Homeowners at risk of not being properly insured, warns company

AN innovative software tool has been launched to help homeowners record and value their assets as research reveals that millions are putting themselves at risk by not being able to make an accurate home contents insurance claim.

Millions of households face the prospect of paying higher premiums* for home insurance cover that may not pay out when, as often stated in policy documentation small print, proof of contents and values cannot be provided.

The product, called readyclaim, has been developed as an affordable way to enable every household to have a virtual catalogue of their home contents, such as big-ticket electrical items, antiques, original paintings, clothing, furniture and jewellery, with the aid of icons.

Homeowners simply take digital images of their assets in each room, plus any relevant documents including invoices, valuations or receipts, and attach them to the asset icon which can then be uploaded to readyclaim’s secure server.

More than simply a contents calculator, the system has been launched to ensure that everyone insures the true value of their home in a bid to combat claims disputes.

Being underinsured is also an issue as, according to the Association of British Insurers, one in five home contents insurance policyholders are because they do not know how much their home contents are worth.

Tim Roots, founder of readyclaim said: “Research shows that over 90% of householders would not be able to make an accurate home contents insurance claim in the event of a major fire, theft or flood. On top of that, we are all under insured an average of 30% lower than the true value of our contents.

“Not being able to prove the value of your contents or being under insured can cause serious problems if you have to make an insurance claim, as your insurance company may not pay out the full cost to replace lost or damaged items.

“Not many of us realise that insurers will ask for proof of ownership in the event of a substantial claim, which can include purchasing documentation and photographs.”

“Filing invoices and photos in a cupboard can be useless in the event of a fire or flood,” he added.

This is where readyclaim comes in. By using the system, homeowners are given total peace of mind, knowing that they have an accurate and real-time account of their assets stored on our secure server, thus removing the chance of long, expensive and drawn out insurance disputes.

Homeowners can set up a readyclaim home account quickly and easily, which costs just £11.99 a year or £23.99 for three years, which they can access by PC and/or an iPhone/Android app. To open an account, visit the website www.readyclaim.co.uk where you can also download an app (for Apple or Android phones).

Notes to editors:

For further information please contact Emma Kirkaldy at The Smart Agency on 07983 714 001 or email emma@thesmartagency.co.uk

*The AA British Insurance Premium Index has revealed that combined home and contents insurance policies now incur quotes of over £200.

Frequently asked questions:

Is the system an insurance calculator?
Yes but not only that, it also records the value of your home contents which is essential in the event of a claim as insurers often need proof of contents, values and other documentation.

Why should I record my home contents?
It is a worrying fact that over 90% of us could not make an accurate insurance claim.

If you are underinsured by too high a value, insurers can refuse to pay a claim on the basis that your mis-valuation was deliberate, even if only some of your contents are stolen. For example, let’s say you have a policy with £40,000 contents cover and a flood from your water tank damages your bedroom and lounge. You put in a claim for £30,000. The insurer is more than likely to query why 75% of your total contents are within two rooms. They could then visit your property, revalue the assets and reject your claim. At most they would pay you a percentage of your claim.

How can readyclaim save me time and money in the event of a claim?
Disputed Insurance claims can take weeks or months to resolve, and yet readyclaim can take as little as two hours to help you discover and accurately value your home contents. Simply attaching three photos of each area to the room icon and adding your main assets is a start, and it will help fast track your insurance claim.

Can I make changes to my content catalogue?
Yes, all you need to do is login to the site using your password, where you can quickly and easily add, amend or remove any assets from your records.

Can I monitor the value of my assets in relation to my insurance cover?
Yes, the system keeps you up to date on the value of your assets against your sum insured giving you total peace of mind.

Is it easy to use?
Yes. It is a task that even your children can help you with. The more detail you record, the easier the task when it comes to a claim.

Where is the data stored?
The non-personal data is stored on an offsite, secured server.

Is my information safe?
Yes. No personal data, such as your address, is required to open an account. The data is stored securely in one of the UK’s largest data hosting centres.

Further statistics:
In a snapshot survey carried out by readyclaim, nine out of ten people wouldn’t be able to make a claim and are risking their possessions not being covered. Householders are risking their possessions by undervaluing their home contents, according to new report from Direct Line. The report revealed that over £200 billion of home contents are at risk and that 6.8 million households are underinsured, while 5.2 million homes have no contents insurance.

On average, a quarter (26%) of people with contents cover are underinsured, by £20,000 – with £138.5 billion at risk in total, the report found.

Media Contact Details

Name: Emma Kirkaldy
Company Name: The Smart Agency
Telephone Number: 0142387637107983714001
Email: emma@thesmartagency.co.uk