Are you covered?

[bixy]

When we arrived at our place this summer we found we had been struck by lightning. Virtually everything electric/electronic destroyed  - TV, video, phone, computer, electric wiring, coax cable [despite everything being unplugged]. The first depressing aspect to this was the completely negative response of EDF and France Telecom. Nothing to do with us. It plainly was since the disjoncteur and compteur were destroyed and the phone wires both inside and outside the house. Gradually we got electricity and the phone line restored. Oh well, we thought, at least we're insured. Ha, ha, ha ,ha, ha. First response from ZXZ insurance company [not difficult to work out!], without even asking what the damage was, you're not insured. Careful reading of the policy revealed that in fact for any kind of electrical machine/apparatus we were not insured. Only the electrical cabling and the coax cable were covered. Once these bills were sent in, together with an attestation from the maire saying that there had been a storm on such and such a date [apparently this carries some weight], we were paid quite promptly.

Subsequently we contacted another insurance company, checked the cover on their policy and found that with them we would have been covered. Obviously we are going to change at next renewal. The moral is, read your policy, and don't forget, if you decide to change you have to give two months' notice.

Footnote. My daughter was ill on holiday in Greece and had to pay for treatment. Guess who her holiday insurers are - yep, good old ZXZ. After deduction of the excess her claim is for only a few pounds. Nevertheless we still had to fill in half a dozen forms and provide evidence everything except my inside leg measurement. ZXZ still haven't paid.

Patrick

[derf]

The moral is, read your policy, and don't forget, if you decide to change you have to give two months' notice.

It seems typical of most large company's in France They don't give a ****.

The only good news is that now they have to write to before your insurance is due and give you an opportunity to cancel 21 days notice I seem to remember.

[Pixietoadstool]

Sorry to hear your news.  We are with AGF and the house was struck by lightening last year - which meant that the TV broke down and the computer was badly damaged and needed a new motherboard, modem and power supply which cost about 200€ to repair (the TV cost about 100€).  For the computer we had all but about 20€ paid because it was only a few months old but for the TV we only received about 9€ because it was 4 years old (we didn't have a new for old policy - hardly worth claiming for the TV then)!

They offered me a new for old policy on renewal but since it doubled the cost of the insurance I declined.  Worrying though isn't it, especially if everything goes up in flames, since most of the furniture is extremely old. I would imagine they would say it wasn't worth anything at all!!!

Valerie

[SaligoBay]

French people generally don't expect much from their insurance companies.  You could say it's one of the hidden costs of life in France? 

My English ma-in-law, when anything happens, first thing is claim it on the insurance, and she usually gets it too!

[Mpprh]

Hi

I was at a seminar recently where AXA said they had just started offering new for old contents cover (new in France ?).

I guess you still need to read the small print, and check the cost ?

Me, certainly not a cynic : possibly a realist ?

Peter

 

[Iceni]

We were travelling with an annual travel policy and a specialist cover from a private UK health insurer. When John was rushed into hospital we handed over our Q&Q policy (work it out) the hospital refused to take it, said they never got paid - took the travel policy which was a cheap Boots job and were covered for a very expensive weeks stay in a private clinic and 28 seats on 2 sheduled flights (it takes 12 seats per stretcher and one each for the ICU sister and me). Add private ambulance and you get a very large sum. Q&Q never paid a penny - worm words all the way through.

We did a fair bit of travelling after this event with his existing problem covered by using T R Youngs from Elmstead Market in the UK - they are specialist brokers and work on each policy as an individual case (no other link apart from a very satisfied client) - so felt sure that should the worse happen we were covered and would not have to pay for treatment. It is worth remembering that in some countries you are automatically taken to a private clinic first before being taken to a state hospital so your EEC cover may not kick in fast enough to stop you getting a nice fat bill.