wazz Posted August 8, 2007 Share Posted August 8, 2007 I've been meaning to take out a full musical gear insurance policy for ages and a comment in another thread reminded me again. What are your experiences of insurance companies and policies Cheers Wazz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted August 8, 2007 Share Posted August 8, 2007 [quote name='wazz' post='42898' date='Aug 8 2007, 02:12 PM']I've been meaning to take out a full musical gear insurance policy for ages and a comment in another thread reminded me again. What are your experiences of insurance companies and policies Cheers Wazz[/quote] My girlfriend has a policy with Endsleigh for her sax and wireless microphone setup. We recently added my basses to the policy and it was no bother, I didn't get any questions asked about my custom build either. Best to go into a branch though, they are utter rubbish on the phone. Rubbish as in "she'll be a minute" == "hang up the phone" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wazz Posted August 8, 2007 Author Share Posted August 8, 2007 [quote name='neepheid' post='42900' date='Aug 8 2007, 02:16 PM']My girlfriend has a policy with Endsleigh for her sax and wireless microphone setup. We recently added my basses to the policy and it was no bother, I didn't get any questions asked about my custom build either. Best to go into a branch though, they are utter rubbish on the phone. Rubbish as in "she'll be a minute" == "hang up the phone" [/quote] Does it include 'in locked unattended vehicle' cover? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted August 8, 2007 Share Posted August 8, 2007 [quote name='wazz' post='42903' date='Aug 8 2007, 02:30 PM']Does it include 'in locked unattended vehicle' cover?[/quote] Not sure, I'll get back to you on that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassfunk Posted August 8, 2007 Share Posted August 8, 2007 I went with Musicguard.co.uk. It includes in locked vehicle insurance. and also covers you if its left in a locked room in a venue etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted August 8, 2007 Share Posted August 8, 2007 (edited) +1 for Musicguard There are varying degrees of policy including coverage options for taking upto/over 50% of your gear out to gigs, cover for unattended car as long as the gear is out of site (covered up) etc etc. You also get like 2 weeks outside of the UK cover as well, if you're outside UK a lot, you can extend the policy to worldwide. Last time i looked at the small print, you can also claim small items upto £100 without listing, so if you lose a mic or pedal or something. Oh and you get Public Liability cover to. Cool Si Edited August 8, 2007 by Sibob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wazz Posted August 8, 2007 Author Share Posted August 8, 2007 To quote G-bitch from the stolen thread..."Also, forget Musicguard - they're a friggin' rip off and you'll only get shafted on the small print after they tell you over the phone that everythings fine" appreciate more details on this G-bitch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redroque Posted August 8, 2007 Share Posted August 8, 2007 E and L do a specialist music insurance for gigging and studio muso's max Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrkelly Posted August 8, 2007 Share Posted August 8, 2007 Allianz Cornhill (formerly British Reserve) is regarded as the best. The vast majority of professional musicians use them, myself included. [url="http://www.allianzmusicalinsurance.co.uk/insureInstruments/insure.htm"]http://www.allianzmusicalinsurance.co.uk/i...ents/insure.htm[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-bitch Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 Half of the stuff musicguard cover for (i.e. actual replacement) is covered on home insurance - that includes away from home. You just need to do a little research and speak on the phone to someone from the insurers or someone you know who works in insurance. There's always one! Also remember that there are only 3 (or poss 4) insurance companies in the UK, as in those who acutally underwrite the policies. Even many of the huge players are brokers in reality, despite what the ads tell you. The policies are written slightly differently etc. etc. but there really is not much in it - that's why I think that all these little specialist areas of cover are a rip-off because more often than not they can be listed under a home policy for very little extra or are already included. Professional musicians excepted. I was in a band having about £18k worth of gear insured at a lockup. Speaking to someone at musicguard when we added a load of gear at the same time as renewing the policy, I asked if we needed an alarm at that amount (it was near the threshold) and was told no. It all got nicked, 'nuff said. The slightest i not dotted will result in no payout so it was fair enough - I should've read the small print myself. I honestly believe that the amateur musician (which most of us are) shouldn't bother getting insurance away from home (or maybe ask if your home policy will extend that - things like bicycles are anyway) because you have got to be totally nuts if you leave gear unattended at any point, ever, ever, anywhere but home as there are normally at least three of you in the band so one stays with the gear..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King of Loss Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 (edited) I use Allianz Cornhill - Not had anything nicked yet, but it seems like a pretty good policy (although, I'm not very trusting of anyone when it comes to insurance....) we'll see how it holds up if anything DOES get nicked. Edited August 9, 2007 by King of Loss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-T-P Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 I use Musicguard. Had a claim earlier this year which they processed but it took them a bloody long time to get it done. 7 weeks from incident to approval of claim and a further two for delivery of replacement. I was glad we had the cover but was pissed off that it took so long to sort out, particularly as I had provided a repair note within a few days stating it was beyond economical repair and also sourced quotes for replacement. They insisted on having the mixer which I was claiming for collected and taken to their repair guy who after a week finally got around to looking at it and writing it off. But it then took a further two weeks before anyone got around to following up on my constant phonecalls and obtain a written confirmation of this from them. Then there was a further couple of weeks obtaining a quoteon replacement from their supplier (Sound Control) which in the end saved them £30. In the meantime, we were stuffed so I had to buy a replacement anyway. I sold the replacement they sent and in the end it basically cost us £60 to be back in the position we were before the accident. If I relied on playing for a living I'd have been well pissed off at the length of time it took to get us back up to playing speed. There may have been provision for hire in the policy, but after 9 weeks, hiring would have come out well over and above the cost of the damaged mixer I'll bet. Insurance due for renewal this month and the premium has gone down which is good, but I may well look elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 [quote name='chrkelly' post='42961' date='Aug 8 2007, 04:49 PM']Allianz Cornhill (formerly British Reserve) is regarded as the best. The vast majority of professional musicians use them, myself included. [url="http://www.allianzmusicalinsurance.co.uk/insureInstruments/insure.htm"]http://www.allianzmusicalinsurance.co.uk/i...ents/insure.htm[/url][/quote] Do these guys do bass guitars? Looking at getting a quote, it doesn't appear so. Cheers Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrkelly Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 Hi Mike. Yes, I've got all my gear insured with them. I think electrical instruments go on the power play option. Give them a call and I'm sure they'll sort you out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfoxnik Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 An alternative option is to go via the Musician's Union and get your first £1000 worth of gear insured free with Hencilla Canworth who've been around for as long as I can remember (020 8686 5050 / [url="http://www.hencilla.co.uk/main.asp?pid=3)"]http://www.hencilla.co.uk/main.asp?pid=3)[/url]. Admittedly, it costs approx £125 to join the MU but as well as the free £1k of equipment insurance you also get free Public Liability Insurance of up to £10 Million which, in the present 'claim culture' world we live in (where everyone wants to make a claim against someone or something for a fast buck), is well worth having. Musicians Union: www.musiciansunion.org.uk Nik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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