Please help - possible ins claim

ST Colin

ST Colin

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Hi all,

On Saturday night my camera fell off a chair in the house with a nasty fall to the ground. It's a 30D and I had a grip attached and th EF 50 f1.8. The lens didn't come off too well, the focus ring and it's attachment from inside the lens body have broken away. So, I thought, b****r I'll need to replace that.

Put the camera back in the bag as the batteries on my flash had died anyway (this wasn't attached).

Went out tonight to take a few night shots. I had inserted a card before leaving the house and successfully erased some old images from it. Thought all was well.

First shot of the night, 30" exposure, just as this ended, a horrible noise, and ERR 99 on both the main screen and top screen. The sound was like an internal motor churning away. Even when I turned it off and removed the battery, it continued for about 10-15 seconds. Gutted to say the least.

I'm home now and have tried other lens with the same problem, just nothing from the camera, just ERR 99 on screen.

I have insurance, and I think I need to claim now. Or do I? I've never made an insurance claim before. The terms and conditions seem to state I will only get market value for my items at the time of loss, but my 30D is now an old item. Can anyone tell me what usually happens in this case?

Also, will I need to send it to Canon for evaluation before I can make a genuine claim? (as evidence it is damaged).

Thanks for any help in advance,

A very gutted Colin :'(
 
You have to register the claim with your insurance company first (usually within around 48 hours of the 'incident')
Then they will ask for what proof they require.
 
Thanks,

I have read over the T&C's and they don't give any indication of how soon I must claim. Hopefully they will give me the benefit of the doubt.

Can't believe this has happened, really can't.
 
E & L is the insurance company.
 
I had a similar claim a few years ago where I had slipped and knocked the tripod over with my camera attached, I was told by my Broker to say I had dropped it as he believed they might find some get out clause with it being attached to a tripod. The camera was sent away for inspection and was proved ok, a new lens and filter that were damaged beyond repair were sent from WE paid for by the insurance company. So am not sure what you can tell them re it being on a chair, but I would believe they will repair the damaged items. Please note the insurance company paid for my camera to be sent to Canon for inspection. Hope this helps you.
 
Market value basis of settlement seems strange for a contents policy these days, unless it's a cheap and cheerful one. You should have new for old cover under your contents, unless you have specifically chosen a market value (indemnity) policy to keep costs down.

If you have new for old, in the event of it being damaged beyond repair, your insurers should pay to replace with the nearest equivalent model as new. Is that the 50D? I am not sure about that part.

If you have an indemnity policy (these are quite rare these days), your insurance will pay out the secondhand replacement value for a similar item.

Whichever you have, you need to speak to your insurers to notify them of what has happened so they can advise you how to proceed.

If you have any other questions, just ask.
 
Thanks for all the responses. I'm calling the insurance company this morning.
 
It's always a good idea to report a potential claim asap. You can always withdraw it - insurers don't mind! - and it removes any grounds for repudiation on the basis of late notification.

A lot of insurers reserve the right to replace goods, instead of paying out, because they get preferential prices and it's supposed to reduce fraud. Fair enough, but it can have bizarre consequences. A friend of mine insured all his gear for replacement value, and his Nikon F was stolen. He claimed, and the insurer insisted on replacing it with an F4, which was current at the time. My friend explained that that the F was a much older model, that he didn't want an F4 (too battery dependent, and too many electronics), and that he could buy a replacement for far less. They wouldn't budge, so he took the F4, sold it mint in box, bought a used F, and made a good profit. Insurance isn't supposed to work like that.
 
Well, I have made the call.

I need to send it off and have it repaired/evaluated so I'm just sussing out a good repair centre in the UK and will get it sent off ASAP.

They have told me that if it beyond economical repair they will refund me the full amount I am insured for those items.
 
Thanks Byker28i, they are they centre I will most likely use.

It's just so frustrating!

Colin
 
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