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How to get your insurance to pay

Imagine this scenario: You’ve just worked up a sweat at the gym, or completed an invigorating hike along your favourite trail, when you return to your car to find that it’s been broken into and all your precious belongings have been stolen.

To add insult to injury, you never got round to getting proper insurance, and now you’re going to have to replace everything yourself.

Sound a bit farfetched?

Well, according to MUA Insurance Acceptances, people often forget to take the right steps to protect their possessions while they partake in physical pastimes like going to the gym, surfing or trail running.

Although you can’t help the fact that your car was broken in to, there are steps that you should take to ensure that your insurance claims don’t get rejected.

Outdoor activities

Firstly, for your safety and the safety of your valuables, don’t park in an unattended area. Try to park close to where other people are.

Please, for goodness sake, don’t leave your keys on the wheel of the car. That’s just asking for trouble. Your insurance definitely won’t give you the benefit of the doubt if they find out that the thieves had easy access to your keys! Most insurers actually clearly stipulate in the motor policy exclusions that theft cover of the vehicle is excluded if the ignition keys are left in or on the vehicle.

What to do?

•    Reduce the number of keys on your key ring and only carrying your car keys with you – that way you don't have to run/cycle/gym with a bunch of keys in your pocket.
•    Use shoe laces or a safety pin to attach the key to your clothing if you have no pocket.
•    An alternative solution is to store the key in a locked box that uses a combination code to lock to avoid the hassle of an additional key, which can be fitted to the vehicle.
•    If you’re a water sports enthusiast, there is the option of a waterproof smartphone case that can hold and protect car keys, mobile phones or other small valuables from water.

Indoor Activities

If you didn’t take the necessary precautions to ensure that your stuff will be safe while at the gym or squash courts, your insurance simply just won’t give a damn!

What should you do?

•    Lock away your car keys/valuables in the lockers provided. Choose a locker located in a high traffic area, such as near the showers or entrance, as anyone trying to break are more likely to opt for an isolated locker to avoid drawing attention.
•    As an added security measure, place a lock on the gym bag within the locked locker or store items that are not necessarily needed - such as a laptop or iPad - in the boot of the locked motor vehicle rather than bringing the item into the gym or sports centre.

Remember, valuable items are typically covered by an All Risks policy under the general or specified cover, depending on the item in question.

However, because each insurer writes this risk in different categories you should speak to a broker to find out more about your specific insurance policy.

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