As one who has on occasion recommended insuring electric bikes under the home contents policy, and has mentioned eSure as one of the few home insurance companies which will insure electric as well as pedal cycles, I can now relate my claim experience with that company.
One of our three upgraded Mistrals, locked to a fence, in a public place, during the day, was stolen on a Friday. I phoned a claim to eSure that afternoon. They noted it, and put me in touch with their replacement agent, a bike shop, in the hope of producing a replacement. During the coming week in the course of some helpful telephone calls it became clear that no replacement could be found (there being no new Mistrals currently available for sale, and the only near equivalent to our upgraded one being the Wisper City at twice the price) on the following Friday I was referred back to eSure. They accepted the situation and agreed a cash settlement for the full insured value. The cheque was in the post that night (only seven days after the theft) and I paid it into my bank a few days later ready to finance a new purchase.
I have sometimes checked out the premiums which would be charged by specialist cycle insurers and noted that their total premium for our four electric bikes would be almost as much as we currently pay eSure for Building, Contents, public liability, and specified items (such as electric bikes) both at home and away. In addition these specialists insist on special locks which can cost £50 to £150, yet such locks when tested recently by consumer organisations were all easily broken within minutes. eSure simply require the bike to be locked to a fixed object, and not parked outside overnight. For long term parking we are now using two medium security locks(one combination, one keyed) instead of one so that thieves will have to spend twice as long (probably around 30 seconds) before making off with their spoils.
By the way, if anyone is offered a blue electric bike with marathon plus tyres, front wheel dynamo, etc, minus the battery key (which was removed when the bike was left) and matching charger (which was at home) they should phone Lothian and Borders Constabulary on 0131 311 3131 before parting with their cash.
One of our three upgraded Mistrals, locked to a fence, in a public place, during the day, was stolen on a Friday. I phoned a claim to eSure that afternoon. They noted it, and put me in touch with their replacement agent, a bike shop, in the hope of producing a replacement. During the coming week in the course of some helpful telephone calls it became clear that no replacement could be found (there being no new Mistrals currently available for sale, and the only near equivalent to our upgraded one being the Wisper City at twice the price) on the following Friday I was referred back to eSure. They accepted the situation and agreed a cash settlement for the full insured value. The cheque was in the post that night (only seven days after the theft) and I paid it into my bank a few days later ready to finance a new purchase.
I have sometimes checked out the premiums which would be charged by specialist cycle insurers and noted that their total premium for our four electric bikes would be almost as much as we currently pay eSure for Building, Contents, public liability, and specified items (such as electric bikes) both at home and away. In addition these specialists insist on special locks which can cost £50 to £150, yet such locks when tested recently by consumer organisations were all easily broken within minutes. eSure simply require the bike to be locked to a fixed object, and not parked outside overnight. For long term parking we are now using two medium security locks(one combination, one keyed) instead of one so that thieves will have to spend twice as long (probably around 30 seconds) before making off with their spoils.
By the way, if anyone is offered a blue electric bike with marathon plus tyres, front wheel dynamo, etc, minus the battery key (which was removed when the bike was left) and matching charger (which was at home) they should phone Lothian and Borders Constabulary on 0131 311 3131 before parting with their cash.
