Re: As expected
Any excuse to avoid a payout for insurance companies, par for the course.
I'm currently working in insurance, for a claims handling firm rather than an underwriter. I know bashing insurers is always popular but a lot of the usual criticisms are simply divorced from reality. Start with the obvious first - we're claims handlers, not underwriters - we have no financial incentive to deny or underpay a valid claim. Indeed it works out much better for us financially if we can avoid complaints.
Dig out any insurance policies you may have, look through the exceptions, you may be surprised at what's excluded.
Better, read the policy before taking it out. Of course exclusions exist. Where they are there they exist for a reason. Typically they are there to counter fraud, reduce premiums to a manageable level, or things insurance is simply not designed to cover.
Look for max payouts for various items (unless specifically named and given a value of part of policy setup) - your expensive kit may essentially be insured for peanuts.
Again, read your policy in advance. Article limits apply for a reason. You live in a council house and have lost two £8000 Rolexes? Have you declared them? Any proof of their existence? And you expect them to be covered? Yes, our handlers deal with such claims every day.
If insurance is for something that may appreciate in value (e.g. house) - chances are the insurance value will stay the same,
Buildings limits are based on rebuild cost, not market valuation. Your policy will explain this, clearly you haven't read it.
So it boils down to what I said at the outset: read your policy and make sure it is suitable. Insurers are realistic: paying claims is an inevitable cost of business. Policies are designed to be understandable and the Ombudsman will quickly throw out any unfair clauses.
Alternatively go the old fashioned route and discuss your requirements with a broker: if your policy is unsuitable you then have a mis-selling claim. If you buy from a Meerkat or whatever based purely on price you need to do your own homework to ensure the policy is suitable. If you don't understand what you have bought or can't be bothered to read the policy that is not the insurer's fault. Insurance is a complex product and ultimately the onus is on you to understand your cover.