Insurance -- the big discussion thread

Josh Bass · April 20th, 2004, 04:28 PM

Yes yes. . .IF I suffer a loss. . .why, is that a burglar outside? Hey, please don't take this older model NTSC monitor. . .oh shux, whatever shall I do now? Mwhahahahaha.

Dylan Couper · April 21st, 2004, 12:43 AM

Insurance agent: "What else was taken sir?"
Josh Bass: "Well, let's see. The Picasso, the Rembrandt..."
Insurance agent: "Sir, your insurance only covers real items, not made up ones."
Josh Bass: "Doh!"

Josh Bass · June 16th, 2004, 03:54 AM

Alright, children, Dr. Bass is back to warn you all that everything in the quiet town of Insuranceville may not be as peaceful and simple as it seems. Just the other day State Farm called me and asked me several questions about the nature of what I did with the gear I own. They have me down as doing "weddings" and "personal use". They wanted to know how many "weddings" I did in a month, and I said. . .about five. They said, "We'll put two," because any more than that, and it's considered commercial use, and then we can't insure you."

What the hell? I asked them about that the first time I ever called about this! They told me it didn't matter!

Then, they wanted to know, what did "personal use" mean? I told them short films, usually. They said, "What do you do with these short films?" I said, you know, whatever. . .maybe I'll win an Oscar, I don't know (Peter and I is DEFINITELY oscar-worth, I think). They were trying to find out if these shorts or whatever were just a hobby or if I had big plans for them.

Anyway, I swear I asked them if it mattered how and for what I used the gear the very first time I called, and I swear they told me it didn't, so that's why I'm resurrecting this thread. Sheesh! So be careful out there when looking for insurance on the cheap.

Peter Wiley · June 16th, 2004, 04:52 AM

Take a look at this link:

http://www.productioninsurance.com/floater.htm

Raoul Perros · June 16th, 2004, 05:11 AM

Hi All,

just wondered whether anyone is in here from Germany, or elsewhere who knows a good and cheap place where I can get an insurance that will cover my DVX100A camera against robbery/theft across the EU?
_
I might move to Germany, so maybe a german company would be good.

Many Thanks,

Dan Uneken · June 16th, 2004, 08:47 AM

Journalist unions often provide gear insurance too.

Josh Bass · June 16th, 2004, 10:47 AM

Thanks. So far, I still have a policy, so I won't worry about it at the moment.

Dave Largent · June 17th, 2004, 04:46 AM

Insurance companies: you can't get a straight
answer out of them. Even *they* don't know what
they're doing.
Thanks, though, Josh. "Two, two, two, yep only two"....... ; - )
Did they want an itemized list? One company
I called wanted this prior to insuring, including
serial numbers.

Dan Uneken · June 17th, 2004, 04:58 AM

Raoul,

See another thread in this forum about insurance.
When I lived in Holland I used to insure my gear with a company called AON, who operate throughout Europe. But it was through a membership of the Dutch Journalist Federation though.
They had a great package where you could be covered for your gear and Third Party liablility (very important, because your private TPL insurance does NOT cover your professional activities, usually).
I'm here in Spain now, and haven't found anything like the Dutch situation, even though AON operates here as well, but they had no clue about what I was talking about when I called them up. My gear is uninsured now, and I take out TPL insurance for each job separately with a specialised insurer.

Josh Bass · June 17th, 2004, 05:02 AM

I don't know if they wanted an itemized list, but I gave 'em one! I emailed that production insurance company one of you guys linked to, just in case I end up having to cancel this policy. Thanks, to whoever provided the link. I should probably check before I post my reply, but oh well. clicking "submit reply" right now.

Dan Uneken · June 17th, 2004, 05:02 AM

----One company
I called wanted this prior to insuring, including
serial numbers----

That seems to me to be the one that knows what they're doing!

Dave Largent · June 17th, 2004, 05:43 AM

Josh, yer either up late or early to be online.
(Don't know what time it is in Spain, Dan.)

Anyways, let us know how things go with
that one you've emailed. I have yet to get
proper insurance.

Agree, too, Slash rules. Currently #1 in sales with
Velvet Revolver, the combined STP/GNR.
Scott Weiland. Duff McKagen.
Read this today.

Dan Uneken · June 17th, 2004, 05:56 AM

Dave, where are you??
We are 6 hours later than NYC, just to give an idea. It's just before 14:00 local here now.

In this global era, insurance should be global too. I tried to continue my union membership in Holland and the insurance, but that was not something that fit into the way of thinking and operating.

It's generally true that most people think provincial. The number of US sites that require me to fill in a valid US State code on a request form...

Dave Largent · June 17th, 2004, 07:13 AM

Dan, I'm mid USA. It's 08:00 here where I am. I'm working late.
Visiting here while I'm rendering. Need to get some new demos
out tomorrow (?today).

Maybe Josh either nodded off, or had to go to work..... : - )

Raoul Perros · June 17th, 2004, 08:27 AM

Thank you!

Do you have alink to the other tread?

Thanks,

Raoul

April 20th, 2004, 04:28 PM	#166
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Yes yes. . .IF I suffer a loss. . .why, is that a burglar outside? Hey, please don't take this older model NTSC monitor. . .oh shux, whatever shall I do now? Mwhahahahaha. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

April 21st, 2004, 12:43 AM	#167
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	borrowed from a classic Insurance agent: "What else was taken sir?" Josh Bass: "Well, let's see. The Picasso, the Rembrandt..." Insurance agent: "Sir, your insurance only covers real items, not made up ones." Josh Bass: "Doh!" __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

June 16th, 2004, 03:54 AM	#168
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Alright, children, Dr. Bass is back to warn you all that everything in the quiet town of Insuranceville may not be as peaceful and simple as it seems. Just the other day State Farm called me and asked me several questions about the nature of what I did with the gear I own. They have me down as doing "weddings" and "personal use". They wanted to know how many "weddings" I did in a month, and I said. . .about five. They said, "We'll put two," because any more than that, and it's considered commercial use, and then we can't insure you." What the hell? I asked them about that the first time I ever called about this! They told me it didn't matter! Then, they wanted to know, what did "personal use" mean? I told them short films, usually. They said, "What do you do with these short films?" I said, you know, whatever. . .maybe I'll win an Oscar, I don't know (Peter and I is DEFINITELY oscar-worth, I think). They were trying to find out if these shorts or whatever were just a hobby or if I had big plans for them. Anyway, I swear I asked them if it mattered how and for what I used the gear the very first time I called, and I swear they told me it didn't, so that's why I'm resurrecting this thread. Sheesh! So be careful out there when looking for insurance on the cheap. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

June 16th, 2004, 05:11 AM	#170
Raoul Perros New Boot Join Date: May 2004 Location: London, UK Posts: 14	EU, Germany insurance, any ideas? Hi All, just wondered whether anyone is in here from Germany, or elsewhere who knows a good and cheap place where I can get an insurance that will cover my DVX100A camera against robbery/theft across the EU? _ I might move to Germany, so maybe a german company would be good. Many Thanks, __________________ Raoul

June 16th, 2004, 08:47 AM	#171
Dan Uneken Major Player Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Andalucia, Spain Posts: 301	Journalist unions often provide gear insurance too. __________________ Film & TV locations & production Spain http://www.fotofilmvideo.com/

June 16th, 2004, 04:52 AM	#169
Peter Wiley Major Player Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lewisburg PA Posts: 752	Take a look at this link: http://www.productioninsurance.com/floater.htm

June 16th, 2004, 10:47 AM	#172
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Thanks. So far, I still have a policy, so I won't worry about it at the moment. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

June 17th, 2004, 04:46 AM	#173
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	Insurance companies: you can't get a straight answer out of them. Even they don't know what they're doing. Thanks, though, Josh. "Two, two, two, yep only two"....... ; - ) Did they want an itemized list? One company I called wanted this prior to insuring, including serial numbers.

June 17th, 2004, 04:58 AM	#174
Dan Uneken Major Player Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Andalucia, Spain Posts: 301	Raoul, See another thread in this forum about insurance. When I lived in Holland I used to insure my gear with a company called AON, who operate throughout Europe. But it was through a membership of the Dutch Journalist Federation though. They had a great package where you could be covered for your gear and Third Party liablility (very important, because your private TPL insurance does NOT cover your professional activities, usually). I'm here in Spain now, and haven't found anything like the Dutch situation, even though AON operates here as well, but they had no clue about what I was talking about when I called them up. My gear is uninsured now, and I take out TPL insurance for each job separately with a specialised insurer. __________________ Film & TV locations & production Spain http://www.fotofilmvideo.com/

June 17th, 2004, 05:02 AM	#175
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	I don't know if they wanted an itemized list, but I gave 'em one! I emailed that production insurance company one of you guys linked to, just in case I end up having to cancel this policy. Thanks, to whoever provided the link. I should probably check before I post my reply, but oh well. clicking "submit reply" right now. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

June 17th, 2004, 05:02 AM	#176
Dan Uneken Major Player Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Andalucia, Spain Posts: 301	----One company I called wanted this prior to insuring, including serial numbers---- That seems to me to be the one that knows what they're doing! __________________ Film & TV locations & production Spain http://www.fotofilmvideo.com/

June 17th, 2004, 05:43 AM	#177
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	Josh, yer either up late or early to be online. (Don't know what time it is in Spain, Dan.) Anyways, let us know how things go with that one you've emailed. I have yet to get proper insurance. Agree, too, Slash rules. Currently #1 in sales with Velvet Revolver, the combined STP/GNR. Scott Weiland. Duff McKagen. Read this today.

June 17th, 2004, 05:56 AM	#178
Dan Uneken Major Player Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Andalucia, Spain Posts: 301	Dave, where are you?? We are 6 hours later than NYC, just to give an idea. It's just before 14:00 local here now. In this global era, insurance should be global too. I tried to continue my union membership in Holland and the insurance, but that was not something that fit into the way of thinking and operating. It's generally true that most people think provincial. The number of US sites that require me to fill in a valid US State code on a request form... __________________ Film & TV locations & production Spain http://www.fotofilmvideo.com/

June 17th, 2004, 07:13 AM	#179
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	Dan, I'm mid USA. It's 08:00 here where I am. I'm working late. Visiting here while I'm rendering. Need to get some new demos out tomorrow (?today). Maybe Josh either nodded off, or had to go to work..... : - )

June 17th, 2004, 08:27 AM	#180
Raoul Perros New Boot Join Date: May 2004 Location: London, UK Posts: 14	Thank you! Do you have alink to the other tread? Thanks, Raoul __________________ Raoul