TID Claim Denied.

[drivatruk]

Just lodged a Claim for a lost GPS in the USA and was denied as i hadn't reported it in the USA because i didn't know i had lost it until i got home. I had four suitcases due too much shopping and kept thinking it was in another suitcase until i ran out of them.
IN addition i couldn't provide a receipt due to the fact i purchased it 5 years ago.

i supplied a photo of it being in the car i was driving as well as a copy of my registration with tom tom showing the model number.

Am i wrong to think i should get a reimbursement?? Just like to see if im blinded by the fact i lost it.
Be gentle....

 

[Pushka]

Try this again. Often they refuse the first time you try, and people just give up. But if you truly did lose it, write out a more detailed letter and submit it again. A photo should be proof you owned it. You reported it lost as soon as you knew you lost it. Read the fine print in their PDS and cover any potential issues. Maybe you left it in a taxi (taxis are not considered as Public transport - ie you didnt leave it in a public place - this won't be covered.) How did you lose it though? Left it in a hotel room? If so, contact the Hotel to report it. You just have to cover your bases.

 

[serfty]

A 5YO GPS would not have much value these days would it? Is there any excess payable for your insurance?

 

[mella2007]

My TID policy has $100 excess. It is possible they think as Serfty says above that it wouldn't be worth that much now after excess paid.
They are very easy to deal with, so if you want to go through with it, do ensure you can back it up in any way possible, and try and supply us with a little more detail (have you had any claims denied before, is that all you are claiming for etc )

 

[anat0l]

A 5YO GPS would not have much value these days would it? Is there any excess payable for your insurance?

A GPS could still be quite expensive five years ago. Today that same GPS would be worth a fraction thanks to competition, more brands and that general market jazz that digital cameras have also gone through.

If any excess was payable on the policy then without a receipt or valuation, it could be conceivable that not much will be expected as payment, if a claim was successful. Without excess, it may just pay for a new GPS, but I would expect that GPS units would have a high depreciation on them after 5 years (i.e. the value lifetime would be quite short), which might be a downer for the OP even if they could show the original receipt.

In addition, I don't think that travel insurance policies normally cover anything beyond the value of the asset itself. For example, one can spend $100 or so on new maps for the device, but I doubt that travel insurance (indeed, any insurance) would cover this.


drivatruk, from where it seems you might have a hard time getting a claim that you will be happy with. I'd have a hard time demanding a certain figure without a receipt. I'd also check your insurance policy if any excess is payable. You can lodge a claim again, heeding Pushka's advice, but you may also want to weigh up the time and effort against just writing off your loss (and going out to buy a new GPS).

 

[drivatruk]

thanks for replies. I had medical claim as well which has taken care of the excess issue. It's no so much the amount as i have new one that cost me $180.00. I just feel like they are calling me a liar just because i don't have a receipt.

i have contacted them again and escalated the issue as suggested by Pushka (thanks for the tip).
I did just assume it was like my house insurance, ie new for old but that could be where i went wrong.

 

[Isochronous]

I think I will need to make a claim on TID. I lost something on the way back (either on the Qantas plane - maybe forgotten in the seat pouch, or maybe even left in the private limo I booked on the way back from airport to home) - will I be covered or will they deny the claim on the basis of their 'take reasonable care' clause?

 

[drivatruk]

TID just denied my claim again as I don't have a receipt for the gps and they don't recognise a photo of the device being used in the car as ownership.
So i guess its keep receipts until you throw something out or don't take it overseas.

 

[Pushka]

That's disappointing. Did you pay by credit card? Maybe it's in the card history? Maybe you might have a card that has an insurance cover in it? When I left my things in a taxi of course I lost the receipts too. But claim was paid anyway.

 

[Simo]

disappointing to have the claim denied but if the GPS was not claimed on tax there would be no need to keep receipt for 5 years as manufactures warranty had long expired.

This is also a way for TID to keep down small claims.

 

[cmon0005]

I found Medibank travel insurance just as bad, seems everything I tried to claim for when I had canceled flights etc was not claimable due to unreasonable technicalities..
I learnt my lesson and paid more for CoverMore ever since on all my O/S trips at least their inclusions/exclusions are clear and customer service good.