Insurance probably isn't worth the bother......

[MartinHuaHin]

I was burgled on 7th April and as you can imagine this was not a pleasant experience. The thieves came in just while I was out for dinner (about 4 hours) and took just about everything of value they could carry. This was just before Songkran and a spate of burgleries occured at that time. I now have to report that my house insurance which I took out with AVIVA (via the Oberver offices) are refusing to pay out on my claim.

I was aware that each item carried a maximum of 7,000 baht, and that jewellery, cash and documents would not be covered.

However, I had numerous other items stolen, including a lap-top, binoculars, iPOD, cordless telephone.... the list goes on. Practically everything they could carry!!

I reported the theft to my brokers, at the offices of the Observer in Hua Hin and they duly helped me file my claim, advising me that AVIVA had now been taken over by MSIG, a Japanese company I understand. However I was assured that they would honour my policy document on the same terms as I had taken out.

Now after months of waiting and many stressful phone calls, I have been offered the derisory sum of 6,000 Baht to cover a loss that must have easily cleared 100,000 Baht. I am aware that due to the restrictions on the policy regarding the maximum amount per item, and the other exclusions that I cannot expect to get all this back. However, even taking this in to account, I calculated that I should have received about 40-50,000 Baht for this claim.

When I asked them on what grounds they had made such a ridiculous offer, they said "any items that could be easily carried were not covered".

I am simply astonished by this outrageous statement. I am awaiting further communications with the manager, and will report any progress, but I wanted to post this and ask if anyone has any advice on how to tackle this?

In the U.K. I could report them to the Financial Ombudsman Service, as they are clearly breaching the terms of the policy document issued by AVIVA.

Is there any thing similar in Thailand? Or do I have to fork out more money on lawyers, and sue them?

I also wanted to warn ex-pats about this. If you think you are covered for burglery, check carefully - you may well be in for a nasty surprise if the worst happens. I feel like I've been robbed twice - their 6,000 baht offer is not even a refund of my premium!

[GLCQuantum]

Very sorry to hear that Martin

My experience with a Thai insurance company has also been a bad one.

Off topic a little bit as I'm not talking about house insurance but health insurance.

9 months ago I was involved in a motor bike accident which left me with a fractured pelvis and cracked vertabrae. Fortunately the driver of the car covered almost all the cost ,which was quite substantial, yet I was still left with a smaller bill of 33,000 baht.

"Nevermind" I thought, I can use my insurance to cover the remaining bill. .......I am STILL waiting for the claim.

The situation was this, I had my operation at Petcharat Hospital (very good BTW ) but was informed I had to lie down for a further 4 weeks in order for the cells to regenerate around my vertebrae. I asked to be transfered to San Paolo as it was convienient for people to visit.

Muang Thai Health Insurance are refusing to pay out as apparantly I admitted MYSELF to the hospital and didn't want to go home!!

Yes, I could have gone home to lie in my own bed for 4 weeks but ......

WHO was going to cook for me day in day out?
HOW was I going to have my electro-therapy every day?
HOW was I going to clean myself everyday?
Was I suppose to relieve myself in my bed for 4 weeks?

etc etc etc

I've been paying monthly to this company for over 2 years and never made a claim. The little plastic card you get is the ONLY thing you will get out of this company.

[Nereus]

I was burgled on 7th April .....

I am simply astonished by this outrageous statement. I am awaiting further communications with the manager, and will report any progress, but I wanted to post this and ask if anyone has any advice on how to tackle this?:guns:

I have not had any cause to make a claim with them, but do have two policies with them.

If you can get to Bangkok go and front them at their office in New Petchburi Rd, it is not hard to find. You could go on for years trying to write back and forth, and get no where. They have English speaking staff in that office, and you need to insist on speaking with the claims department manager, not some office girl, which is what they will try and pull on you. There is some control on life insurance company`s, but I am not sure about general insurance, you would need to check with a lawyer.
If that fails, you could go and have a chat with the Bangkok Post. They love taking on stuff like that. Good luck.

[gooze]

Sorry about the burglery, awful happened to me twice in the UK.

Had a friend with similar problems in Pattaya a couple of years back. He had the same derogotory type of offer as you. He sorted it out via his solicitor quite quickly. You might try this route.

I would be interested to know if the wealthier Thais who have insurance are treated the same way.

The problem with insurance world wide is that you do nor know how good it generally is untill you make a claim.

Also you used a brookerage to buy the assurance where do they stand on this are they still endorsing the company they reccomended to you?

[Nereus]

Also you used a brookerage to buy the assurance where do they stand on this are they still endorsing the company they reccomended to you?

In my post I assumed that you were dealing with a "manager", as in the head office of MSIG.
If that is not the case, and you are dealing with the local agent that you have quoted, then that is your problem right there. I cannot write on the forum just why, but if you want to know please pm me.

[Chas]

I have been looking around for home insurance here in HH and have not found anything that seems to apply. Lots of posts about problems but no real recommendations. ( Is AIA any good at all?)

Even though we have security guards here and a gated village, there are " loopholes" and the more "stuff" we buy in order to live a reasonably comfortable life, the more we worry.

Dawn, we already have a dog and she is about all we can handle( sometimes a bit too much in fact. . but we love her) However, she is a Basset hound and she is most likely to sleep through any home invasion unless thieves actually tried to break into her doghouse. She also has to be kept tied up or she will follow her nose down the road and forget to come home.

We are also thinking about things like security cameras and motion detectors. Appreciate any leads on companies doing this work in the area. Just IM me if references of this sort are against forum regs.