We check it an average of 27 times a day. But what would happen if you reach to your pocket and your phone is not there or is not working? Does the thought of being without your tech bring you out in a cold sweat? Or do you worry about the cost of replacing it? Whether it is stolen, lost or damaged, gadget insurance gives you peace of mind you can quickly reconnect without bill bills. But not all cover for your phone, iPad or other tech is equal. Here’s what no one tells you about gadget insurance:

Shock, horror. You might not have the cover you think you have

There are lots of different insurance products available to protect your essential gadgets. You could be tempted to opt for the cheapest policy, or even go without taking out specialist insurance because you think you’re already covered by home insurance. But watch out for our top 11 common insurance traps and misconceptions that could leave you stranded without your tech.

1) My phone is covered by my home insurance, right?

Err. Maybe not. Check with your broker. Your phone or tablet may be covered against fire or theft, but that is likely to only be if it is in the property that the insurance covers. If you’re out and about or at a friend’s house when you lose or damage your phone, you might not be covered.

2) If I lose or damage my phone, insurance will pay for a new one

Again, not always. Many gadget policies will try to repair your gadget. If that’s not possible, you may get a ‘like for like’ replacement of the same age and condition. If you want a ‘new for old’ replacement you’ll need to check your insurance covers that.

3) I’ll get an instant replacement

If speedy replacement is essential for you, make sure you opt for gadget insurance that promises to get you reconnected with a replacement within 24 hours. Otherwise, you could be left for several weeks waiting for your phone or tablet to be returned to you.

4) Making unlimited claims on your insurance

Some gadget insurance policies stipulate a maximum number of claims you can make in one year. If you’re very unlucky, or just forgetful, you could find yourself unable to claim. Double check if your policy has a limit before you sign on the dotted line.

5) Insurance always covers you for anything that could go wrong

Another misconception is that all gadget insurance covers you for everything that could go wrong. The most basic policies are unlikely to cover you if they consider that you have not taken ‘reasonable’ care. That means you won’t get a thing if you leave your phone behind on a restaurant table or the bus. For full peace of mind, make sure you’re covered for those forgetful moments!

6) The hidden costs of having your phone stolen

if your phone is stolen, you could find yourself faced with a big bill for any unauthorised calls that are made. There is a cap on the amount mobile phone companies can charge you, but you need to report your phone as missing or stolen within 24 hours. Checking you are covered for unauthorised calls gives added reassurance.

7) Are you covered overseas?

Roaming charges may now be the same in Europe as at home, but does your gadget insurance cover you for trips abroad?

8) Beware of high excesses

Opting for a higher excess (the amount you automatically have to pay when you make a claim) may help to make your premium cheaper. But make sure it doesn’t negate the point of making a claim.

9) Hang on to your paperwork

if you make a claim against your gadget insurance you’ll normally need to provide your original receipt as proof of purchase. Make sure you hold on to this, or you may not be able to make your claim.

9) Liquid damage

A survey by Sony found that up to 75% of people admit using their phone on the toilet. And dropping down the loo accounts for nearly half of all claims for water damage to mobiles. But liquid damage is not always included as standard. To make sure you’re covered against that sinking feeling of watching your phone submerge under liquid, speak to your broker.

10) It stops working

Why is it that our electronics always seem to break down the moment they come out of warranty? It’s very annoying, but if you select a policy that covers electrical or mechanical breakdown you can get it put right without big repair bills. It not always standard on cheaper insurance policies, so double check first if you want this peace of mind.

11) Accessories and downloads

Accessories, like your cover or headphones, can also be included in your insurance as an add-on. And don’t forget the hidden costs of re-purchasing expensive downloads if your gadget is lost or stolen. Look for a policy that covers their replacement to avoid a nasty shock.

Cheap gadget insurance you can count on

Once you’ve decided on the level of cover you need, it’s time to look for the best value deal. You’ll need to shop around. You could use a comparison website, but make sure you read the small print very carefully or you could end up without the cover you need. Or get in touch with our experienced team and let them do the ringing around for you. We’re part of the Park Insurance group with over 30 years of experience helping people to find the right insurance at the right price. That means you’ll get a cheap price with no nasty shocks if you do need to make a claim. Call us now on 0800 917 9522 for a free quote or get in touch.

The cost of car insurance continues to spiral upwards. Earlier this year, experts warned premiums could increase by a staggering £1000 thanks to government changes to personal injury payouts. If you’re trying to keep your insurance costs down, opting to pay an additional voluntary excess can help lower premiums. It’s very tempting to opt for a higher excess, especially if you’re confident you’re a safe driver. But no matter how careful a driver you are, accidents still happen – and often through no fault of your own. If that happens, can you afford to pay the large excess that seemed such a good idea when you took your insurance out?

Luckily, there is a clever way to get the best of both worlds. You opt for a high excess to bring down the costs of your annual insurance premium and you take out a separate car insurance excess protection policy to cover you for this cost if an accident does happen.

Should I take out car insurance excess protection?

When you take out car insurance excess protection you have peace of mind that you won’t need to find a lump sum of cash to pay for the excess if you make a claim. You can take advantage of cheaper car insurance premiums, but if you do have an accident, you won’t be faced with any big bills.

To decide if you should take out car insurance excess protection you need to consider if you could easily afford to pay the voluntary excess on your car insurance. If you could, you may decide that you’d rather take the risk than pay for excess protection. But if you can’t, or you just prefer to eliminate risk from your finances, then car insurance excess cover could be a good choice for you.

What about if I have an accident that isn’t my fault?

If you have an accident that isn’t your fault, and that is agreed by the other party’s insurance company, you’ll be able to claim back the cost of your excess from them. But if the person who causes the accident is one of the estimated one million uninsured drivers on the UK roads, you’ll be stuck paying the excess yourself.

How does car insurance excess protection work?

As an example, if you opt for a voluntary £500 excess on your car insurance you will have to pay that sum to your insurer, as well as the compulsory excess if you make any claim for damage, fire or theft. With car insurance excess protection, you’ll still need to pay your excesses when you make a claim but your insurer will pay out £500 to you to cover that cost.

Reduce your liability to £0

Remember that your car insurance provider will also have a compulsory excess. This can differ depending on your insurer but is typically £50-£150. If you want to cover this cost as well, set your excess protection at the amount of your compulsory excess and your voluntary excess added together.

Save more in the long run

Whilst taking out car insurance excess protection does involve making two claims rather than one, the cost savings you’ll make can far outweigh any slight inconvenience.

What is lifestyle excess insurance?

As well as taking out excess protection for your car insurance, you can also opt for lifestyle excess insurance. This annual policy would cover the excess costs on all the insurance policies you hold, such as car, home, pet and travel insurance. This can be a good option if you want reassurance that you’re financially protected from any potential excess costs but remember that it will only pay to a capped amount. If you take out excess protection insurance for £500 and make more than one claim in a year that comes to more than this amount, you’ll only get the £500 you’re covered for.

Hire car insurance excess protection

Excess protection is not just a good option for your own car. It can give you real peace of mind when you hire a car on holiday or on business.

When you hire a car, it is insured by the car hire company and you’ll pay an agreed excess fee if any damage occurs. This can range from around £300 to £1500 depending on the car or hire company.

Most car hire companies offer you the option of taking out excess protection insurance when you hire a car from them. But purchasing it from the car hire company can sometimes be more costly than if you organise it yourself. If you don’t take out excess protection with the hire car company, they may ask for a deposit to be secured against your credit card.

Is there anything else I need to think about?

Always be aware of the small print. Thoroughly check through the wording of your policy or discuss it with your broker so you can be confident that you have the level of cover you need.

Get a good price on car insurance excess protection

Like all insurance products, it pays to shop around if you want to be sure you’re getting a good price on your car insurance excess protection.

Easy2Insure is an independent insurance broker, so we can search through a wide variety of car insurance excess protection providers to find you the best value deal. We have over 30 years experience in the industry and we have ‘preferred’ broker status with some of the UK’s largest insurance companies, which gives us great negotiating power to secure great prices on your behalf. Call our friendly team for free now on 0800 917 9522 or get in touch for a no-obligation quote.

We take household appliances like our washing machine, dishwasher, and fridge for granted. Once considered a luxury for only the very richest families, thankfully they’re now in all our homes making life a whole lot easier every day. Luckily, they also cost a lot less than their predecessors, but they don’t always last as long as you might expect. The Whitegoods Trade Association acknowledges that durability and longevity have been part of the trade-off when it comes to customer demand for slashed prices on household appliances. Since the millennium, the life expectancy of the average washing machine has dropped by three years. This means you can now expect the average machine to need replacing after seven years, with many lasting even less time.

If the thought of surviving without a washing machine, dishwasher, fridge or any other household appliance brings you out in a cold sweat, and you’d struggle to find the lump sum of cash to repair or replace it quickly, then home appliance insurance is a must. Follow our top 5 tips for your peace of mind.

1) Choose the right appliance insurance

Household appliance insurance can cover a wide range of items in your home including:

• Tumble dryers
• Washing machines
• Microwaves
• Electric ovens
• Electric hobs
• Fridges
• Freezers
• Dishwashers

You could opt to buy individual cover for one item or take out multiple cover that offers protection for more than one appliance.

As a general rule, household appliance insurance will cover the following costs:

• Mechanical breakdown
• Repair, including parts, labour and call-out charges
• Accidental damage

Insurance will normally cover the cost of repairs to your appliance, but if this is too high it will pay out for the cost of a replacement appliance.

2) Double check the date you bought your household appliance

When you buy a new appliance it normally comes with at least a year’s manufacturers’ warranty. During this time you’ll be covered for any mechanical defect. Once you’ve past this date, check with your normal household insurance to see if these household items are covered for repair or replacement by your policy. In many cases you might be covered if your appliances are damaged by a fire, but you won’t be covered for mechanical breakdown through normal wear and tear or through accidental damage. If your home insurance doesn’t provide enough cover, you’ll need to take out an extended warranty or appliance insurance for peace of mind your household appliances can be fixed or replaced if they break.

3) Read and follow the manufacturers’ guidelines and get appliances installed by professionals

Even if your appliance is within the manufacturer’s warranty, you won’t be covered if it breaks because of something you’ve done. Always read and follow the guidelines on use to make sure you don’t do anything, such as overloading your washing machine, which could invalidate your warranty.

It’s also worth noting that your manufacturer’s warranty could be invalidated if it goes wrong because it’s not been installed properly, so always use a professional for installation.

4) Check the small print

Carefully read your policy document or talk to your broker so you are clear that you have the level of cover that you want. To avoid getting a nasty shock, double check details like if your insurer will replace a broken appliance on a new for old basis, if you’re liable for call out costs if no fault is found, and if the delivery and installation costs of a replacement appliance is included.

5) Compare prices for the best value home appliance insurance

Don’t just take the insurance offered by the manufacturer or the shop where you bought it, as you can often get a much better price by arranging insurance yourself. Shop around or ask an expert broker like Easy2Insure to do this for you. We can save you time and money by getting a number of competitive quotes on appliance insurance from some of the UK’s leading insurance companies. We’re independent, so won’t push you to use a specific company – instead you can be reassured that we’ll simply find you the best price and cover option that we can.

Contact us now on 0800 9179522 or complete our form for a free quote for your washing machine insurance, dishwasher insurance, fridge freezer insurance or any other household appliance insurance.