FinnDave Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 I am sure I've seem a thread on instrument insurance here somewhere, but can't find it. Anyway, my basses and amps have been on the house insurance until now, but at renewal, they have declined to cover them as I take them to gigs. They said I need specialist cover which they can't arrange. So, any recommendations? Any places to avoid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 http://www.allianzmusicalinsurance.co.uk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted March 9, 2017 Author Share Posted March 9, 2017 I'll give them a call, when I looked at their online quote, it seemed to cover one instrument at a time. I'd have to sell a few to qualify! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 (edited) I've got all my gear insured with them on one policy. Very reasonable price given the cover, i.e. unattended in car overnight, etc. Not that I'd ever leave gear unattended in car overnight, but I'm a bit belt-and-braces, me. Plus they reply to emails super-quickly and are on the ball. Edited March 9, 2017 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted March 9, 2017 Author Share Posted March 9, 2017 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1489066850' post='3254104'] I've got all my gear insured with them on one policy. Very reasonable price given the cover, i.e. unattended in car overnight, etc. Not that I'd ever leave gear unattended in car overnight, but I'm a bit belt-and-braces, me. [/quote] Good, I'll give them a call, can't work out how to insure more than one item on line. I never claimed to be clever! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 [quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1489066930' post='3254106'] Good, I'll give them a call, can't work out how to insure more than one item on line. I never claimed to be clever! [/quote] As far as I remember, you add stuff one at a time by, er... pressing the 'add' button, then it puts it all on the same policy. I could be wrong of course as it was a while back now, so ringing them is probably a good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blink Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 Musicguard and you get £1m public liability insurance thrown in. Silly not to really... N Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 The only recommendation I would take seriously is from someone who has made a successful claim on their instrument insurance policy. I would hope that policies have improved from the one my band applied for in the 80s, which when we read the small print exclusions, only appeared to cover our gear whilst we were actually on stage using it! Needless to say it was swiftly returned for a full refund. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkey Steve Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 The home insurance cover tends to work on whether you ever get paid for gigs (well, that's how mine works). If you do then they become regarded as professional tools and excluded from a home policy. It sets up an odd situation where stuff that you never take to a gig with you can be covered and stuff that you do gig with isn't covered even if it is stolen from home (although, how would they ever know/prove that your Jazz is covered and your Precision isn't?) I've got policies with both Musicguard and Allianz. They're both pretty easy to use and comparable in price, although Allianz would get my vote for being very easy to deal with and revise as and when you buy or sell stuff. They both throw in some fairly generous public liability cover, and I think that one of them (again, I want to say Allianz, but possibly Musicguard or both) include unattended vehicle cover fairly cheaply. I know that one of them, and again I want to say Allianz, has an upper limit for cover where if there is more than a specified insured value the policy requires you to have certain security measures wherever the gear is stored - window locks, etc. However there doesn't seem to be any restriction in having more than one policy, each below that ceiling. reminds me, I need to have a look at my policy terms as I'm pretty sure I don't have any international cover and there's a whiff of some overseas gigs on the horizon... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 [url="https://www.newmooninsurance.com/"]Newmoon[/url] are very reasonable, and very personal. I've been with them years now, but I've never had to claim, but I have confidence in them thanks to their reputation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevsy71 Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1489070068' post='3254149'] [url="https://www.newmooninsurance.com/"]Newmoon[/url] are very reasonable, and very personal. I've been with them years now, but I've never had to claim, but I have confidence in them thanks to their reputation. [/quote] Same here. One general problem is remembering to update insurance when GAS strikes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1489068253' post='3254131'] The only recommendation I would take seriously is from someone who has made a successful claim on their instrument insurance policy. [/quote] Very much this... These insurance threads crop up fairly regularly but I've still not heard of a BCer who's gear was nicked / smashed up by a drunken oaf and managed to successfully make a claim? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 [quote name='Monkey Steve' timestamp='1489069451' post='3254141'] I've got policies with both Musicguard and Allianz. They're both pretty easy to use and comparable in price, although Allianz would get my vote for being very easy to deal with and revise as and when you buy or sell stuff. They both throw in some fairly generous public liability cover, and I think that one of them (again, I want to say Allianz, but possibly Musicguard or both) include unattended vehicle cover fairly cheaply [/quote] If you have more than one policy which might respond to the same loss, just be aware one/both may have an 'other insurance' clause which means if there is any other insurance in place it won't cover that loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilp Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 MU membership gets you £3K of insurance for nothing as well as PL and I think PI. Above that I use Allianz - very good to deal with and very reasonable. Unattended car coverage is essential for us DB players so we can go to the pub after rehearsals!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilp Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 I've never heard of anyone who's had a claim rejected, so make of that what you will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 It's worth mentioning that Newmoon cover theft from an unattended vehicle, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratman Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 I had a load of PA gear stolen from my van in January. My insurers are Musicguard and they paid out without any issues. I'd go so far to say they were really helpful throughout the process and whenever I called them the staff on the phone were great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted March 10, 2017 Author Share Posted March 10, 2017 Thanks for the info, people, I have now gone with with Musicguard who were very helpful on the phone. I did try Allianz but they were dire, didn't seem to understand what I wanted to do and were unable to call up the info I had input into their on line system despite my getting an email asking me to call them and to quote the reference number given. It didn't give me a whole lot of faith in their ability to deal with a claim should it be needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downdown Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 Did the insurer decline to insure even in the home or was it only while outside and gigging? I don't bother with anything other than insurance at home because when I'm out gigging I'm always with my gear so what's the likelihood of anything being stolen or damaged? Pretty low in my view, whereas I suppose my house could burn down or be burgled, which unlikely though that may be is probably a higher risk than anything happening on the dozen or so gigs and similar number of rehearsals when I take my gear away from home. I sometimes wonder if specialised insurance for things like music gear, cameras, laptops and the like is often bought and paid for because it's the 'done thing' but in actual fact I'd bet the risk is pretty small - for most people anyway. I've never bought anything other than home insurance with a few items on 'all risks' and have never needed to claim for any music gear in over 30 years, so I reckon I've saved enough in premiums over the years to replace anything I might lose in the future. I guess it all depends how risk averse you are. I wonder how many people here have had to make a claim on their musical insurance policies? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted March 10, 2017 Author Share Posted March 10, 2017 The home contents insurer declined to insure it all because as I play gigs for money, it is considered professional equipment rather than just hobby gear. At least after tomorrow's gig I will have earned enough this year so far to pay for the insurance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 [quote name='neilp' timestamp='1489072558' post='3254179'] MU membership gets you £3K of insurance for nothing as well as PL and I think PI. [/quote] And the insurance covers you anywhere in the world, unlike other policies. Buying in to more than £3k cover is a doddle and the sky is the limit. Not only that, being an MU member you get decent advice and support that covers everything from teaching to contracts with venues and legal matters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downdown Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 (edited) [quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1489163882' post='3254897'] The home contents insurer declined to insure it all because as I play gigs for money, it is considered professional equipment rather than just hobby gear. At least after tomorrow's gig I will have earned enough this year so far to pay for the insurance! [/quote] Fair enough. Maybe next time you change home insurers, just don't tell them you gig at all and only use your gear at home as a hobby. Any claim arising in the home would then be covered and just don't tell them about anything that happens outside the home But again, it all depends on your attitude to risk and if you want to buy the additional insurance then fair enough - though the noticeable lack of posts about claims experiences on here suggests it really isn't as big a risk as we might think. Edited March 10, 2017 by Downdown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 [quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1489163882' post='3254897'] The home contents insurer declined to insure it all because as I play gigs for money,[b] it is considered professional equipment rather than just hobby gear[/b]. At least after tomorrow's gig I will have earned enough this year so far to pay for the insurance! [/quote] Yes, definitely worth checking out on home policies! The small print is often [i]very[/i] small so easily missed too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkey Steve Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 [quote name='Downdown' timestamp='1489164706' post='3254910'] Fair enough. Maybe next time you change home insurers, just don't tell them you gig at all and only use your gear at home as a hobby. Any claim arising in the home would then be covered and just don't tell them about anything that happens outside the home [/quote] I think you'll find that this is insurance fraud Seriously, it's not about where the gear is when it's stolen, it's about whether the insurer regards it as professional tools. They may have suspicions that your £3k Ampeg rig wasn't for home use only Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downdown Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 How can it be fraudulent if I'm paying a premium for, say, £20k of home contents and then make a claim for a burgled bass worth £750? My policy only requires items valued over £1500 to be specified, so why the need to mention the bass at all? If I take it outside the home then that's my risk not theirs ( and fair enough), but inside the house I'm paying for cover. I don't think the fact that I go out gigging affects the risk of a home burglary does it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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