PC Insurance

setanta5

This isn't really a direct Computer question, more a consumer related one and sorry if its been done before!!!

My best mate bought a Laptop in PC World for college about 2 years ago. It the time it was a decent spec for the money. He also took out the PC world insurance which supposedly covers any form of theft or damage....even if the user causes the damage. You all have heard the salespeople in PC world and Dixons selling this before...if you smash it with a hammer before the 3 years is up we'll replace it with the current version etc.

Thing is he's finished college and lokoing for work and has been complaining that his laptop is giving a lot of problems and generally showing its age. He's thnking of taking up the salepersons suggestions and breaking his laptop to get it replaced on his policy. I've told him to be very careful that i'm not sure it will be so easy to make claim. Has anyone had experience of this? The policy added €350 onto the value of his purchase, which i think was a waste of cash.

Kimbot

I got the same thing!!! My PC tho has destroyed the CD/RW that came with the PC and 3 DVD/RW drives aswell!!! I will be getting onto them about the problem and hopefully getting it sorted!!

kippy

I never purchase any form of extended warranty or insurance for items such as this due to some stories about the hassle of actually claiming.
I doubt the policy is valid if the user intentionally smashes the laptop up before the policy is up-if this were the case I think everyone would be paying 350 euro to have a brand new machine in three years time.
I would think that they will investigate every claim and if intend to cause damage is found, I would be pretty sure the policy would be void.
A stolen laptop with a police report may however be fairly easy to claim off.
I look forward to hearing stories from others though who have had to claim of their insurance. I think I have seem some negative stories in the consumer issues forum about similiar issues though.
The main worry I have is my laptop being stolen and my home insurance policy covers this when at home and if travelling my travel insurance policy covers it.

seamus

I can't see any insurer in the world actually offering no-questions-asked full replacement cover. I bought a laptop in PC World a few months back, and the salesperson was very clear that what they were selling was accidental damage cover. I didn't go for it of course, but his best attempt at selling it to me was "I could give you the laptop now, and if you drop it carrying it out out to your car, you'd be covered".

I have in the past damaged parts of machines because I just went a little too far in trying to DIY it, but the manufacturers replaced them anyway. But that's only because the damage I caused was subtle.

No-one here is going to offer assistance on attempting to defraud an insurance company, but before he embarks on pouring a cup of coffee all over his machine, he should read the fine print on his insurance policy to find out exactly what is covered.

The machine could probably just do with being rebuilt. It'll be like new.

setanta5

seamus wrote:

No-one here is going to offer assistance on attempting to defraud an insurance company, but before he embarks on pouring a cup of coffee all over his machine, he should read the fine print on his insurance policy to find out exactly what is covered.

The machine could probably just do with being rebuilt. It'll be like new.

Listen mate i totally agree with you on this. And i have suggested to him that it just needs a cleanup and maybe some Ram. But i think the problem here is the salespeople are so desperate for the commission they will say anything to get you to take out the insurance policy. I was going to buy a pc there before but decide to build it myself in the end, but at that time i remember the salesperson coming out with similar claims of "even if you purposely smash the laptop". My advice to my friend was that if you do claim, its not the salesperson you will be dealing with, and his claims will hold no weight with the INsurance rep.

Lump

There's a phrase to describe this.... Insurance Fraud.

jor el

setanta5 wrote:

supposedly covers any form of theft or damage

He should really consult the T&Cs on that. I know that they normally only cover theft in the first year of the warranty. They'll also first try to repair or replace any damaged components rather than simply a straight swap to a brand new laptop. Even if they can't repair it, I'd doubt very much that they'll give him a brand new top of the range laptop. Most likely it'll be re-conditioned or of very similar spec to what was damaged.

Insurance Fraud is also a crime that carries fairly heavy penalties. If your friend did decide to drop the laptop off a roof or something, and if the insurance company suspects the damage is not accidental they could come down very heavy on him.

On the subject of insurance though, most home insurance policies will allow you to insure "unspecified" items up to a value of about €5000 for a small annual fee. My sister just insured her home PC, laptop, camera, and two video cameras for €50 extra. The laptop and cameras are even covered when they're not in the home. Much better than any extended warranty.

daywalker

jor el wrote:

I'd doubt very much that they'll give him a brand new top of the range laptop. Most likely it'll be re-conditioned or of very similar spec to what was damaged.

actually what they do is issue vouchers to equivalent value today of what the laptop was worth, at least in ireland, with which you can purchase a new laptop in a dixons/currys/pcworld.

Khannie

setanta5 wrote:

Thing is he's finished college and lokoing for work and has been complaining that his laptop is giving a lot of problems and generally showing its age. He's thnking of taking up the salepersons suggestions and breaking his laptop to get it replaced on his policy.

As lump pointed out, this would be insurance fraud. I'm not saying that the guy couldn't get his money back, I'm just saying it would be illegal and as such, I'm gonna have to lock this thread (we can't be seen to give advice that breaks the law).

I have to say, I was told the exact same thing by a sales rep when purchasing a laptop in the US before. Odd claim for a sales rep to make.