I took the harp out to its first session last week and my thoughts have turned to separate instrument insurance , perhaps including accidental damage. I used one company when my daughter was playing in the youth orchestra which seemed ok but luckily we never had to claim. Anyone had any experiences. What should I be looking out for.
This may depend on where you're located, but in the the states it typically depends on whether you use the instrument professionally or not. If you don't gig with it, it may be covered by homeowners' or renters' insurance. If you do play out, you'll have to have it covered separately.
It does include accidental damage and is covered in a pub or if stolen from the back of your car - as long as it is concealed (the terms on this recently changed so double check what "concealed" means. I can see it being an issue with a full sized harp.
If it is covered under household insurance, and it's expensive, another good idea is to include a separate rider (clause) that specifically lists the item etc. This is because many household insurance contracts have fixed upper limits and surprisingly high deductibles for certain items (instruments, bikes, sporting goods etc). You can generally negotiate with the insurance company. Right now, with the bad economy, these people are falling over themselves for business, so negotiate away!
On higher-end isntruments they will want the serial #, model etc, and it is a good idea to register these with the police. Canada has a database for bikes, and another for instruments.
Insuring the instruments under the household insurance is all very well but that will not cover them for incidents outside the house - such as in the pub or car.
I got my fiddle insured with Allianz through a local violin maker and repairer. He suggested that I told them I played in a 'Folk Ensemble' rather than describing the reality of a session...
Some of the guys who used to work for Allianz have set up their own company and are some what cheaper with similar cover. All y boxes are coverd by them and my wife's dulcimer
Hey no cause-- I checked into that (for Canada). The insurance is valid outside the house, at sessions, etc. Household (here) refers to "things one normally has in the house" and includes things one takes out, eg instruments, sporting goods, portable computers, etc.
Car insurance does not cover theft of things from car, unless they are part of a car (e.g. your fiddle gets ripped off, tough luck; a crack-head takes your car-stereo, that's covered).
Car insurance (somebody else's) will cover your loss if your instrument gets damaged in an accident. (it's part of liability insurance which is mandatory in most parts of the world). However if you crash your own car, you have to look carefully at your policy: you must have comprehensive, but not all comprehensive insures car contents.
If in the UK, I strongly recommend avoiding Allianz Insurance. Their premiums are much higher than most other companies and I have heard some un-thinkable horror stories as to why they wouldn't pay out. The Musicians Union in the UK has some instrument insurance included in membership which may be worth looking at. Alternatively I would recommend having a look at Endsliegh's Musical Instrument policy. I have 2 accordions insured for the sum of around 6 grand and it only cost 130 quid for worldwide cover including theft from an unattended vehicle!
Hey bliss, you'd be in danger of getting rumbled there if you claim it was "inn" the house.
Allianz Insurance is great. I've never heard anything against it and all my mates use it. My fiddle viola case is insured for about the same as your squeeze boxes and its only £60 a year
I claimed once. I was doing a gig with the wire from my pick up taped to the fiddle and someone (it was the drummer, of course) tripped over the wire and the fiddle jumped out of my hands and landed face down. The top smashed into three bits. The next morning the insurance company sent me to a really really good fiddle repair man who looks after the fiddles at the Halé orchestra. He glued it back together in a couple of days and it was better than before. And while he had it I was due in the studio so I was loaned a really really really expensive fiddle.
That's been really helpful. I am certainly thinking about accidental damage which I'm not coverd for at home. Was burgled a couple of months ago and fortunately they left the harp alone , going for electronics, jewellry and dvds - been having some fun with the insurance company re replacing like for like so it would have been interesting to see how they would have handled replacing the harp.
Its only a 26 string so I'm on the bus to sessions ( not seen any mention of buses in any of the insurance blurbs so far ) and other people's cars when we start introducing it into the band ( 9 months and lots of practise at least )
My stuff.s insured if I accidentally leave it on the bus. But only in an an unattended vehicle for an hour. But who'd leave theirinstrument in an unattended vehicle anyway?
I gotta reiterate one thing: READ THE FINE PRINT. Laws etc vary country to country, and policies vary...you have to ask specific questions about your needs and get answers, where necessary, in writing.
E.g. with my rock-climbing gear, it's covered...but only if not used professionally, or in competition, etc etc. Under those circumstances, it has to be isnured in other ways. Legal arcana is ridiculous but you gotta be prepared. Anyway, good luck...insurance is totally worth it. it saves you $$ in the logn run and you get a LOT of peace of mind.
I've often left my harp unattended in a vehicle (say if stopping off to buy something on the way to a gig) but only 'cos it's not easy to carry around. Provided it's hidden from view, Allianz is happy with that.
PS I had a colleague who was always messing around with car engines. He finally bought roadside assistance and reckoned it did give him piece of mind, or, as he put it: "Added another 1000 rpm to my engine speed"
Hey bliss, you'd be in danger of getting rumbled there if you claim it was "inn" the house.
# Posted on October 28th 2010 by llig leahcim
I was trying to be half honest when I did it.
The Halle Orchestra!!!!!!!! I played in the Lesser Free Trade Hall once when they were in the main hall at the same time. You use the same entrance.
I had a bodhran, bass drum and such in those days, and the mate had a wash board. We got some strange looks from punters who were wondering if the Halle had branched out.
Didn't see where you are located, but in the States I insure my harps through The Anderson Group, www.anderson-group.com. You need to be a member of the American Harp Society or The Folk Harp Society - the rates are good, I have several harps plus accessories insured, as well as electronic equipment.
My instruments are covered by a "rider" on my homeowner's policy.
They're only covered if they're 1) locked in the house or 2) locked in the boot of the car.
The Musicians' Union here has much better coverage, which covers your instruments anywhere. It's because professional musicians are often in the position of leaving their instruments onstage at a gig etc etc.
Another vote for Newmoon Insurance - all my instruments are insured with them, they know what they're talking about and understand the culture of sessions etc.
The guy I dealt with even understood the complexities of uilleann pipes ( and pipers)!
£20,000 worth of cover for just over £200 premium.
This comes with the caveat that I haven't had to claim from them yet though!
Insuring instruments
Insuring instruments
I took the harp out to its first session last week and my thoughts have turned to separate instrument insurance , perhaps including accidental damage. I used one company when my daughter was playing in the youth orchestra which seemed ok but luckily we never had to claim. Anyone had any experiences. What should I be looking out for.
Thanks
J
# Posted on October 27th 2010 by jfother
Re: Insuring instruments
This may depend on where you're located, but in the the states it typically depends on whether you use the instrument professionally or not. If you don't gig with it, it may be covered by homeowners' or renters' insurance. If you do play out, you'll have to have it covered separately.
# Posted on October 27th 2010 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Insuring instruments
Almost everyone seems to use Allianz. I do. I have never had to claim thank goodness but their terms and prices do seem to be quite favourable.
http://www.allianzmusicalinsurance.co.uk/
# Posted on October 27th 2010 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Insuring instruments
It does include accidental damage and is covered in a pub or if stolen from the back of your car - as long as it is concealed (the terms on this recently changed so double check what "concealed" means. I can see it being an issue with a full sized harp.
# Posted on October 27th 2010 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Insuring instruments
If it is covered under household insurance, and it's expensive, another good idea is to include a separate rider (clause) that specifically lists the item etc. This is because many household insurance contracts have fixed upper limits and surprisingly high deductibles for certain items (instruments, bikes, sporting goods etc). You can generally negotiate with the insurance company. Right now, with the bad economy, these people are falling over themselves for business, so negotiate away!
On higher-end isntruments they will want the serial #, model etc, and it is a good idea to register these with the police. Canada has a database for bikes, and another for instruments.
# Posted on October 27th 2010 by chris stolz
Re: Insuring instruments
Insuring the instruments under the household insurance is all very well but that will not cover them for incidents outside the house - such as in the pub or car.
# Posted on October 27th 2010 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Insuring instruments
I got my fiddle insured with Allianz through a local violin maker and repairer. He suggested that I told them I played in a 'Folk Ensemble' rather than describing the reality of a session...
# Posted on October 27th 2010 by Dragut Reis
Re: Insuring instruments
Some of the guys who used to work for Allianz have set up their own company and are some what cheaper with similar cover. All y boxes are coverd by them and my wife's dulcimer
http://www.newmooninsurance.com/
# Posted on October 27th 2010 by goldfrog
Re: Insuring instruments
Hey no cause-- I checked into that (for Canada). The insurance is valid outside the house, at sessions, etc. Household (here) refers to "things one normally has in the house" and includes things one takes out, eg instruments, sporting goods, portable computers, etc.
Car insurance does not cover theft of things from car, unless they are part of a car (e.g. your fiddle gets ripped off, tough luck; a crack-head takes your car-stereo, that's covered).
Car insurance (somebody else's) will cover your loss if your instrument gets damaged in an accident. (it's part of liability insurance which is mandatory in most parts of the world). However if you crash your own car, you have to look carefully at your policy: you must have comprehensive, but not all comprehensive insures car contents.
chris
# Posted on October 27th 2010 by chris stolz
Re: Insuring instruments
Hmm - interesting. I wouldn't have thought that car insurance would have covered anything other than the car. You learn something new every day.
# Posted on October 27th 2010 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Insuring instruments
So if I get so drunk that I have to sleep in my car, and someone steals the fiddle that I left in the bar before I staggered out to the car park...
# Posted on October 28th 2010 by Dragut Reis
Re: Insuring instruments
My house insurance covers the instruments. Only had to claim once in about twenty years. Simply tell them it was damaged inn the house.
After paying for 20 years, it is the least they can do to replace it.
# Posted on October 28th 2010 by bodhran bliss
Avoid Allianz!
If in the UK, I strongly recommend avoiding Allianz Insurance. Their premiums are much higher than most other companies and I have heard some un-thinkable horror stories as to why they wouldn't pay out. The Musicians Union in the UK has some instrument insurance included in membership which may be worth looking at. Alternatively I would recommend having a look at Endsliegh's Musical Instrument policy. I have 2 accordions insured for the sum of around 6 grand and it only cost 130 quid for worldwide cover including theft from an unattended vehicle!
# Posted on October 28th 2010 by Daniel Gott
Re: Insuring instruments
Hey bliss, you'd be in danger of getting rumbled there if you claim it was "inn" the house.
Allianz Insurance is great. I've never heard anything against it and all my mates use it. My fiddle viola case is insured for about the same as your squeeze boxes and its only £60 a year
I claimed once. I was doing a gig with the wire from my pick up taped to the fiddle and someone (it was the drummer, of course) tripped over the wire and the fiddle jumped out of my hands and landed face down. The top smashed into three bits. The next morning the insurance company sent me to a really really good fiddle repair man who looks after the fiddles at the Halé orchestra. He glued it back together in a couple of days and it was better than before. And while he had it I was due in the studio so I was loaned a really really really expensive fiddle.
# Posted on October 28th 2010 by ...
Re: Insuring instruments
Thanks
That's been really helpful. I am certainly thinking about accidental damage which I'm not coverd for at home. Was burgled a couple of months ago and fortunately they left the harp alone , going for electronics, jewellry and dvds - been having some fun with the insurance company re replacing like for like so it would have been interesting to see how they would have handled replacing the harp.
Its only a 26 string so I'm on the bus to sessions ( not seen any mention of buses in any of the insurance blurbs so far ) and other people's cars when we start introducing it into the band ( 9 months and lots of practise at least )
thanks again
J
# Posted on October 28th 2010 by jfother
Re: Insuring instruments
My stuff.s insured if I accidentally leave it on the bus. But only in an an unattended vehicle for an hour. But who'd leave theirinstrument in an unattended vehicle anyway?
# Posted on October 28th 2010 by ...
Re: Insuring instruments
I gotta reiterate one thing: READ THE FINE PRINT. Laws etc vary country to country, and policies vary...you have to ask specific questions about your needs and get answers, where necessary, in writing.
E.g. with my rock-climbing gear, it's covered...but only if not used professionally, or in competition, etc etc. Under those circumstances, it has to be isnured in other ways. Legal arcana is ridiculous but you gotta be prepared. Anyway, good luck...insurance is totally worth it. it saves you $$ in the logn run and you get a LOT of peace of mind.
# Posted on October 28th 2010 by chris stolz
Re: Insuring instruments
I've often left my harp unattended in a vehicle (say if stopping off to buy something on the way to a gig) but only 'cos it's not easy to carry around. Provided it's hidden from view, Allianz is happy with that.
# Posted on October 28th 2010 by Mark Harmer
Re: Insuring instruments
PS I had a colleague who was always messing around with car engines. He finally bought roadside assistance and reckoned it did give him piece of mind, or, as he put it: "Added another 1000 rpm to my engine speed"
# Posted on October 28th 2010 by Mark Harmer
Re: Insuring instruments
Oops - "peace of mind", even. The other spelling has a different meaning!
# Posted on October 28th 2010 by Mark Harmer
Re: Insuring instruments
Can you insure through Allianz in the US?
# Posted on October 28th 2010 by primrose lass
Re: Insuring instruments
Re: Insuring instruments
Hey bliss, you'd be in danger of getting rumbled there if you claim it was "inn" the house.
# Posted on October 28th 2010 by llig leahcim
I was trying to be half honest when I did it.
The Halle Orchestra!!!!!!!! I played in the Lesser Free Trade Hall once when they were in the main hall at the same time. You use the same entrance.
I had a bodhran, bass drum and such in those days, and the mate had a wash board. We got some strange looks from punters who were wondering if the Halle had branched out.
# Posted on October 28th 2010 by bodhran bliss
Re: Insuring instruments
Didn't see where you are located, but in the States I insure my harps through The Anderson Group, www.anderson-group.com. You need to be a member of the American Harp Society or The Folk Harp Society - the rates are good, I have several harps plus accessories insured, as well as electronic equipment.
# Posted on October 31st 2010 by drinharp
Re: Insuring instruments
My instruments are covered by a "rider" on my homeowner's policy.
They're only covered if they're 1) locked in the house or 2) locked in the boot of the car.
The Musicians' Union here has much better coverage, which covers your instruments anywhere. It's because professional musicians are often in the position of leaving their instruments onstage at a gig etc etc.
# Posted on November 1st 2010 by Richard D Cook
Re: Insuring instruments
Another vote for Newmoon Insurance - all my instruments are insured with them, they know what they're talking about and understand the culture of sessions etc.
The guy I dealt with even understood the complexities of uilleann pipes ( and pipers)!
£20,000 worth of cover for just over £200 premium.
This comes with the caveat that I haven't had to claim from them yet though!
# Posted on November 10th 2010 by piperjon