple flashes? maybe...)
1xlightstand
st-e2 flash trigger
tripod (maybe not the ballhead though?)
rotating panoramic head
both bags (camera bag and lightstand bag)
westcott umbrella


simonblue said:
Very good idea,a lot of insurance co now require that you take photos of high value items.

:)
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will definitely do this once I get new stuff, might look into upgrading my policy too

WelshNoob said:
It was on my contents insurance but as you say I'm not a professional or on a job. My policy was on a new for old basis and I was ready to argue with them as I presumed they would offer me a new 1100d to replace my 20d, you could have knocked me down with a feather when they asked would a 60d be ok! Erm, yes.

No cash was offered but a replacement sent out directly, I presume the claims handling company get items at a very discounted rate from the retailers they use for the gear. My stuff came from Wex via the claims handlers. My excess was only £25 aswell.
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Ok, well that makes sense I guess. I think my excess is about £150

wondering what they'll send me, the 2 550ex's might turn into 600rt's
 
mrjames said:
It's just contents insurence, so probably not for professional use
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I had this conversation with my contents insurer when I took out my policy as I wanted to check what the extent of cover for my kit was. Their line is that if my photography is entirely amateur (it is) then my kit is covered, any value, new for old, anywhere in the world for theft, accidental damage etc.

If I ever accept payment for photographic work or photos that I take it becomes business equipment and needs its own policy. My contents policy doesn't cover tools of the trade, whether it's a full time job or a very occasional one.

You should, of course, declare to your insurer that your kit is occasionally used for paid work. Uberrima fides and all that.
 
onomatopoeia said:
I had this conversation with my contents insurer when I took out my policy as I wanted to check what the extent of cover for my kit was. Their line is that if my photography is entirely amateur (it is) then my kit is covered, any value, new for old, anywhere in the world for theft, accidental damage etc.

If I ever accept payment for photographic work or photos that I take it becomes business equipment and needs its own policy. My contents policy doesn't cover tools of the trade, whether it's a full time job or a very occasional one.

You should, of course, declare to your insurer that your kit is occasionally used for paid work. Uberrima fides and all that.
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interesting

the plot thickens as it's actually my parents contents insurance that extends also to me when i'm at home, so I have no idea what sort of cover it offers- I only assumed it would be amateur use only. I'm in between staying at home in England and staying with my girlfriend in Scotland, so we're going to put it through the insurance as amateur use while I was visiting her in Scotland, perhaps a little fraudulent but we pay for the policy so should get something back from it for a change...just don't want to raise suspicions about whether it was more equipment than the average amateur so would be happy to get half the gear back and eat the cost of the rest of the lost gear, a lot of it i'd outgrown anyway or it needed replacing. Once I move into my own place i'll look into my own insurance that covers it for professional use (as well as insuring my laptop/monitor/other expensive stuff at home)
 
perhaps a little fraudulent but we pay for the policy so should get something back from it for a change..
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Every little helps hey - What value do you put on your integrity?



Insurance policy's are not Investments.
 
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Never fail to be amused how folk post their intentions on here, not to mention the whiter than white folk too :p
 
Just read this thread with amazement at how some folk on here forget that whatever is said on forums becomes public knowledge !!
 
Galaxy66 said:
Just read this thread with amazement at how some folk on here forget that whatever is said on forums becomes public knowledge !!
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Just thinking the same........ If an insurance company wanted to do a little background checking I'm sure a few google searches would lead them straight to this site/thread........

I have to say I was guilty of relying on home contents insurance even though I was doing the odd paid job for friends.

In the ended I decided that for the sake of £20p/m my conscience would be clear and my gear properly covered ;)
 
I feel for you because it is terrible to have lost all that equipment.
But you are not insured for that loss, and that is a decision you have made, and kind of need to stick with.
 
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