Beware CTC Cyclecover Insurance



S

Steve Shaw

Guest
If like me you regularly carry your bike in or on the car it is not covered
by CTC Cyclecover Ins. Even if you use the best lock to secure it to the
rack whilst you go in the Cafe. If its nicked its not covered.

Camper Vans and Caravans are the same - if you take your bike on holiday
they say you must lock it to a lamp post or something fixed, even whilst
youre sleeping in your van.
This happened to me, locked it onto the Van with 3 good locks while in a
cafe. Bike nicked even though CCTV filmed the theft -they wont pay out.
Lesson - READ the Exclusions in the small print of the Policy !
 
"Steve Shaw" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> If like me you regularly carry your bike in or on the car it is not
> covered
> by CTC Cyclecover Ins. Even if you use the best lock to secure it to the
> rack whilst you go in the Cafe. If its nicked its not covered.
>
> Camper Vans and Caravans are the same - if you take your bike on holiday
> they say you must lock it to a lamp post or something fixed, even whilst
> youre sleeping in your van.
> This happened to me, locked it onto the Van with 3 good locks while in a
> cafe. Bike nicked even though CCTV filmed the theft -they wont pay out.
> Lesson - READ the Exclusions in the small print of the Policy !
>
>


That's fairly standard & doesn't just apply to CTC insurance. If I leave
bikes *in* the car and the car is locked, if theft takes placed, the bikes
are not covered. BUT, if the bikes are locked on to the external bike
carrier, which is, in its turn, locked on to the car, and theft takes place,
bikes are covered by insurance. Yes, it is important to read the small print
of insurance, but that's always been the case for *any* insurance policy.
 
--
Steve
"wafflycat" <w*a*ff£y£cat*@£btco*nn£ect.com> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Steve Shaw" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > If like me you regularly carry your bike in or on the car it is not
> > covered
> > by CTC Cyclecover Ins. Even if you use the best lock to secure it to the
> > rack whilst you go in the Cafe. If its nicked its not covered.
> >
> > Camper Vans and Caravans are the same - if you take your bike on holiday
> > they say you must lock it to a lamp post or something fixed, even whilst
> > youre sleeping in your van.
> > This happened to me, locked it onto the Van with 3 good locks while in a
> > cafe. Bike nicked even though CCTV filmed the theft -they wont pay out.
> > Lesson - READ the Exclusions in the small print of the Policy !
> >
> >

>
> That's fairly standard & doesn't just apply to CTC insurance. If I leave
> bikes *in* the car and the car is locked, if theft takes placed, the bikes
> are not covered. BUT, if the bikes are locked on to the external bike
> carrier, which is, in its turn, locked on to the car, and theft takes

place,
> bikes are covered by insurance.

NO not by CTC insurance. My bike was locked onto an external bike rack - a
permanent (bolted Through door ) fixture on the Van. Nicked and not covered.
Not covered on the van insurance - personal effects covered up to a max £500
per item. Bike worth a lot more than that .

Yes, it is important to read the small print
> of insurance, but that's always been the case for *any* insurance policy.
>
 
Steve Shaw said the following on 10/07/2007 12:06:
> If like me you regularly carry your bike in or on the car it is not covered
> by CTC Cyclecover Ins. Even if you use the best lock to secure it to the
> rack whilst you go in the Cafe. If its nicked its not covered.
>
> Camper Vans and Caravans are the same - if you take your bike on holiday
> they say you must lock it to a lamp post or something fixed, even whilst
> youre sleeping in your van.


Er yes, that is fairly standard, unbelievably! I actually emailed the
CTC insurers before taking out their very expensive cover to make sure I
really had read the small print correctly. I had, and I didn't take the
cover. As far as cars go, and presumably camper vans, I was told I
would have to lock it securely inside and to the vehicle, and it must be
under cover. A little impossible, I thought! The bike would also not
be insured on the roof of a car, even if it's locked to a roof-rack that
is in turn locked to the car.

The "insurance" offered by MBR (I think) is even worse - the bike is not
insured if away from the insured premises for more than 12 hours. What???

When I asked about insurance a while ago, the consensus was that
specialist bike insurance was not worth it, but to get it added to a
carefully chosen contents policy. These can give you much better cover
for far less money than the so-called specialist cover. When my
contents policy is due for renewal next month, I'll be looking around.

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/
 
wafflycat said the following on 10/07/2007 12:16:

> If I leave
> bikes *in* the car and the car is locked, if theft takes placed, the
> bikes are not covered. BUT, if the bikes are locked on to the external
> bike carrier, which is, in its turn, locked on to the car, and theft
> takes place, bikes are covered by insurance.


That's the opposite to what CTC Cyclecover told me! Which insurers do
you use that cover the bike on top of the car? (I'm still undecided who
to go with!!!)

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/
 
On 10 Jul, 12:06, "Steve Shaw" <[email protected]> wrote:
> If like me you regularly carry your bike in or on the car it is not covered
> by CTC Cyclecover Ins.


Same with most insurance. When camping my stuff is insured if I leave
it in the tent but not if I lock it in the car.
 
wafflycat wrote:
> "Steve Shaw" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> If like me you regularly carry your bike in or on the car it is not
>> covered
>> by CTC Cyclecover Ins. Even if you use the best lock to secure it to
>> the rack whilst you go in the Cafe. If its nicked its not covered.
>>
>> Camper Vans and Caravans are the same - if you take your bike on
>> holiday they say you must lock it to a lamp post or something fixed,
>> even whilst youre sleeping in your van.
>> This happened to me, locked it onto the Van with 3 good locks while
>> in a cafe. Bike nicked even though CCTV filmed the theft -they wont
>> pay out. Lesson - READ the Exclusions in the small print of the
>> Policy !

>
> That's fairly standard & doesn't just apply to CTC insurance. If I
> leave bikes *in* the car and the car is locked, if theft takes
> placed, the bikes are not covered. BUT, if the bikes are locked on to
> the external bike carrier, which is, in its turn, locked on to the
> car, and theft takes place, bikes are covered by insurance. Yes, it
> is important to read the small print of insurance, but that's always
> been the case for *any* insurance policy.



In some cases, the insurer is refusing cover for items within the car due to
exclusion in policy.
In some cases, the insurer will be refusing cover, arguing that the existing
car insurance for theft of contents from car will provide cover (clauses to
prevent double insurance, almost all policies have one).
In some case, the theft would be covered.



- Nigel


--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/
 
"POHB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On 10 Jul, 12:06, "Steve Shaw" <[email protected]> wrote:
>> If like me you regularly carry your bike in or on the car it is not
>> covered
>> by CTC Cyclecover Ins.

>
> Same with most insurance. When camping my stuff is insured if I leave
> it in the tent but not if I lock it in the car.


Now that's strange because I recall reading recently that folk going off to
the festivals this summer needed to make sure that they had cover as most
companies will not cover valuables left unattended in a tent.
>
 
In message <[email protected]>, vernon <[email protected]>
writes
>
>"POHB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> On 10 Jul, 12:06, "Steve Shaw" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> If like me you regularly carry your bike in or on the car it is not
>>> covered
>>> by CTC Cyclecover Ins.

>>
>> Same with most insurance. When camping my stuff is insured if I leave
>> it in the tent but not if I lock it in the car.

>
>Now that's strange because I recall reading recently that folk going off to
>the festivals this summer needed to make sure that they had cover as most
>companies will not cover valuables left unattended in a tent.
>>


Well, yes probably depends what cover you have. The standard contents
cover might not cover it. But 'personal possessions' cover should do
(which may or may not be a standard part of policies I guess). We have
£3000 of personal possessions cover on our contents insurance which
covers stuff when we are away from home pretty much anywhere, including
in a tent - only real restriction is a limit on the amount of a claim
for things in a car unless in a locked glove compartment or boot.


--
Chris French
 
In message <[email protected]>, Paul
Boyd <usenet.dont.work@plusnet.?.invalid> writes
>wafflycat said the following on 10/07/2007 12:16:
>
>> If I leave bikes *in* the car and the car is locked, if theft takes
>>placed, the bikes are not covered. BUT, if the bikes are locked on to
>>the external bike carrier, which is, in its turn, locked on to the
>>car, and theft takes place, bikes are covered by insurance.

>
>That's the opposite to what CTC Cyclecover told me! Which insurers do
>you use that cover the bike on top of the car? (I'm still undecided
>who to go with!!!)
>

Anyone I've insured my bikes with has always covered that, then again,
I'd never have taken out a policy that didn't.

Currently I insure my bikes under my Contents policy with Nationwide.
Though it's probably not the cheapest, the cover is pretty good

They have a separate 'Pedalcycles away from the home' section. It
doesn't have many restrictions on the cover. It doesn't mention cars at
all. All it require is that unattended cycles are locked. It doesn't
even say that they must be locked to something. As it's a separate
section and not part of the personal possessions cover, as some policies
do, it doesn't seem to suffer from the limitations they have re things
in cars.

One thing to what is that the cover is only for bikes away from the
home, they are covered anyway when at home, in the garage or whatever.
so if you have multiple bikes, you only need to cover the value of the
most expensive one, assuming that you are only out riding on one of them
at a time.

If you are covering say a families bikes, and more than one might be out
together, then you would need to cover the value of all the bikes likely
to be out together (assuming you want cover for them all) I need to look
at this this year as we are tending to go out more together. It might be
that it's not so competitive once I start to cover multiple bikes.
--
Chris French
 
chris French said the following on 11/07/2007 08:53:

> Anyone I've insured my bikes with has always covered that, then again,
> I'd never have taken out a policy that didn't.


I think I'm one of the few people that reads the small print, and I
wouldn't take out cover that doesn't cover me either!

> Currently I insure my bikes under my Contents policy with Nationwide.
> Though it's probably not the cheapest, the cover is pretty good


I think Nationwide were recommended by others as well, and they are on
my shortlist. However much it costs, it's cheaper than paying for
insurance that doesn't insure you.

> One thing to what is that the cover is only for bikes away from the
> home, they are covered anyway when at home


Which is exactly what I'm looking for!

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/
 
On Wed, 11 Jul 2007 10:33:50 +0100, Paul Boyd <usenet.dont.work@plusnet> wrote:
> chris French said the following on 11/07/2007 08:53:
>
> > Currently I insure my bikes under my Contents policy with
> > Nationwide. Though it's probably not the cheapest, the cover is
> > pretty good

>
> I think Nationwide were recommended by others as well, and they are
> on my shortlist. However much it costs, it's cheaper than paying
> for insurance that doesn't insure you.


But remember that policies and premiums vary wildly even from the same
supplier - Nationwide wouldn't cover my bikes for any money (despite me
having both contents and buildings insurance and a mortgage with
them). Another one regularly recommended is M&S, but their contents
quote to me was more than 2.5 times some other quotes - I could have
insured contents with any of several insurers and the bikes separately
at even CTCs exorbitant rates and still saved money against the M&S
quote.

The ways of insurers are mysterious.

regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|
 
Ian Smith said the following on 11/07/2007 13:31:
> Another one regularly recommended is M&S, but their contents
> quote to me was more than 2.5 times some other quotes


M&S are also on my shortlist, but at a quick glance they didn't seem to
offer a contents-only policy. I rent the house, so don't need buildings
insurance. M&S will be looked into further though - was that 2.5 times
more expensive compared to other contents insurers or compared to
so-called specialist bicycle insurers?

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/
 
Paul Boyd wrote:
> Ian Smith said the following on 11/07/2007 13:31:
>> Another one regularly recommended is M&S, but their contents
>> quote to me was more than 2.5 times some other quotes

>
> M&S are also on my shortlist, but at a quick glance they didn't seem
> to offer a contents-only policy. I rent the house, so don't need
> buildings insurance. M&S will be looked into further though - was
> that 2.5 times more expensive compared to other contents insurers or
> compared to so-called specialist bicycle insurers?


As Ian said, the quotes from different insurers vary widely.
So, M&S offered good deals to both Pete Clinch and me, but a poor deal to
Ian Smith.
In my case M&S were more expensive than my existing contents insurer. But I
was about to purchase an expensive new bike. My existing insurer wanted lots
extra for that new bike, and their total would then have been more than M&S,
plus having more onerous conditions than M&S.

M&S insurance are targetting owner-occupiers. The first check item on the
site is "house owned by you". You'd need to ring to see if they insure
rented properties, but I suspect their underwriters have already directed
them away from that sector of the market.



- Nigel

--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/
 
On 11/07/2007 17:44, Nigel Cliffe said,

> M&S insurance are targetting owner-occupiers. The first check item on the
> site is "house owned by you". You'd need to ring to see if they insure
> rented properties, but I suspect their underwriters have already directed
> them away from that sector of the market.


I will be ringing the various companies because I have some very
specific questions to ask about bike cover! It does seem generally that
insurers don't like renters. They think we all disappear at a moments
notice leaving a trail of destruction behind us.

Incidentally, and nothing to do with the subject, my letting agents
insist on me having contents insurance (in an unfurnished house - not
even any appliances). The only thing I can think of is that I'm
insuring the owner's carpets!

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/
 
On Wed, 11 Jul 2007, Paul Boyd <usenet.dont.work@plusnet> wrote:
> Ian Smith said the following on 11/07/2007 13:31:
> > Another one regularly recommended is M&S, but their contents
> > quote to me was more than 2.5 times some other quotes

>
> insurance. M&S will be looked into further though - was that 2.5 times
> more expensive compared to other contents insurers or compared to
> so-called specialist bicycle insurers?


2.5 times other contents quotes (though admittedly with better bike
cover than those - but that's why I said I could go with someone else
and do bikes separately). I have no idea why - owner-occupier,
brick-built semi, never made any claims on buildings or contents in
about 15 years of owner-occupying, significantly above any
water-course, in one of the lowest crime areas of the country.

regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|
 

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