UKC

Hi All

I recently tried to claim on my CAF insurance policy for gear lost on a trip. They are refusing to cover anything that I don't have a receipt for, despite me providing photographic evidence of me having the equipment with me on the trip.

The complaint line given on the insurance policy goes to some people who don't know anything about this. The person at the insurance company who I was referred back to was not helpful.

Has anyone else had similar problems, or have any ideas about what to do/ who to approach to try and resolve this?

Thanks

Will

In reply to Will_Thomas_Harris:

Have you read the T&C of your policy in full? If they include this stipulation you are on a hiding to nothing. If not, maybe the Insurance Ombudsman may be interested.

In reply to Neil Williams:

Yeah, read the T&C's and it doesn't say anything about receipts being needed to make a claim- recorded letter of complaint looks like it might be the next step.

In reply to Will_Thomas_Harris:

Not a specialist in insurance cases but I'm French... I think it is quite common in France to expect receipts to be given for any insurance claim. Absolutely no idea how legal this is is but in my experience it is certainly traditional for insurers to ask for receipts.

In reply to Will_Thomas_Harris:

I've seen the need for receipts referred to in many insurance policies. That is the first step to check with your policy. If it's there you are on a weak starting point, but could still take the matter to the ombudsman if you feel it is unfair, hidden, badly worded, etc.

I understand that the point is photos don't prove ownership and apparently some folk claim for items they never owned. On the other hand, neither does some receipts, but if your in possession of the receipt, then it's more likely.

With your photos, are they date stamped? Are you in the photo? Do you have multiple photos of same items over time? Do you have records of items for PPE records? If you could should same item over a period of time, particularly with you/your records then it helps to show some continuity of probable ownership.

If you bought items online or large shop (relatively) recently, lots of companies keep computer records of purchases (linked to loyalty cards or similar etc) and so you could approach them for evidence of purchase.

In reply to Will_Thomas_Harris:

When I had a claim rejected for something not in T&C, I simply wrote to the company I was insured with and asked where in the T&C they based their decision on. Within five days I had a cheque in my hand. BTW this was a UK company.

Thanks for the advice, the policy wording doesn't mention receipts, but prehaps this is just standard in France. I'll write to them and see if I get a response.

In reply to Will_Thomas_Harris:

I'm guessing the policy is under french law so if standard practice is to require receipts your f ed.

Unless you've deleted them anything bought online has an email receipt. A local climbing shop maybe able to trawl thru it's electronic records in exchange you buying replacements from them?