Hi all,
I am after your esteemed advice and this is my first post so please go easy on me!
I am currently going through the process of a claim with my cycle insurer for the loss of my expensive Scott mountain bike stolen out of my garage in August.
I have specific cycle insurance as the value of my bike was £3000 and i am finding the claim process a similar experience to root canal surgey.
The insurance co are holding out on a settlement as they feel the bike was not adequetly secured by being locked in my garage and that additional secure gold quality locks should have been used. Their security requirments in the policy though clearly state:
Requirements at Your Home
All Equipment
1. Premises housing insured items must meet the following requirements.
(a)
A lock approved to British Standard 3621 or a mortice deadlock, of at least five levers must be fitted to all entrance doors;
(b)
Key-operated security devices must be fitted to all opening windows, openings, skylights and the like on all floors including basements;
(c)
When Your household has retired for the night (or in any event between 9pm and 6am) the bicycle must be kept inside Your home and all external doors and windows must be secured as above, except occupied bedrooms on the first floors or above which may have one window locked ajar for ventilation. Any alarm system must be fully operational and ’set’.
(d)
Be constructed of brick, stone, slate or tile.
2
. If the Bicycle is stored in a communal hallway it must be locked by means of an Approved lock to an immovable object.
Requirements when the Bicycle is away from Your Home
1
. Insured items when left unattended in or attached to any motor vehicle including whilst in transit must be attached to the vehicle with approved locks or locked in an enclosed boot that is not accessible by removing any partition or breakage of a window. Vehicles housing bicycles between 9pm and 6am must be securely locked and protected by a Thatcham approved security device which has been put into effective operation.
2
. Vehicles and premises when left unattended must have all doors, windows, windscreens, sunroofs and other openings left closed and properly fastened; and they must be securely locked with keys removed. Any special protections must be put in to full and effective operation.
3
. The vehicle must be taxed, insured and hold a current MOT (if required).
4
. Theft from the vehicle must have been shown to have been via forcible and violent entry or exit causing substantial damage.
5
. All accessories must be removed or locked or securely attached to the bicycle when left unattended.
6. Bicycles in premises or areas open to the public or at private premises between 6am and 9pm and not being used or supervised must be left where any potential theft can easily be seen and locked to an immovable object by an approved lock or kept in a separate and secure area not accessible by anyone other than the insured, and secured by a five lever lock to British standard BS3621.
I have told them my garage/home is made of brick and the entrance door has the required 5 lever mortice lock but now they are saying -
You have advised that your bicycle was stolen from the garage after the up and over door was forced. As you have quoted the policy requires all entrance doors to be fitted with a lock approved to British Standard 3621 or a mortice deadlock of at least five levers. We are aware that it is not possible to fit a lock of this description to an up and over door. As such I requested additional information regarding the other security you referred to, to enable me to make a full assessment of your claim.
As such I must reiterate that I require you to confirm if there was any additional security, in addition to the standard lock, on the garage door at the time of the theft.
My question is, would a garage door be defined as an entrance door? and are they trying to pull a fast one??????
Sorry for the long winded post but all advice appreciated.
Insurance definition of entrance doors?
