Barstewards, had my KTM 990 fully dressed taken couple of years ago again lifted out of the garden, triple padlocked, ground anchor and alarm fitted from below our open bedroom window, didn't hear a thing. Only thing they left was the very rustly cover and the spindle from the steering lock. I was totally gutted but even more so because my tool roll was in the pannier. I know its contents was not expensive but it had stuff in it that just worked when you were completing repairs you know that old spoon handle and that spanner that just felt right. Have a new tool roll now and it just doesn't feel the same just can't bring myself to like it!.
So the SAGA continues...received a call today from AXA insurance that they will be declining my claim....the reason, the bike must be kept in a garage when at my home address....So were in for a fight..... Except they have chosen the wrong man.....I will fight these b......rds to the end!!! The "Statement of Fact" issued by Motorcycle direct, clearly asks the question...."will the bike be garaged "over night", answer YES....so it goes without saying that the policy statement clause "kept" in a garage referes to "at night". So we will have to go to the ombudsman....the question is do I follow the process as suggested by AXA and complain to their customer relations department, or do I get myself a solicitor right this minute????
So very very sorry to hear about your loss Andy...I can only feel for you.lets hope you are only shafted by the thieves and not as in my case by the thieving insurers....
Screw em to the wall. Its outrageous. Not sure what is worse, the scum who nicked it or the scum who are refusing to pay out
That's taking the piss and an attempt at a wriggle. You put your bike outside, go in for your helmet/keys/whatever and if it's stolen you're not covered? Bunch of twats. Seek legal advice immediately and inform them you are doing so. Once you have appointed someone, go for their jugular and tell them that the whole saga will be made very public on many forums.
That is shocking if as you say, it was stolen during the early evening? I just renewed today but I will double check the policy docs tomorrow around that garaging element.
They can't just make it up as they go along, if it says" Overnight" then that should be clarified on the policy document too for what hours that is. Mine for example (Swinton - Highway Insurance) has a garaging endorsement on the schedule, and it has two endorsement codes listed for garages, but only one against those that apply to my policy schedule. First says - will not pay for any claim for loss or damage if at home address unless it is garaged Second says (this is the one applied to my policy) - will not pay for any claim for loss or damage if at home address unless garaged between the hours of 22:00 and 06:00. The Statement of fact states - Location Overnight - Garaged - no times listed on that bit at all. It should come down to what is on the certificate/schedule is what is the truth of the matter. Put the complaint in writing, citing the policy wording from the relevant section. Most of the phone operators are fairly junior and will just go off what the computer says, a letter should get a proper response. Give them a couple of days to read, ring them for their response if nothing comes from them. If still not dealing with it, then get the Obudsman called up and complaint registered with them. They will get to the bottom of it without need for a solicitor at this stage, they deal solely with the facts of the matter not unlike a solicitor will but it won't cost you a dime. Been through the mill with Bennetts - which was also AXA oddly enough who underwrite it, refused to pay out on helmet/leather cover following a small off - which is why I avoid any insurance product from them or Bennetts now (those guys do absolutely sweet FA for their money, I had to do every bit of ringing and chasing myself directly). Ombudsman seen me right and compensation for the extra expenses I incurred during their fannying around for 3 months.
There are umpteen threads where people discuss the cost of their insurance and go always for the lowest quote. I can't help feeling that insurance is a lot like most other things - there is good and bad and the cheapest isn't always the best. Now Switzerland may be the Land of Insurance, but with Zurich I have never had much hassle when making my claims. I bet they're not the cheapest, but my life is too short, and my dislike of insurance so great, that I can't be arsed to look into competitors. Some insurers are fairly professional outfits, others are scam merchants.
Well it's pretty obvious, Axa and motorcycle direct fall into the latter category...scam merchants....
The underwriter is purely that. If you supplier has misrepresented your documents or policy then the liability is theirs. Just because the underwriter declines the issue is still that of the supplier. It simply means they are paying out from their coffers, which is why they will usually paint the picture that because it has been declined you have no recourse. Assuming the policy documents don't reflect what has been conveyed then its a simple case to win, and they will know that. Dig your heels in. I also wonder with warranty claims for Ducati also. People assume that because DUK refuses a claim submitted by the dealer that it is the gospel answer. What it simply means is that the dealer cant use free parts or costed labour to resolve your issue, yet the issue is still the dealers to resolve (all things being correct). My understanding is that the contract of purchase in the UK is always with the supplier?
Well, this is interesting and not great news. Checking my Hastings (Advantage) renewal paperwork this AM and the garaging clause is somewhat ambiguous in that it only states for it to be garaged "overnight", not at any specific times, as is the case with my Aviva car insurance? I'm on the phone to them now and they are basically saying that if it is within 500m of my house (or the registered garaging address), even if it has the Oxford disc lock on and it gets stolen, my voluntary excess will be doubled, however, the circumstances of the event and whether they cover it are largely open to the interpretation of the insurer! So for instance, if I am cleaning the bike on the drive and come indoors for a call of nature, technically, I am not covered? This, I'm told is a fairly recent "manipulation" in the motorcycle sector, presumably due to a high spate of thefts - bloody disgraceful if you ask me? Good luck with the Ombudsman Multi rider, I am keeping my fingers crossed for you.
Insurance is not like the g'teed from a manufacturer. The buck stops with thnrinsurer, not broker, unless mis selling can be proven
Exactly, what is it a variable time depending on what time you go to bed? When the sun sets? Changes depending on the time of year? Does it take into account summertime/wintertime? The term should be defined to an extent that it is easily distinguished when and when you are not covered by the policy (so that you can take steps to mitigate the risk), not an ambiguous get out clause for when they have blew our budget on stupid adverts with moustached singing dick heads or computer graphic northen accented bulldogs. So can't possibly pay out on a policy you paid for to be covered" Bunch of pirates the lot of them, more than happy to take your money for decades when you are not claiming, but as soon as you do...
Make a strong point with their Customer Services / Customer Relations dept first......(a) they may fold without a fight so you have the quickest solution and (b) if you have to go the Ombudsman route it's quite likely they will prefer to see that you have already put your case to the Insurer. Doh!...........not me just reporting another theft that was posted elsewhere ;-)
