Camera insurance in UK

[thecrazyfool]

Hi all,

Just thought I'd ask all you guys who live in England what camera insurer you use? Which are good and perhaps less so?

I've looked at a few e.g. E&L, Photoguard and just want to hear what people's views are before going for one.

I'll be taking the ameteur photographer route (i.e. does not gain income from pictures!) and worldwide cover (as I travel a lot and obviously take the cameras with me) but will be trying to insure around 3.5k of equipment (SLR, flashguns and lenses)

Thanks!

[hollis_f]

Phone up whoever does your home contents insurance and chat with them. I've got £15000 worth of cover with Tesco, for not a lot (and a damn sight less than any of the specialist insurers). It covers me for accidental loss or damage as well as theft. Also includes cover abroad for something like 6 weeks (could be more) a year. Any individual item upto £1100 is included in that £15,000 - items over that need to be specified.

If you haven't got contents insurance, then ring around a few of the big companies. You don't need to be a home-owner.

[troutfisher]

I would agree with hollis-f on this. I have £6K cover with the Halifax on my house contents policy it covers everything with a maximum for one individual item of £1500 , over £1500 the item has to be specified and you need a receipt , it costs an extra £7 per month on the normal policy ( £23 ish to £30 ish)

[thecrazyfool]

Ah should add, I'm not a home owner, so that is probably not for me. I will try this week on the phone though!

[PhotosGuy]

UK Photo Equip Insurance - Any Recommendations?
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=125285

[GregSteer]

I'm currently using Photoguard (http://www.photoguard.co.uk) to cover my gear while travelling, rang and spoke to them to check coverage in vehicles and what proof of ownership they needed etc, policy upgrade options, found them to be very helpful and competitive.

I used to be with AUA insurance (http://www.aua-insurance.com/Photographer-Insurance.shtm), again I'd be happy to deal with them again but they couldn't offer me more than 90days out of the country so changed.

Heard good things about http://www.aaduki.com/ and spoke to them but they would only do UK coverage, seemed nice and reasonable.

Avoid the guys who flier the magazines, heard bad press about their vehicle coverage and customer service, can't remember their name though.

[hollis_f]

Ah should add, I'm not a home owner, so that is probably not for me. I will try this week on the phone though!

As I said, you don't need to be a home-owner. If you rent you need contents insurance just as much as an owner-occupier.

[JF1980]

Sorry for digging up an old thread but was looking for some info on contents insurance and camera coverage and it seems silly to start a new thread.

Is camera gear covered by default if personal belonging cover is held or would the insurance company (e.g. direct line) require that they were told about it all individually when the policy was taken out? I'm not talking about massive amounts of gear, but this evening I had an accident with my 30D and 24-70 F2.8 :(

I was under the impression that accidental damage was only covered while in the home? I'll dig out my parents policy tomorrow to see what cover options they have but would also like to hear if anyone has had problems claiming so I know what to expect. We have all of our car insurance with direct line and they're pretty good with that.

[hollis_f]

Sorry for digging up an old thread but was looking for some info on contents insurance and camera coverage and it seems silly to start a new thread.

Is camera gear covered by default if personal belonging cover is held or would the insurance company (e.g. direct line) require that they were told about it all individually when the policy was taken out? I'm not talking about massive amounts of gear, but this evening I had an accident with my 30D and 24-70 F2.8 :(

I was under the impression that accidental damage was only covered while in the home? I'll dig out my parents policy tomorrow to see what cover options they have but would also like to hear if anyone has had problems claiming so I know what to expect. We have all of our car insurance with direct line and they're pretty good with that.

On my policy cover for accidental damage outside the home is an extra. I only have to tell them about individual items if they're more than £1100. But each company will have different procedures. Best thing is to sit down and read through your policy details, then phone up Direct Line.

[JF1980]

Just found out it's Liverpool Victoria not Direct Line - not good! Looking at the policy it covers damage to items taken outside the home, to a value of £1000 per item no more than £2000 total.

Hopefully they won't try to count the camera and lens as one item.

Still can't believe what happened. I was extending my tripod and the top snapped off, dropping the camera on to concrete from about 5ft!

[johnpartridge]

My Home insurance gives me £5000 worth of equipment insurance covered for Theft, Lost in Transit , Damage, Personal Accidental Damage for £24 one off payment.

Covers all my camera gear and laptop, and has all be declared to them what I own so its a no quibble policy.

Good deal in my eyes.

[JF1980]

That does sound good. For future reference which company is that with?

[Fiat126p]

I would stay away from photoguard!!
I'm trying to clear my claim now and it took already a month and still it is not done.
The customer service is really bad and unprofessional...not helpful at all. They always promising to ring me back in a couple of days and never do it. They told me that tree times...Jesus who they are?

I don't know what to add...as a professional photographer I'm extremely disappointed.

[GregSteer]

I would stay away from photoguard!!
I'm trying to clear my claim now and it took already a month and still it is not done.
The customer service is really bad and unprofessional...not helpful at all. They always promising to ring me back in a couple of days and never do it. They told me that tree times...Jesus who they are?

I don't know what to add...as a professional photographer I'm extremely disappointed.

Thats pretty poor and a damn shame, another one to strike off of the list.

Looks like I'll be talking to Akami again when/if I return

[JF1980]

Well, the home contents insurance have replaced my Camera (upgrade to 50D) and Lens with no quibbles. Will keep them updated as I add kit - looks like the cheapest way to go. I had a quote from one of these photographic insurers and the premium was almost as much as my car insurance!

[tdodd]

When I was doing a few paid jobs I was using Aaduki (http://www.aaduki.com/) to insure my camera gear, quite separately from my household policy. I didn't have to claim but they seemed helpful and the premiums were reasonable.

I've since turned by back on the idea of professional work, but have been adding to my equipment collection, so I only need amateur cover, but for quite a bit of gear. My household policy cover buildings and all contents in and away from the home. I don't have to name any item below £4000 and photo gear is treated as individual items, so I don't have to name anything at all. My whole household policy, including my camera stuff and accidental damage inside and away from the home is around £300 for the year. That's with M&S. Aaduki wanted a similar figure just for my camera gear. Definitely check out M&S.

[jack880]

Has anyone got any feedback on good or bad service when actually making a claim (other than the ones already mentioned earlier in the thread)?

No good having a cheap premium when they are no good at actually paying out....

Thanks