A common question often asked! Should I have insurance cover on my stairlift. Should I try and have it listed on my Home content policy or find an insurance broker that deals with mobility products.
Is it worth taking out any cover at all? Some people just stroll along through life with no complications and never seem to have any problems with items they purchase. Unlike my good self! No matter what I purchase! The dearest item in the shop sure as day follows night I guarantee it will break. (Normally just out of the guarantee period) So if you’re one of them unlucky people like me. I highly recommend some type of insurance policy be taken out.
Chairlift breakdowns can be costly as well as inconvenient: Most chairlift companies will offer you an annual stairlift maintenance contract once your warranty has elapsed. The initial train of thought on discovering the price of these annual service contracts is to wave them goodbye.
Lets take a quick look at the Pro’s & Con’s: The best solution would be to have a chairlift maintenance contract with the company you purchased the chairlift from. The plus side! Local Engineer on call, Van stocked with spare parts, In-house trained on the products they install service and repair. A quick simple phone call should have you up and running in no time.
Downside: Tied into a twelve month contract, Very expensive 300-500 per year (none refundable) Depending on the maintenance contract you take out parts might not be covered or limited (Always read the small print)
Home Insurance Policy: It’s down to You to find a company that will attend to your breakdown. If it’s late at night not much chance of that happening unless you are on their books and have their emergency breakdown number. You will still need to find the hard cold cash to pay for the repair and call-out charge and then claim this back through your insurance company (This could take Months)
Lets face it when you need your stair lift you need it NOW. The last thing anyone wants to be doing is looking through the telephone book. Phoning company after company if it’s late at night you will only get a telephone answering service, not much help . Ever made an appointment with a company that never turned up! I have many times, back to square one you best get the phone book out again.
Bottom line any type of insurance is better than no insurance. If you want hassle free service and don’t mind the hefty price tag then the optional service maintenance contract would be the way forward. If you are on a limited budget then home insurance would be better than no cover. Insurance companies that insure mobility products should have a private contractor or stairlift company who attends emergency call-outs on their behalf etc.
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