Proving  ownership  of  household  items  not as easy  as it seems

Proving  ownership  of  household  items   when  claiming  from your   insurer  is not as easy  as it  may  seem,  says  The Ombudsman for Short- Term Insurance,  Dennis Jooste.

Often   the insured  has  not  drawn  up  a proper inventory  of all  if  his  or her  household  possessions  prior  to  submitting a claim  or even  prior  to the inception  of cover  with  their insurer.

“Many consumers are also  not  aware of  the average clause in their insurance policy,” says Dennis Jooste. The  average  clause  is  a clause in your insurance  policy which stipulates that  if  the sum  you  insured  your  household contents  for is less than the actual  value of your  household  contents , your insurer  is entitled to pay  you  a lesser amount . For  example : Mary  insured  the contents  of her  house  for R100 000 but did not have a detailed  inventory, so she really did not know the  true replacement  value  of her household  possessions. After  she was robbed  and submitted a claim  with  her insurer, she drew up a list  of all  the items  in her home  including those  which  had been stolen  and realized that  she should  have been insured for R 200 000. She was therefore insured for 50% of her  contents  and was paid  out only 50% of her claim. She was out  of pocket  for the other 50%  of  the stolen items.

The  Ombudsman  for Short –Term  Insurance’s office has issued  the following guidelines for consumers  to follow so as  to avoid  possible  problems in the event of a claim arising from the loss of home contents. 

• Create and maintain  an  inventory of  your  household items and keep a  separate   insurance  file: Whilst this might appear  to be an onerous  task, it will be worth  it in the long run. An inventory  is a list  that records all your valuable items, when and where you  purchased the item and how much it cost. Having  an inventory  will save you time  when  you submit a claim  to your  insurer  as they  will ask  you  to provide proof of existence of all stolen items. It can also serve  as a guideline  on how much  you will recover from your insurer in the event  of  a claim. There  are companies that can assist you in  compiling an inventory  of all the items in your house . If  you do not wish to use a company to assist  you  compiling your  inventory., then it is recommend  that you list your items room by room. Remember  to update your inventory on an annual  basis  or  as and when  you  acquire new household items.
  
• Keep  copies of receipts and invoices: Keep copies of receipts  and invoices for household items purchased . These can  be kept  together  with  the inventory. Some insurers may  not compensate you  for a claim  if you fail  to provide the original   invoice  or receipt. Some  invoices also contain  a serial number  for the item , if not , it is advisable  that you also maintain a list with the serial  numbers of all your higher valued items,  such as electronic equipment  or items , which carry guarantees and/or  warranties.
  
•  Take  photographs: A  good  idea  is to take photographs  of the different  rooms  in your home. This may go  some way  to establishing  what was in the rooms  and that  you were in possession   of the  items   that you are claiming  for. It will  also  provide  you with   a visual  memory of the items that were in the different  rooms.
•  Jewellery : Many insurers  will require jewellery  items  that exceed a certain  amount to be specified on the insurance policy. In the event of a claim your insurer   may  ask for  valuation  certificates. It is therefore  important  that you keep all  valuation  certificates  safe and  update  them  regularly with  reputable and recognized jeweller. 

“Remember  to  always  provide true and  complete information   to  your insurer at all times, including when  you are claiming. Do not  claim  for a more expensive  item than you originally owned  or  for  an item you did not own  as your  entire claim  may  possibly be repudiated  by your insurance company as a fraudulent  claim,” Dennis Jooste.   

 

BASIC INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS/BASIESE VERSEKERINGS VEREISTES – MOTOR SECTION/AFDELING

• Comprehensive cover means: The vehicle is covered for any damage caused by an accident, theft or hi-jacking and windscreen damage, no mechanical damage is covered unless it was caused by an accident.
• Omvattende dekking beteken: Die voertuig is gedek vir skade veroorsaak deur ‘n ongeluk, diefstal of kaping en windskerm skade, geen meganiese skade is gedek tensy dit deur ‘n ongeluk beskadig is.
• Third part Fire and Theft cover means: Cover if vehicle is stolen or hijacked, if  vehicle gets damaged by a fire or if you are in an accident with another vehicle you will have cover for the other vehicles or property damaged if the accident was your fault but no cover for your insured  vehicle’s damage.
• Derde party, Brand en diefstal beteken: Dekking vir voertuig as gesteel of gekaap, beskadig deur ‘n brand of as u in ‘n ongeluk is met ‘n ander persoon se voertuig of eiendom indien u skuldig is, hulle skade sal gedek wees maar nie u skade nie.
• Third party:  Only cover for the other party in the accidents property if accident is your fault, no own damage cover.
• Derde party: Slegs dekking vir die ander persoon se voertuig indien u skuldig is, geen eie skade dekking nie
• What first amount payable (excess) means: The first amount payable is always payable by you as your excess payment; it means this is the amount you will be liable to pay for each occurrence. The excess may differ depending at which Insurer you accept cover.  Please see quotation or policy schedule for details – Almega representative must explain the amounts to you. Any damage to vehicle which is less than the minimum excess amount as stated on your documents cannot be claimed and will be for your own account. You cannot claim for more than one incident on the same claim form, as each occurrence is a claim on its own and the first amount payable is always per incident.
• Wat beteken eerste bedrag betaalbaar: Hierdie bedrag is altyd betaalbaar as u bybetalilng, betaalbaar vir elke gebeurtenis. Die bybetaling mag verskil afhangende van die versekeraar wat u gekies het. Sien asb kwotasie of polis skedule vir inligting – die Almega verteenwoordiger moet hierdie bedrae aan u verduidelik. Enige skade wat minder as die bybetaling is kan nie geeis word nie en is vir u eie sak. U kan nie vir meer as een gebeurtenis eis op ‘n dieselfde dokument nie, aangesien elke gebeurtenis op sy eie hanteer word en het elk sy eie bybetaling.
• Claim: If in an accident on a public road the accident must be reported to the nearest police station within 24 hours. Please see claim procedure attached on how to report a claim to us.  When there is a third party involved you have to complete a claim form even if your own vehicle doesn’t have any damage in case the third party holds you liable  for any damages to his property – this has to be done as soon as possible after the  accident. Make sure you get as much details of the third party as possible as it must be included on the claim form.
• Eis: Indien in ‘n ongeluk op ‘n publieke pad moet die ongeluk by die SAP  aangemeld word binne 24 uur. Sien ook eise prosedure oor hoe om ‘n eis aan te meld by ons. Indien daar ‘n ander party betrokke is moet u nogsteeds ‘n eisvorm invul al het u voertuig nie skade nie, vir ingeval die ander persoon teen u eis, hierdie moet so gou moontlik na die ongeluk aangemeld word. Kry asb so veel moontlik inligting van die ander persoon.
• Specified extras: If you have any extras like bulbar, tow bar etc it must be added to the sum insured of the vehicle. Basic excess will apply. Keep proof of your extras for instance the invoice of place where it was bought, in case of theft claim the Insurer may expect from you to proof that the extras was part of your vehicle.
• Gespesifiseerde ekstras: Indien u enige ekstras op u voertuig het soos bv. Sleepstang, kappie ens. Moet dit by die versekerde waarde getel word. Basiese bybetaling sal van toepassing wees. Hou asb bewyse van u ekstras, bv. die aankoop strokie, in geval van diefstal kan die versekeraars vra dat bewyse van eienaarskap gelewer moet word.
• Security: You must also ensure that your vehicle is always locked and the immobilizer is activated if you leave the car unattended – REMEMBER it is your responsibility that your possessions are always kept safe and hided out of sight of  by passers. Items inside you vehicle like GPS’s, Laptops and other personal effects is not covered under your motor insurance and must be specified separately under  the All risk section.  If you do have a tracking device in the vehicle, you must make sure that it is always in a working order by testing it regularly at the service provider.  You will have no claim if the tracking device that was noted on the policy was not in a working condition when the vehicle got stolen.
• Sekuriteit: Maak asb seker dat u voertuig te alle tye gesluit is en dat die immobiliseerder geaktiveer is as u die voertuig alleen laat – ONTHOU dit is u verantwoordelikheid dat u besittings veilig gehou word, items binne in die voertuig moet ook nie sigbaar wees van buite nie. Items soos GPS, Skootrekenaar en ander persoonlike items is nie gedek onder die voertuig afdeling en moet apart gespesifiseer word onder die alle risiko afdeling. As u ‘n Tracker in die voertuig het moet u asb seker wees dat dit altyd in ‘n werkende toestand is. Daar sal geen eis wees indien hulle voertuig steel en Tracker was nie in ‘n werkende toestand nie.
• Law: Always make sure that your vehicle is roadworthy, a vehicle that is not  roadworthy  will have no cover for claims as the insurance on a vehicle states that you have to obey the law at all times, this also counts for drunken  driving, reckless  driving etc.
• Wetgewing: Maak asb seker at u voertuig altyd padwaardig is, indien nie padwaardig is daar geen dekking aangesien die versekeraars vereis dat landswette nagekom moet word te alle tye, hierdie geld ook vir dronkbestuur, dwelm misbruik, nalatige bestuur ens.
• Sum insured: The vehicles sum insured must be the retail value (VAT included) plus value of any extras fitted on the vehicle. There is no use in insuring a vehicle for more than the above value as the insurance will only pay out the retail value plus extras you can proof. Once a year at renewal Almega brokers will alter the retail value of your vehicle as per the latest Mead and Mc Grouther guides but it stays the responsibility of the insured to make sure this value is correct or to inform us of the latest retail if the insured wants the value to be altered more often than on renewal.
• Versekerde waarde: Die voertuig word verseker vir herverkoop waarde (BTW ingesluit) plus waarde van enige ekstras op die voertuig. Daar is geen nut om voertuig vir meer as hierdie bedrag te verseker nie aangesien die versekeraars slegs hierdie bedrag plus ekstras as kan bewys sal uitbetaal. Een maal per jaar sal Almega die polis hernu word en waardes sal aangepas word volgens die Mead en McGrouther bookies, dit bly egter u verantwoordelikheid om toe te sien dat die beskrywing reg is en indien u op ‘n meer gereelde basis dit wil verander kan u ons kontak.
• Drivers: If someone else is driving the car, it must be with your permission, and the driver must have a valid driver’s license, and is not allowed to be under the influence of liquir or nargotics . Some insurers may stipulate on their policy that only the named drivers may drive the vehicle. Make sure your broker did discuss that with you.
• Bestuurders: Indien iemand anders u voertuig bestuur moet dit met u toestemming wees, die bestuurder moet in besit wees van ‘n geldige Suid Afrikaanse rybewys, en mag nie onder die invloed van drank of dwelms wees nie. Sekere versekeraars benoem net seker persone, maak seker dat die makelaar hierdie met u bespreek het.
• Prevention of loss: Also remember not to drive your vehicle after an accident if it will cause additional damage as this additional damage will not be covered under your insurance, make use of a tow- in company to remove your vehicle to the nearest Panel beater. The Insurance Company will only pay for the tow-in to the nearest Panel beater from where the accident happened.
• Voorkoming van verlies: Onthou asb om nie u voertuig na ‘n ongeluk te bestuur nie indien dit verdere skade gaan veroorsaak, aangesien die additionele skade nie gedek sal wees nie, maak gebruik van insleep dienste om u voertuig na die naaste paneelklopper te tou. Die versekeraars sal slegs betaal vir insleep vanaf die ongeluks toneel tot by die naaste paneelklopper.

 

 BASIC INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS / BASIESE VERSEKERINGS VEREISTES

 

• General: Premiums is due in advance and if it is not received by the company on the due date as agreed the insurance shall be deemed to have been cancelled at midnight on the last night of the preceding period of insurance after two unpaid premiums.
• Algemeen: Premies is vooruit betaalbaar en as nie ontvang word op die betrokke datum soos ooreengekom, sal die versekering kanselleer na twee onbetaalde premies nie ontvang is nie.
• Prevention of loss: You must take all reasonable steps and precautions to prevent accident or losses.
• Voorkoming van verlies: U moet alle redelike stappe en voorkoming neem om ‘n verlies te beperk of te voorkom
• First amount payable: The amount payable (claim) under a section of this policy for each and every loss damage or liability shall be reduced by the first amount payable shown in the schedule. Please make sure this was discussed with you when you took out the insurance from one of our representatives. You cannot claim for a loss if the amount is less than the amount payable on the section.
• Eerste bedrag betaalbaar: Die bedrag  betaalbaar onder die afdeling van hierdie polis is vir elke gebeurtenis, skade of aanspreeklikheid na die plaasvind van ‘n eis. Maak asb seker dat die verteenwoordiger hierdie met u bespreek het. U kan nie vir skade eis sou die bybetaling meer wees as die skade nie.
• Security: The representative from Almega Brokers must explain the security requirements on the applicable section of your policy with you. If you do not comply with the minimum requirements of the policy there will be no claim under the specific section if the loss was directly caused by the none complying with these requirements. If there is an alarm on the property it must be fully operative whenever the premises are unattended. Such alarm must be maintained in proper working order. 
• Sekuriteit: Die verteenwoordiger van Almega Makelaars moet die versekerings vereistes aan u verduidelik op die betrokke afdelings. As die minimum vereistes nie nagekom word nie sal daar nie ‘n eis wees nie. Indien daar ‘n alarm op die perseel is moet dit geaktiveer word elke keer wat u uithuisig is, die alarm moet ook in ‘n goeie werkende toestand gehou word.
• Jewelry: The insurers will not pay for any item of jewelry specified under All risk or Household section of the policy of value R 10 000 or more unless such item of jewelry is kept in a locked safe when not been worn by you.
• Juwele: Die versekeraars sal nie betaal vir juwele gespesifiseer onder die Alle risiko afdeling met die waarde van R10 000 of meer, tensy dit in ‘n kluis toegesluit is wanneer nie gedra word nie.
• Thatch roof: A building with a thatch roof must be fitted with a SABS approved lightning conductor otherwise there will be no cover if damage was caused by lightning to the roof of this building.
• Grasdak: ‘n Gebou met ‘n grasdak met toegerus wees met ‘n SABS goedgekeurde weerlig afleier, andersins sal daar nie dekking wees sou die gebou geslaan word deur weerlig.
• Gas stoves:According to the regulations that were introduced in 2009, all gas installations must have a Certificate of Conformity according to the Pressure Equipment Regulations that have been promulgated under the Occupation Health and Safety Act (No 85 of 1993).While this may sound like a complex, legal document - essentially it is a certificate that states that the installation has been properly inspected and is determined to be safe and leak free. It is critical that this certificate is also issued by an authorized person who is registered with the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Safety Association of Southern Africa (LPGAS). Failure to comply with these requirements could possibly invalidate your insurance should it be established that a fire or injury is caused as a result of the incorrect connection of the gas appliances.
• Gas stowe: Volgens die regulasies van 2009, moet alle gas stowe ‘n sertifikaat van ooreenkoms  volgens die druk item regulasies onder die Gesondheid en Veiligheids wet (no 85 van 1993).  Hierdie is ‘n sertifikaat wat bevestig dat die item behoorlik ondersoek is en dat bevind is dat dit veilig is en nie lek nie. Hierdie is krities dat hierdie sertifikaat uitgereik is deur ‘n gemagtigede persoon wat geregistreer is met die Petrolium Gas Veiligheids Assosiasie van SA (LPGAS). Indien hierdie nie in plek is nie kan ‘n eis afgewys word indien daar bepaal word dat die stoof nie veilig was nie.
• Generators: It is important to note that any Generator installation should comply with the South African National Standard (SANS 10142-1:2003) for the wiring of the premises.  Clause 7: 12 prescribe the minimum safety requirements for the installation of low voltage generators. This is a legal requirement and failure to comply with these requirements could possibly invalidate your insurance should it be established that a fire or injury is caused as a result of the incorrect connection of the generator. It is advisable that you inform your broker and insurer that you have installed a generator and this should be noted on your policy.
• Krag opwekkers: Dit is belangrik om te weet dat enige geinstalleerde krag opwekker moet onderhewig wees aan die Suid Afrikaanse Nasionale Standaard (SANS 1014-1:2003) vir die bedrading van die perseel. Klousule 7:12 noem dat die minimum veiligheids vereistes vir die installasie van ‘n lae spanning kragopweker. Dit is ‘n wetlike vereiste en nie nakoming hiervan kan ‘n eis geweier word sou hulle agterkom dat die krag opweker die oorsaak wees van enige eis. Dit is belangrik om u makelaar in kennis te stel as u ‘n krag opwekker geinstalleer het sodat ‘n aantekening op die leer gemaak kan word.
• Average clause: A clause in a policy requiring that, where assets are insured for less than their full value, the insured is required to bear a proportion of any loss. The proportion is the amount by which the assets are under insured expressed as a percentage of its indemnity value, at the time of the loss
• This clause applies to buildings and contents section of the policy.
• Awery: ‘n Klousule in die bewoording vereis dat, waar die besittings verseker is vir minder as hulle volle waarde, die Versekeraars slegs die gedeelte sal betaal waarvoor premie betaal is.

 

 

Please note that the above requirements must be read in conjunction with the policy   wording as the above document only stipulates the basic requirement. It is also very important that you study the policy wording.

 

Neem asb kennis dat bogenoemde moet saam met die polis bewoording gelees word aangesien die bogenoemde dokument slegs sekere punte uitlig. Dit is ook baie belangrik dat u die polis bewoording volledig studeer.