Insurance -- the big discussion thread

Kenneth B. Deckard · August 29th, 2007, 11:04 PM

I'm going to be going from America to SE Asia w/ around $6,000 in video & editing equipment. Does anyone know of a company that would insure someone in my shoes?

Thanks!

Erik Norgaard · September 5th, 2007, 02:10 AM

Hi:

Sorry for posting a new thread. I have been through the "Big insurance thread", and looked at the 4 links to previous threads that are often referred to, three of these no longer exits, and the big thread does not answer my question as it goes into discussion about liability.

I live in Spain, I need an insurance for my equipment, total some 5000 euros, primarily against theft, for travel world wide (I will travel to Costa Rica en November), including Spain. My home insurance only covers stuff at home.

I have tried contacting various companies, some foreing companies requires that I reside in their country. I have found a travel insurance that offers up to 3750 euros coverage which would be fine if not for the max 450 euros per item limit and the Canon XH-A1 is just one item :(

Spanish companies are completely foreign to the idea that amateurs can have professional equipment that needs to be insured, and don't want to mess with world wide coverage. Apparently insurance fraud is common in Spain - people feel insurance is legal robbery so they rob back, and companies try to protect themselves with limited coverage and unlimited exceptions.

Can anyone recommend a company that will insure gear, regardless of where I reside or where I go?

Thanks, Erik

Noa Put · September 5th, 2007, 03:20 AM

I'm not able to give you any advice on this but just wanted to share my experience, in Belgium it's nearly impossible to find an insurance company to cover for your equipment. I tried an tried and after three year all my equipment is still not insured. Some companies don't even consider to insure it, others require that you have at least 4 other insurances with them, like your car, home and so on. The prices they dare to ask is also ridiculous, main reason for them not to take on these types of insurance is the very high risk involved, I'm also pretty sure the contract has a lot of small prints to cover themselves up if something goes wrong.
Therefore I had to invest in an own security system at home and during work my camera is never out of my hands during the day, my backup cam is in a backpack which I also carry around during the whole day.
I heared stories from videographers loosing equipment in a blink of an eye, especially in a church if you leave your equipment behind to film outside at the end of the ceremonie.
I hope you will find a company who will insure your gear but expect it to be very expensive.

Erik Norgaard · September 5th, 2007, 04:41 AM

Well, I can add that Europaeiske (in Denmark) offers such an insurance for technical equipment. You pay about 7% of the total value insured and have to provide serial numbers and purchase date and value of each item. The problem is that they don't want to insure anyone not residing in Denmark.

Their partner in Belgium (www.europese.be) may offer you a similar insurance, but I haven't been able to get a quote from the Spanish partner.

Noa Put · September 5th, 2007, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik Norgaard

Their partner in Belgium (www.europese.be) may offer you a similar insurance, but I haven't been able to get a quote from the Spanish partner.

Interesting, will give them a call, thanks for the link.

Paul Izbicki · September 5th, 2007, 03:36 PM

Has anyone tried Lloyd's of London? International, a reputation for insuring ANYTHING, and a slew of niche oriented policy divisions. You already know it isn't gonna be cheap.

If that doesn't pan out, call major metro rental houses, ask for recommendations.

iPaul

Erik Norgaard · September 6th, 2007, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Izbicki

Has anyone tried Lloyd's of London? International, a reputation for insuring ANYTHING, and a slew of niche oriented policy divisions. You already know it isn't gonna be cheap.

If that doesn't pan out, call major metro rental houses, ask for recommendations.

iPaul

Thanks, actually, so far, the best I have found is from Lloyd (Columbus Direct). It's a general travel insurance covering up to 3750 euros of stuff with a 450 euros per item limit and a 75 euros franchise. But: Video equipment is considered valuables and only covered up to 450 euros, so even if you can get things split in pieces this won't do.

I tried to get them to elaborate on the franchise and it appears that it is 75 euros per item and not per incident (or maybe they just didn't understand the question). This is really bad, because then most stuff won't be replaced.

Cheers, Erik

Randy Durham · September 21st, 2007, 04:08 PM

I just inked a policy with Supple-Merrill & Driscoll (http://www.productioninsurance.com). It has been about six years since I quoted a new equipment floater policy and these guys were several hundred dollars less than the next competitor. I was able to apply online and get an answer in a couple hours. Has anyone else had any experience with this company?
Thanks! Randy

Anna Harmon · December 12th, 2007, 10:43 PM

Just curious about who you guys use to insure your gear. I'm thinking about it more and more lately and not sure where to research. One company in CA came up but that's it really.

Can you help a sistah out?

Taky Cheung · December 12th, 2007, 11:48 PM

Do you have renter insurance or home insurance? Those also cover those items. I shoot weddings and I have insurance for the business. One time both of my GL2 were stolen in a hotel. I got 80% of the money back from the insurance claim. Of course that involve getting the police report.

Karl Heiner · December 13th, 2007, 12:43 AM

My home owner covers only up to $ 5000, and NOT professional equipment.

Taky Cheung · December 13th, 2007, 12:49 AM

What kind of equipment you have?

Michael Nistler · December 13th, 2007, 01:04 AM

Hi Taky,

No offense but assuming the "bad guys" could use this info to locate a member's address, owning professional equipment wouldn't it be unwise to discuss specific equipment lists online? (insured or not) After all, this is a public forum...

Warm Regards, Michael

Karl Heiner · December 13th, 2007, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taky Cheung

What kind of equipment you have?

canon xl1-s
monitor
tripod
field monitors
everything you need, and 5000 is nothing as you know.

Taky Cheung · December 13th, 2007, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Nistler

No offense but assuming the "bad guys" could use this info to locate a member's address, owning professional equipment wouldn't it be unwise to discuss specific equipment lists online?

I don't worry too much about it. It's not like I give out my SSN.

August 29th, 2007, 11:04 PM	#361
Kenneth B. Deckard New Boot Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bensenville, IL Posts: 7 Images: 3	Insurance for SE Asia I'm going to be going from America to SE Asia w/ around $6,000 in video & editing equipment. Does anyone know of a company that would insure someone in my shoes? Thanks! __________________ peace, Ken

September 5th, 2007, 02:10 AM	#362
Erik Norgaard Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 238	Equipment insurance Hi: Sorry for posting a new thread. I have been through the "Big insurance thread", and looked at the 4 links to previous threads that are often referred to, three of these no longer exits, and the big thread does not answer my question as it goes into discussion about liability. I live in Spain, I need an insurance for my equipment, total some 5000 euros, primarily against theft, for travel world wide (I will travel to Costa Rica en November), including Spain. My home insurance only covers stuff at home. I have tried contacting various companies, some foreing companies requires that I reside in their country. I have found a travel insurance that offers up to 3750 euros coverage which would be fine if not for the max 450 euros per item limit and the Canon XH-A1 is just one item :( Spanish companies are completely foreign to the idea that amateurs can have professional equipment that needs to be insured, and don't want to mess with world wide coverage. Apparently insurance fraud is common in Spain - people feel insurance is legal robbery so they rob back, and companies try to protect themselves with limited coverage and unlimited exceptions. Can anyone recommend a company that will insure gear, regardless of where I reside or where I go? Thanks, Erik

September 5th, 2007, 03:36 PM	#366
Paul Izbicki Panoramic Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 85	Has anyone tried Lloyd's of London? International, a reputation for insuring ANYTHING, and a slew of niche oriented policy divisions. You already know it isn't gonna be cheap. If that doesn't pan out, call major metro rental houses, ask for recommendations. iPaul __________________ Paul Izbicki i2inewMedia

September 21st, 2007, 04:08 PM	#368
Randy Durham Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 50	I just inked a policy with Supple-Merrill & Driscoll (http://www.productioninsurance.com). It has been about six years since I quoted a new equipment floater policy and these guys were several hundred dollars less than the next competitor. I was able to apply online and get an answer in a couple hours. Has anyone else had any experience with this company? Thanks! Randy __________________ http://www.CredencePictures.com

December 12th, 2007, 10:43 PM	#369
Anna Harmon Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New York Posts: 127	Insuring your gear Just curious about who you guys use to insure your gear. I'm thinking about it more and more lately and not sure where to research. One company in CA came up but that's it really. Can you help a sistah out?

September 5th, 2007, 03:20 AM	#363
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,509	I'm not able to give you any advice on this but just wanted to share my experience, in Belgium it's nearly impossible to find an insurance company to cover for your equipment. I tried an tried and after three year all my equipment is still not insured. Some companies don't even consider to insure it, others require that you have at least 4 other insurances with them, like your car, home and so on. The prices they dare to ask is also ridiculous, main reason for them not to take on these types of insurance is the very high risk involved, I'm also pretty sure the contract has a lot of small prints to cover themselves up if something goes wrong. Therefore I had to invest in an own security system at home and during work my camera is never out of my hands during the day, my backup cam is in a backpack which I also carry around during the whole day. I heared stories from videographers loosing equipment in a blink of an eye, especially in a church if you leave your equipment behind to film outside at the end of the ceremonie. I hope you will find a company who will insure your gear but expect it to be very expensive.

September 5th, 2007, 04:41 AM	#364
Erik Norgaard Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 238	Well, I can add that Europaeiske (in Denmark) offers such an insurance for technical equipment. You pay about 7% of the total value insured and have to provide serial numbers and purchase date and value of each item. The problem is that they don't want to insure anyone not residing in Denmark. Their partner in Belgium (www.europese.be) may offer you a similar insurance, but I haven't been able to get a quote from the Spanish partner.

December 12th, 2007, 11:48 PM	#370
Taky Cheung Inner Circle Join Date: May 2007 Location: Los Angeles, USA Posts: 2,114	Do you have renter insurance or home insurance? Those also cover those items. I shoot weddings and I have insurance for the business. One time both of my GL2 were stolen in a hotel. I got 80% of the money back from the insurance claim. Of course that involve getting the police report.

December 13th, 2007, 12:43 AM	#371
Karl Heiner Major Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: california Posts: 342	My home owner covers only up to $ 5000, and NOT professional equipment.

December 13th, 2007, 12:49 AM	#372
Taky Cheung Inner Circle Join Date: May 2007 Location: Los Angeles, USA Posts: 2,114	What kind of equipment you have?

December 13th, 2007, 01:04 AM	#373
Michael Nistler Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Petaluma, CA Posts: 456	Hi Taky, No offense but assuming the "bad guys" could use this info to locate a member's address, owning professional equipment wouldn't it be unwise to discuss specific equipment lists online? (insured or not) After all, this is a public forum... Warm Regards, Michael