Are Your Downloads Insured Within Your Home Insurance ?

Summary
Everyone knows that they need to have insurance for their home, contents, cars ,even holidays.In todays fast paced, high tech world it is important to make sure we, as consumers, also have sufficent insurance cover to replace all of the downloaded information we have.

It's Getting More Difficult To Claim On Home Insurance: Make sure your home has all the necessary security measures required by your insurance company in the event that you are burgled and need to make a claim. Buy extra locks for windows and doors if you need to and consider fitting an alarm.
A Basic Guide To Home Contents Insurance: This argues you should always have your contents insured.
How much do you value your home's contents? Keep them covered.: Keep your sum insured on your house contents policy up to date. If you're under insured, your claim may well be reduced accordingly.
Knowing Exactly What You Are Insured For Will Prevent Unnecessary Angst.: Not knowing your policy and what exactly you are covered for can cause a lot of stress in a worst case scenario. Below we give an example of this happening and the outcome, and, share some tips with you.
Insurers Give Out Warning Following Met Chief's Burglary Comments: In the wake of comments from the Metropolitan police chief which suggested that it was safe to leave windows open and doors unlocked, insurance companies issued the opposite advice. Furthermore they stipulated that policyholders who did this would almost certainly not be covered in the event of a claim.

Life Insurance News

In this age of new technology consumers are increasingly using digital downloads to access music, games,films,computer software programmes and ringtones.

If your home were burgled and lost your iPod,mobile phone and laptop, your contents insurance should cover the loss of the actual items – but what about all the downloaded information contained on them? Would your policy cover you for the loss of your downloaded record collection built up over months or even years, or all the films you had previously paid to download ?

Some contents insurance policies include downloads cover as standard within the policy, but often do not confirm this within the terms and conditions section.Some do not include download cover in any form.It is important to check with your Insurer whether your policy covers you, or if you need to take out a separate policy for the downloaded films,software,games,television programmes and computer games stored on your PC,laptop,MP3 player, home entertainment centre or mobile phone.

You may also need to take additional cover for your mobile,laptop or MP3 player if you take these outside your home, for example to work or on holiday.

Always keep receipts, credit card statements or email invoices on file. These are vital as proof of purchase if you need to claim on your policy and will help make any claim easier to process.

If you download a large amount of information, check with your Insurer whether they have an upper limit.

Do you have the right cover ?

The digital download market is relatively new, and as such is evolving and developing very quickly. The Insurance market is also having to evolve to keep pace with this.

In a recent survey 22 out of 46 companies said their contents policies included download cover as standard. To remain competitive, other companies are expected to develop their policies to include downloads soon..

Before taking a separate policy, check your current Contents Cover section for a subsection called “Downloaded Information”

Nationwide and Direct Line policies for example, contain this section so it is worth checking the wording on yours.

According to Malcolm Tarling, a spokesperson for the Association of British Insurers; 'Music on your iPod or computer is the modern day equivalent of your record collection. Insurance companies continue to review their policies to fit in with modern lifestyles. Insurance companies have told me that they are looking at the situation.'

What's covered ?

It is important the that you , as the consumer, check what cover you have. The Insurers in our survey all cover theft, flood or fire from your home. Again, you may need a separate policy if you take items away from your home ( to work or on holiday for example)

Of course in this high tech age, your systems are vulnerable to virus attack, hacking or mechanical or hardware failure. It is up to you to make sure you have adequate protection, with anti virus and spyware software as well as firewall protection.