At what point does it make sense to make a claim?

[swee'pea99]

I've always taken out insurance on a 'just in case' basis, against major events (eg house burned down), and have taken minor, theoretically claimable, losses on the chin, assuming that in the big picture, claiming for any such would likely push up subsequent premiums to a point that more than outweighs the compensation. Over the weekend, tho', munchkin major sat on & destroyed 'er indores's £400 glasses. Would it be worth claiming, or should I just suck it up as per?

 

[DCLane]

Worth claiming - although it'll be on your insurance for up to 5 years.

 

[Drago]

I'd claim.

 

[Julia9054]

It is always worth checking if you can get insurance cheaper when it is up for renewal. Last October, I was burgled and claimed on my house insurance for the first time in my life. When it came to renewal, Churchill more than doubled my premium. A quick search on the internet revealed that I could get identical house insurance for less than half my original premium including declaring my burglary claim. Serves me right, I suppose, for just renewing year on year without shopping around - insurance companies clearly don't care about customer loyalty, just out to screw everything they can get out of you.
I would claim and then shop around if your premiums go up by an unacceptable level.

 

[Vidor06]

I claimed for a stolen bike (circa £300) and a broken iphone (£400). Both paid out and while they remained on my 'history' for a number of years they had little or no effect on the cost of subsequent insurance. I just shopped around at renewal for the best price for the same cover.

 

[Levo-Lon]

Excess ? If its sensible claim..

my van insurance has a mandatory 400 per claim..ive never claimed on a policy for small stuff...only one ive done was in 95 for a writen off car..

the wife claimed off barclays last year after her diamond engagement stone fell out of her ring.. " thankfully @Fnaar is away"
that was about 800 i think ...but she pays the houshold cover

 

[slowmotion]

If you can claim and still keep your no claims bonus, I'd claim. Your insurance company will almost certainly raise your premium next year by 30-50% but all you have to do is walk away and go to another company. It's happened to me on both my van and contents insurance in the last year. I changed both insurance companies and I'm paying no more than before I made the claims. I still have my no claims bonuses too.

 

[PaulSB]

It's going to depend on your insurers approach to claims. I've been with Santander for several years, made claims without the cost increasing. This year when I renewed we had a "change of circumstances" as my wife retired. The premium was reduced by over 50% because the house will be occupied during the day.

Tesco Travel didn't increase my joint annual multi-trip cover this year despite £3500 claim last year.

 

[swee'pea99]

Decided to follow advice and look into it, which was when I discovered we have an excess of £350. What's more, we're not covered for accidental damage. Boo, and, as they say, hoo.

 

[vickster]

Maybe speak to an optician and see if the lenses can be salvaged and reframed? Depending on the damage of course

 

[Globalti]

This. Every town has a back-street specialist who can do miracles with glasses that the owner wants to repair despite the high street optician's best efforts to convince them that the glasses can't be repaired. All you have to do is make a few phone calls and you'll find them.