• Insurers’ data suggests ‘accidental damage’ home insurance claims increase during school holidays.
• Claims in August 2018 rose by almost a third, compared to June 2018.
• Smashed TVs, phones down toilets and carpet calamities are amongst common claims.
With the new school term just starting, insurers are reporting on another spike in claims. Data from insurers shows an interesting correlation between ‘accidental damage’ home insurance claims and school holidays, when youngsters are often at home or visiting grandparents. Figures over the last year show visible peaks in January, April, August and October. August appears to be a home claim hotspot, with last year’s data showing a 29% increase in accidental damage claims, compared to June 2018. It seems that TVs and technology often bear the brunt, along with carpets and couches, as examples of real claims from the last year reveal:
Cutting edge: one father reported that his daughter was doing craft work on the sofa, using a pair of scissors to make badges. She managed to cut through the leather sofa as well as her paper.
Hidden depths: a customer and her husband spent an evening looking for their phones. It was only the following morning they discovered that their grandson had hidden them down the toilet. The scourge of slime: several customers have made claims after their children and grandchildren played with colourful slime on their carpets and sofas…only to leave irremovable stains behind.
Crystal clear: one customer described how her four-year-old granddaughter was jumping up and down on a dining room chair, trying to grab crystals off a chandelier. She got hold of the chandelier, pulling it down, causing it to damage the glass dining room table. And to top it all, the little girl then fell off the chair, breaking it too!
Toys, TVs and temper tantrums: dozens of customers have made claims for damaged TVs after younger family members damaged the screens by throwing toys. Another customer’s daughter got over-excited seeing her favourite cartoon pig on the small screen, causing her to knock the TV over. Getting into the swing: another customer claimed for a broken tumble drier after his daughter decided that swinging on the door was a good idea – until it broke.
Hot spot: a customer’s grandchild left their tablet to charge on the lounge carpet. The tablet overheated and singed a hole in the carpet.
For help and advice on all aspects of Home Insurance, (not on the kids!) speak to Justin Gould at Neil Willies Insurance Brokers Limited on 0800 542 0672 or email sales@neilwillies.co.uk