Home insurance

[magnatom]

My home insurance is due for renewal. Oh joy!

The house that we have just moved into has a burglar alarm fitted. However, I won't always have the alarm on when I go out (I don't actually like the things, and we are bound to forget occasionally anyway!).

I know when applying for insurance if you state you have an alarm fitted, you are expected to always have it on when you are out (is this correct) otherwise, you aren't insured properly. So is it reasonable to say we don't have an alarm? Obviously this will increase premiums slightly, but if it means we are covered when the alarm is off, I'd prefer that.

Obviously I'd check with whoever we go with, but I just wanted to check what the best general option is.

 

[slowmotion]

You must read the small print very, very, carefully, and find out what the deal is on setting the alarm. The insurance industry is notorious for weaseling out of paying up.

 

[addictfreak]

We dont have an alarm fitted at the moment, but its on the 'to do list' for this year.

Mine will certainly be on at all times when im not at home, IMHO its madness not to.

 

[ttcycle]

One thing worth noting is if they want to check any claims the alarm may present a problem...worth putting it on when you're not at home and putting it in the insurance.

 

[Aperitif]

You'll be mounting surveillance cameras anywhere and everywhere anyway Mags...perhaps pre-record a few choice shouts to be broadcast via hidden PA, and that'll scare away the majority of McScrotes.

 

[magnatom]

We dont have an alarm fitted at the moment, but its on the 'to do list' for this year.

Mine will certainly be on at all times when im not at home, IMHO its madness not to.

The problem is, that I know we will forget to put it on. Then the concern is, what will happen if something happens when we forgot. That's the main reason why I think having one is more of a pain, than not having one.

Also I think alarms are more of a nuisance than a help. If an alarm goes off generally they are ignored at best, or annoy everyone/wake everyone etc at worst. [FONT=&quot][/FONT]

 

[magnatom]

You'll be mounting surveillance cameras anywhere and everywhere anyway Mags...perhaps pre-record a few choice shouts to be broadcast via hidden PA, and that'll scare away the majority of McScrotes.

I'm not sure 'haven't you read Cyclecraft' will scare anyone away!

 

[ttcycle]

Can you not stick a reminder at eye height on the door?

If someone from the insurance company pops round to check a claim they might ask questions as to why you didn't put an alarmon your schedule. They're an awkward lot and will try and avoid payouts at any cost

 

[marinyork]

I'm not sure how that works in reality with investigations, they are perfectly aware there are quite a few dummy boxes or ones that aren't wired up. Unfortunately so are burglars.

 

[magnatom]

Can you not stick a reminder at eye height on the door?

If someone from the insurance company pops round to check a claim they might ask questions as to why you didn't put an alarmon your schedule. They're an awkward lot and will try and avoid payouts at any cost

Aye, I suppose I could. I just though, by saying 'No Alarm fitted' (i.e. incurring a slightly higher premium) might mean it would be harder for the insurance companies to wriggle out. I suppose they will find any way...

 

[rich p]

It becomes second nature to put it on, in my experience, as you leave the house.
The chances of you being burgled on the rare occasion you might forget is remote.
As to their effectiveness, we haven't been 'done' since we've had one (3 times before) which isn't conclusive evidence but you'd have to be a cocky burglar to carry on burgling with an alarm going off.

 

[jamesxyz]

if you're really worried, tell them you don't have an alarm. The differecne in premium is probably smaller than you think, I'm sure I was told you get a 5% discount for having an alarm which is probably about £20 on a typical policy.

 

[sunnyjim]

I just got new house insurance. I do have an alarm but as it's home made I said I didn't to leave less wriggling room. The premium difference was only a few pounds, so wouldn't have paid for a decent alarm system in less than 10 years anyway.


Incidentally, I found that with the crowd I signed up with (Aviva), the maximum insured cycle value could be declared as anywhere between £300 and £2500/cycle, but it made no difference to the calculated premium.