When it rains, it pours (Royal & SunAlliance Insurance)

Member Name: gollygumdrops

Product:	Royal & SunAlliance Insurance
Date:	20/07/01 (619 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great cover

Disadvantages: I had to claim

Given the choice, I'd never claim on my insurance, ever. It's one of those annoying things that I see sucking up cash from my bank account every month, but really I don't want to give it any further thought.

This year however, it's been at the forefront of my mind. After 3 claims in twelve months, I'm glad 'm with Royal & SunAlliance (RSA). I didn't select them myself, I'd gone through brokers chasing the best deal. Cheap doesn't always equal good, but RSA were very competitive for the cover I wanted.

Back in the spring my garage was broken into and my bikes stolen. One phone call to RSA to register the claim and one to the police to register the theft. Within 24 hours RSA had arranged for Halfords to call me to value my bikes.

All I had to do was tell Halfords the models and all the extras fitted to the bikes, they told me the latest equivalents and RSA sent me a voucher for £570 to spend at Halfords. I didn't have to choose the exact equivalents, and as I held out for the sale, I upgraded.

Then in June disaster struck. I arrived home late after working away, put some laundry on and went to bed. I woke up dreaming about a river, but figured it was the rain outside that set me off. I woke a second time, again dreaming of rivers. I thought it must be my subconscious telling me I needed to pee, so I got up.

Once in the bathroom I realised the source of my dream. There was water running downstairs. I ran down to the kitchen to find the floor soaked and the washing machine pumping water out from under the sink.

In my half asleep state I tried to reattach the pipe that had come loose, but the whole Chinese puzzle of plumbing came apart in my hands. I'd doubled the water flow.

I decided to catch the water in the washing up bowl, but being a lazy git I'd left a pan to soak after burning risotto. I poured the rice filled water down the sink, jus
t before remembering that I'd just disconnected it. I now had rice and water pouring over my feet and the carpet, but at least the washing machine had stopped.

I don't know if you've ever disconnected all the pipes under your sink, but when I did I couldn't work out how they went back together, and as they were coated with icky goo I dumped them in the (now empty) washing up bowl, and filled it with hot water and super strength Domestos. Then the washing machine kicked in again!

In an attempt to stop the flooding I took off my bathrobe and used it to absorb some water, but it didn't help. The flow kept on coming, and I worried that it would leave the kitchen and flood the rest of the house. Luckily I'd thrown out some old pillows that night, so I went outside to the bin to retrieve them, in a pathetic attempt to build a dam. The security light came on, and there I stood, buck naked on the patio, rooting through the bin at 1am. At this point I had to find it funny, or cry.

Back in the kitchen I threw the pillows down and then had an idea, the kind of idea that normal people would have had as soon as they noticed that the washing machine was faulty. I switched it off! The water stopped. I stepped backward saying 'Doh!', and kicked over the two litle bottle of super strength Domestos all over the sodden carpet.

In the morning I called RSA. No problem. They would organise for someone from allied Carpets to come around and assess the damage. The next day Allied Carpets duly rang and arranged an appointement to measure up. Unfortunately I was to be away working again, and we couldn't hook up for a visit for a week. I worried that by then the house would stink. I called RSA. No problem. They advised me that I could rip out the carpets and underlay, just so long as I kept them in the garden until the chap came around.

Again I have an Allied Carpets voucher for the cost of equiv
alent flooring, plus fitting. Again I'm going for a new look.

Somebody broke into my car this week. I'm insured through the AA. I was mightily relieved when they told me that they had reinsured me through RSA.

Previous insurers have made me find quotes and select suppliers, they've quibbled over valuations and knocked money off for depreciation. Others would have charged me a special 'stupid tax' for my valiant attempts to make my kitchen worse.

With Royal & Sun Alliance I feel I can sleep safe at night knowing no matter how inept I am, they'll pick up the pieces.

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