Travelling to India - Need Equipment Insurance
Travelling to India - Need Equipment Insurance
Author
Discussion

Andy M

Original Poster:

3,755 posts

289 months

Sunday 3rd February 2008
quotequote all
In a couple of weeks I'm going to be travelling in India for just under a month, staying in 'cheap and cheerful' rather than 5* accommodation.

I'm taking quite a lot of expensive equipment (1Ds mkIII, 35L, 17-40L, 24-70L, 70-200L 2.8 IS & Apple MacBook) and need insurance.

Can anybody recommend where to search, and what sort of premium I'll be looking at paying?

NiceCupOfTea

25,607 posts

281 months

Sunday 3rd February 2008
quotequote all
Can you add it as a clause on your travel insurance or your household insurance? Presumably professional photographers have their own insurance that they take out for their kit, maybe you could get some temp cover - may not be all that expensive.

For an example, as a pro musician all my kit is fully insured - at least 6-8k's worth for just over 100 quid a year IIRC.

SlimJ

401 posts

259 months

Sunday 3rd February 2008
quotequote all
I'd be interested to know too as I'm thinking of travelling towards the end of the year, and I really want to take my D-SLR and lenses with piece of mind in case the worst happens!

Famous Graham

26,553 posts

255 months

Sunday 3rd February 2008
quotequote all
My ex recommended me the Gold cover for amateur photographers on www.aua-insurance.com


sgrimshaw

7,587 posts

280 months

Sunday 3rd February 2008
quotequote all
Cheapest option for me has always been to increase the Personal Belongings cover on the home insurance.

Famous Graham

26,553 posts

255 months

Sunday 3rd February 2008
quotequote all
I should add, by the way, that when she was travelling, there was no home insurance as she had no UK base. Neither will I, hence the recommendation

Andy M

Original Poster:

3,755 posts

289 months

Sunday 3rd February 2008
quotequote all
Famous Graham said:
My ex recommended me the Gold cover for amateur photographers on www.aua-insurance.com
£325 - ouch!

Thanks for the recommendation smile

sgrimshaw

7,587 posts

280 months

Sunday 3rd February 2008
quotequote all

Andy M

Original Poster:

3,755 posts

289 months

Sunday 3rd February 2008
quotequote all
sgrimshaw said:
Excellent - thank you, I've just started a policy with them smile

£10k cover for £27 per month smile

CVP

2,799 posts

305 months

Monday 4th February 2008
quotequote all
If anyone else is thinking about such insurance Mrs CVP and I found extending our home contents insurance was the most competitive. That was with Hiscox and the level of cover and lack of exclusions was very good. Never had to claim yet so not sure about that side of things.

Chris

sgrimshaw

7,587 posts

280 months

Monday 4th February 2008
quotequote all
CVP said:
If anyone else is thinking about such insurance Mrs CVP and I found extending our home contents insurance was the most competitive. That was with Hiscox and the level of cover and lack of exclusions was very good. Never had to claim yet so not sure about that side of things.

Chris
That's my experience too.

My home policy details the individual component cost, and my Personal Belongings Cover (full accidental damage outside of the home) just cost £55 for the coming year, covering £6,000 total, £1,500 any single item.

VxDuncan

2,850 posts

264 months

Monday 4th February 2008
quotequote all
As well as insurance get a pacsafe for you camera bag (ESSENTIAL on overnight train journeys), only takes a couple of tics to use and gives a lot of piece of mind.

Also get a surge protected two way extension lead and use it with the lappy / camera charger. India uses UK plugs - rarely 13A square pin, but more usually old skool round pin 15A and 5A. Power cuts are frequent, as are generators which cause lots of power surges on startup (I speak from experience!).

Get a BIG thingy of silca gel and put in the camera bag. Humidity is a major issue. Pre warm any kit thats been left in an airconditioned room before going outside as it will be drenched in water in a couple of ticks otherwise. Small compact is good to have with you for this as it can be kept in a warm pocket and used in a hurry. Dont forget to dry out the silca when you get home or you'll be carrying mositure around with you otherwise!

havoc

33,487 posts

265 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
quotequote all
Andy M said:
sgrimshaw said:
Excellent - thank you, I've just started a policy with them smile

£10k cover for £27 per month smile
Ooh...I've heard some very bad things about them when it comes time to make a claim...not just photographic, but their other insurances too (specifically weddings).

I'm with Glover & Howe, who weren't the cheapest but sounded very good and very straightforward over the phone, and who were recommended by a couple of people on here.

sgrimshaw

7,587 posts

280 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
quotequote all
havoc said:
Andy M said:
sgrimshaw said:
Excellent - thank you, I've just started a policy with them smile

£10k cover for £27 per month smile
Ooh...I've heard some very bad things about them when it comes time to make a claim...not just photographic, but their other insurances too (specifically weddings).

I'm with Glover & Howe, who weren't the cheapest but sounded very good and very straightforward over the phone, and who were recommended by a couple of people on here.
Andy,

If you need to reconsider, there's a 14 day cooling off period.

Simon

Andy M

Original Poster:

3,755 posts

289 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
quotequote all
sgrimshaw said:
havoc said:
Andy M said:
sgrimshaw said:
Excellent - thank you, I've just started a policy with them smile

£10k cover for £27 per month smile
Ooh...I've heard some very bad things about them when it comes time to make a claim...not just photographic, but their other insurances too (specifically weddings).

I'm with Glover & Howe, who weren't the cheapest but sounded very good and very straightforward over the phone, and who were recommended by a couple of people on here.
Andy,

If you need to reconsider, there's a 14 day cooling off period.

Simon
eekeekeek

Is this correct? Have many had problems with them?

VxDuncan said:
As well as insurance get a pacsafe for you camera bag (ESSENTIAL on overnight train journeys), only takes a couple of tics to use and gives a lot of piece of mind.

Also get a surge protected two way extension lead and use it with the lappy / camera charger!
Thanks Duncan - old Macpac has been dusted down and Pacsafe untangled ready for action smile

DJ_AS

352 posts

237 months

Wednesday 6th February 2008
quotequote all
havoc said:
Andy M said:
sgrimshaw said:
E&L appear to be cheaper:

http://www.eandl.co.uk/camera-insurance/
Ooh...I've heard some very bad things about them when it comes time to make a claim...not just photographic, but their other insurances too (specifically weddings).
Uh - oh... hope thats not the case cos I got my wedding insurance with them! Hopefully I shan't be needing it at all...