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.'
