There’s no milk in the fridge and you really can’t function first thing in the morning without that customary cup of tea before doing battle with the kids, getting them ready for school and then listening to the arguments over who sits where when you go to take them to school in the car.
Hubby goes to the shop, grabbing his wallet and car keys on his way out the door. There’s no-one around, he gets out of the car to go into the shop, leaving the engine running as usual.
We have all done it! I know I have on many occasions!
Mission accomplished, milk purchased. On looking up after leaving the shop, he notices the cars not there!
Some lovely person has decided to steal it!
Walking home, getting grumpier by the minute, hubby reflects – he knows it was stupid and that he will get so much grief, not only from the wife but he is going to be very late for work (if he gets there at all – another day’s pay lost and the boss will not be happy!)
Home at last, he explains the car has been stolen, not bothering to explain that he had left the engine running whilst he went in the shop. He calls the police to report the incident; they put an alert out, giving him an incident reference number for his insurance claim.
He contacts the insurer; they sympathise but advise that as he is insured on a Third Party Fire and Theft basis, he is not entitled to a replacement vehicle whilst his claim is sorted. They will send an insurance claim form out immediately. Great! No transport and so much to do!
A familiar story. We all rely on our vehicles so much, taking them for granted, assuming they will always be there at our beck and call.
He arranges for a hire car costing £40 per day until the claim is sorted or the car is recovered, hopefully undamaged.
Two days later, the claim form is received. He completes the claim form and returns it the same day.
After a week, the car has still not been found. The insurers write back refusing the claim.
Why??
There is no doubt that the policy covers the policyholder against vehicle theft.
There is however, an important exclusion!
You must take all reasonable steps to safeguard the vehicle against loss or damage. Your vehicle must be locked with any security devices activated, and ensure you remove all keys and keyless entry devices when the vehicle is unattended.
Theft continues to be a big problem and doesn’t seem to be slowing down even though manufacturers are constantly looking to improve security of vehicles. None of these systems however will help you if you leave the keys in the car!
Insurers, whilst sympathetic, are not going to relax their policy conditions just because of the problems caused as a result of you losing the use of your vehicle.
So be warned!