Vantage Your guide to Accidental Damage Cover
Our customers take care of their homes and what s inside them, but that doesn t stop accidents from happening. When they do, we want to make sure we re there for your customers and we settle claims as quickly and easily as possible to get things back to the way they were. Sometimes, customers aren t clear of what is and isn t included in their standard policy. Other times customers aren t aware they don t have the Accidental Damage cover they expect. We ve produced this simple guide to Accidental Damage, so you can help your customers understand the type of claims that are covered by Accidental Damage and what s not. What s? Accidental Damage is damage that occurs in a customer s home, suddenly and unexpectedly as a result of a non-deliberate act. Our cover protects our policyholders contents and possessions against damages, like spillages and breakages. 2
We ve got you covered Here are a couple of buildings and contents accident examples, so you know the type of claim our Accidental Damage cover would cover as standard. Full details on Accidental Damage cover is provided within the policy wording or summary of cover which can be found on AXA Connect. Buildings Contents Accidental Damage to pipes and cables A customer is gardening and accidentally hits a drain pipe hidden in the ground. Accidental Damage to ceramic bathroom fixtures and glass A customer dusting a window ledge knocks an ornament off the windowsill and causes a crack in the bathroom sink. Whilst a customer is gardening and mowing the lawn, the lawnmower flicks a stone up from the lawn and smashes the glass patio door. Accidental Damage to entertainment equipment A customer s small child is playing with a toy. The child throws the toy and accidentally breaks an expensive TV screen. Whilst cleaning the windows, a customer knocks a vase off the window ledge and spills water over the expensive Hi-fi system causing damage to it. Accidental Damage to mirrors and glass A customer is dusting away cobwebs on a set of small steps in their home; they slip and crack a large mirror that is hung on the wall. Whilst hanging a picture on the wall, a customer s hammer slips out of their hand and smashes a freestanding glass display unit. 3
Additional It s important to ensure that if an accident does happen that customers have Accidental Damage cover in place. This cover is included as standard on some of our products, otherwise it can be purchased at an additional cost. Here are some examples of Claims that we ve have paid where Accidental Damage cover has been purchased (or included automatically) and shows the amounts that have been paid to get things back to the way there were. Buildings Children are playing with their pens and paints when they decide to use some of the markers in the kitchen drawer. When the parents nip out to the garden to put the washing out, the children decide to use the markers on the hallway wallpaper (a premium embossed design) and they draw all over the hall and stairs. Cost to redecorate 1,700 Contents The customer is bathing their children with their new mobile phone in their shirt pocket. Without realising, they lean forward and the phone lands in the bath.cost of the replacement is 700 A child finds a tin of paint in the kitchen cupboard; they open the tin of paint and spill it all over the lounge carpet before their parents find them. The new carpet costs 1,400 to replace The customer is doing the washing up in the kitchen sink when a stone from their diamond ring goes down the drain with the dish water. Cost to replace the stone is 800 When throwing out the rubbish, an item of jewellery is cleared away with the newspapers and is thrown away. Cost of replacement 1,000 4
What s not covered? Accidental Damage covers a one-off accident that causes damage. There are, however, certain circumstances where customers aren t covered - even if they ve purchased Accidental Damage cover. We want to highlight some of the more common exclusions, so that our customers aren t disappointed when they come to make a claim. Faulty workmanship / defective materials Wear and tear Mechanical or electrical breakdown or failure Unoccupied home Infestation, chewing, scratching, tearing or fouling by insects or vermin Sub-standard work is carried out by a tradesperson in the home and as a result damage is caused. For example, newly fitted guttering blows down in a light wind. A carpet that is damaged by repeated through traffic and dirt build up over time, causing the carpet to become worn and dirty, wouldn t be covered. This is because the damage isn t caused by a one-off incident. Mechanical and electrical devices do break down with age. Accidental Damage does not cover items like televisions and mobile phones when they stop working due to use over time. If a customer takes an extended holiday and leaves their home unoccupied and during that time they suffer a large leak due to a burst pipe, they won t be covered. Damage caused to the home by animals. For example pet dogs or cats fouling on the carpet, or chewing up the new sofa, wouldn t be covered by Accidental Damage. 5
Accidental Damage cover on AXA products Accidental Damage to a home or a customer s possessions can be devastating. That s why we recommend adding Accidental Damage cover to their customer s policy. AXA First AXA Extra AXA Advanced Get in touch Add on cover Add on cover Accidental Damage already included as standard For more information about AXA s products and services, or Accidental Damage cover specifically, please contact your usual AXA representative. 6
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