Official Insurance Thread

[OralDouglas 0]

Hey guys and gals,

 

Sorry to bump this thread up, but I have been looking for information about insuring my gear, and this thread came up.

Its a little old, i realize that- but I hope someone can help me out with information.

 

I checked out the DEPP link from the first page, and couldnt access it.

A quick search of the thread turns up similar results and raises a question, has DEPP gone under?

 

I did a little more checking and found this site- http://www.awryinc.com/depp/mainmenu.aspx

Im not really convinced its legit. The website looks pretty hokey to be from an insurance company.

 

Whats the score? Can anyone shed some light on DEPP?

 

Thanks!

[razorrob 0]

Am I nuts for trusting the Allstate agent who says that flooding a camera is not a grounds for exclusion for photographic equipment that is listed as "all perils scheduled property" on a homeowners/condo-owners/or renters' policy?

 

The rates seem to be about 1.5% of the purchase price per year. Allstate replaced other scheduled property for me in the past quickly and with no surprises other than scheduled property is reimbursed at the purchase price (not the replacement value, as with unscheduled property). And, yes, with Allstate I had a check in my hand in less than 3 weeks from the time the other scheduled property was damaged. Allstate was INCREDIBLY easy to work with.

 

(Cannot say the same for another company that had a rural name and a red logo... They were sleazy.)

Edited December 31, 2009 by razorrob

[scubamarli 5]

Here is DEPP's mainpage:

http://www.awryinc.com/index.html

 

Their communication is not the best; however, I have little choice for insurance in Canada that covers any use that may make 1 cent per year, unless I am willing to pay over $1000, and that doesn't cover my scuba gear. I recommend emailing them or faxing them, as it seems to work the best.

 

Cheers,

Marli

[jamsys 0]

Let me pose a question...

 

What happens old equipment with either policy. I have a Fuji S2 in a Subal w/ SB105's...

 

I realize they prob could find a S2, but since it does analog TTL if they couldnt replace it my SB105's would be worthless. And if they cant find a Subal housing???

 

Lots of if's, but I am curious how that would be handled, since my equipment is pretty much a package deal

 

Scott

[Taxgeek 0]

Not sure whether to post this here or in its own thread.

Need advice prior to making a claim on my DAN flood insurance.

 

Flooded my strobe. Looks like the policy has a $250 deductible, so even if they pay the full value I had my strobe insured at ($600), I'll only get $350.

And Ikelite will probably repair the strobe for something less than that, so I'll get Ike's repair cost minus 250, which might not be that much.

 

Which is a round about way of asking two questions:

 

1. Have you ever had these guys (Senn Dunn Marsh and Roland, LLP, apparently) give you any hassle with regard to paying any amount other than the dollar amount you insured the flooded equipment for (minus the deductible)? (i.e., making you determine the repair value, paying you the street value instead of the insured value, etc, which they technically can do under the policy terms).

 

2. Have you ever had a claim impact your ability to get and/or price of future insurance?

 

Interested to know the answers to these questions before I make my claim.

Thanks!

Susan

[BC-SeaDragon 0]

Hi there,

 

So nobody knows of any other decent companies that will insure camera gear in Canada???

 

Thanks

 

Kelly

[bvanant 191]

In 10 years we have had 2 claims, both paid off without any hassles. And no change to next year's prices.

Bill

[GoinDown 0]

Bumping this thread as I need insurance, I'm based in the UK.

 

I've worked out that the potential value of equipment that could be in the water at anyone time could top £11,000. This value is based on new prices of DSLR Camera, Lens, Housing, Port, Strobes, Ancilliaries such as cables, filters, arms etc then add regulator, computer, dive suit and BCD.

 

I am already insured with Westfield for dive travel insurance and have been for a few years now, they provide really good cover, but I've not yet had to claim. So naturally I looked at their equipment cover which is good cover again but the premium will be around £800/year !!! One aspect that they do not seem to cover is flooding through manufacturers fault, i.e. a seal goes, they will cover you for flooding through impact though! I spoke to them and explained that most floodings are probably either through user error or a faulty seal ! So I would need to hit it on a rock to make a legitimate claim!

 

So I am looking around - any ideas?

[scubamarli 5]

Just a head's up that DEPP is changing their coverage, and not in a good way. Deductibles are going up, and here is the bad part: Coverage on commercial carriers (boat,plane, train, what have you))will be limited as of September 1st

"to an aggregate maximum amount of USD $1,000 per trip."

I am going to have to look at other options...

 

Cheers,

Marli

[gregarius 0]

I'm not a DEPP fan.

 

In my experience, before I canceled my policy with them, they were often disorganized. They were, for example, unable to resolve billing inaccuracies and refund credit in a timely manner... to name the most recent.

 

They only time DEPP ever responded in a timely way was when it was a matter that is going to make them money.

 

I'm still waiting a credit that they owe me from at least six weeks ago.

 

I'd steer clear of DEPP.

[rinjani 9]

Has anyone been having problems with getting their insurance renewed? I live in California and I've had a supplementary insurance policy on my homeowners insurance for 15 years. This year the company "discovered" my website and decided that I'm running a business and working as a professional photographer and therefore cannot have a rider policy to cover my camera gear or UW housing and so on. This is based on my website, nothing else such as evidence that I have a business or a business license, or declare taxable photographic income (I don't). I don't even have a shopping cart on my site. It's like a two-faced compliment - nice photos, must be a pro, sorry we can't cover you.

 

I explained that my total income from photography over the past three years is less than $400 (selling prints to some friends and one publication), not even enough for a decent new lens, but they didn't seem to care. Currently they are reviewing the decision but I don't expect much. Anyone else having this sort of problem? I'm trying to figure out where else to get insurance to cover all my gear for topside travel, theft at home and accedental water drowning - any current recommendations? Looks like DEPP is falling out of favor.

 

I'd think that most companies wouldn't cover pros without a much higher premium and deductable than for the rest of us. However, if the criteria is no longer whether you are earning a living as professional but that you have some decent quality images on a website we are probably all hosed.

 

Best.

 

Rinjani

[johnt 1]

I am also looking for new insurance options. I'm in the US (California).

 

I've been a DEPP member for about 10 years and the one claim I had about four years ago was handled very well. However, I'm also concerned about the limitation to $1000 aggegrate for airline/commercial carrier loss. This simply won't work for many of us with housings that are well over $3000 to start (not to mention other gear).

 

I've had a dialog with the president of DEPP and he certainly understands where we are coming from, however he claims that airline claims are increasing so rapidly that they have to get them under control or make other drastic changes in the future. Limiting airline losses to $1000 was his way to counter an across the board rate increase of 35-45% that he didn't feel he could sell to his customer base.

 

The president of DEPP is Deane Lehrmitt (DWL@IPGInsurance.net). If anyone is interested, Mr Lehrmitt has given me permission to post the contents of our email exchange. He is also open to comments from customers or others about the reasons for the policy changes. I am giving Mr Lehrmitt the Wetpixel forum url so that he can follow any discussion here.

 

I have no affiliation with other than having been a customer for about 10 years, as I mentioned above.

 

Thanks for any comments.

 

John

[Mike L 0]

I would highly consider H2O Insurance through DAN. They have very reasonable premiums. Deductibles are based on the damage, and a check is cut quite rapidly. Our customers have had much better service with them over DEPP in the recent years.

[rinjani 9]

I would highly consider H2O Insurance through DAN. They have very reasonable premiums. Deductibles are based on the damage, and a check is cut quite rapidly. Our customers have had much better service with them over DEPP in the recent years.

 

 

Thanks, I'll check it out.

 

Rinjani

[echeng 0]

I think it's insane to put a rider on your homeowner's policy for something that is likely to be damaged, lost, or stolen. Are you really going to risk having your homeowner's insurance terminated for making a claim on a flooded camera?

 

Separate insurance is definitely the way to go.

[Steve Williams 0]

Eric is right if you add it to your existing policy but sometimes a little insanity is good for the soul. I can only speak for State Farm, but one option is to have your agent write a seperate personal article policy, sometimes called an "all perils" policy to cover your gear. About $26K in coverage currently cost $260US a year, no deductible. If you have a claim it does not effect your homeowners and there is no surcharge (upper) on the personal articles policy. (According to my agent) They can choose not to renew you if your gear keeps falling off the boat but it wouldn't effect your homeowners. It would be separate insurance as Eric suggests.

 

It's worth a phone call to your agent to get a quote and to ask the questions that Eric rightly raises. I'm guessing that coverage costs varies depending on your area, length with the company, phase of the moon, etc.

 

Disclaimer; I'm not an isurance guru and no one in their right mind should ever consider taking legal advise from me.

 

Cheers,

Steve

[rinjani 9]

Steve, that's exactly what I had - the State Farm supplemental insurance that you can get if you have home owners with them. After much back and forth Iwas told no way. So I'm shopping around. As I said to my agent I find it hard to believe that no one else with State Farm has the same type of items insured through them as an amateur photographer...seems like you're another one. Don't be suprised if they start to question you sometime in the future. I'm looking at the DAN insurance but it's almost 3X more expensive than State Farm.

 

Thanks

 

rinjani

[Steve Williams 0]

As I said to my agent I find it hard to believe that no one else with State Farm has the same type of items insured through them as an amateur photographer...seems like you're another one. Don't be suprised if they start to question you sometime in the future.

 

rinjani

 

 

Sorry partner, I'm confused by your statement. What kind of questions should we expect?

 

Steve

[eyu 27]

I have "any perils" insurance with State Farm and my D2Xs flooded last Monday in Yap. Salt water and my body battery made a bubbling brown mess.

Have just reported it and will see how it goes, my fingers are crossed.

 

Elmer

Edited October 25, 2010 by eyu

[Steve Williams 0]

Salt water and my body battery made a bubbling brown mess.

 

Sorry to hear that Elmer. Do you know what caused the leak? While painful, it might help one of us avoid the same thing happening. Good luck with the insurance claim. Let us know how it goes.

 

Condolences,

Steve

[eyu 27]

Not really sure if the the port o-ring got pinched somehow or the port got twisted when the rig was handed to me. The housing flooded immediately upon entering the water and it was a catastrophic flood. The leak detector went off and I handed the rig back to the boat driver. The housing was half filled with sea water and bubbling from the battery acid. I have over 400 dives on this setup and I am really dumbfounded by this flood. But I had just flown from Palau leaving at 0100h that morning and was tried, so perhaps I was inattentive.

 

Elmer

[rinjani 9]

Sorry partner, I'm confused by your statement. What kind of questions should we expect?

 

Steve

 

They told me that they couldn't possibly insure me because of the nature of my photography, including the use of underwater housings (plus, I could possibly make money from the resulting photos !?!). I just meant they may question your use of UW housings at some point and say it's not something they can cover.

 

Rinjani

[Steve Williams 0]

They told me that they couldn't possibly insure me because of the nature of my photography, including the use of underwater housings (plus, I could possibly make money from the resulting photos !?!). I just meant they may question your use of UW housings at some point and say it's not something they can cover.

 

Rinjani

 

I'd find a different agent partner. Mine didn't even blink at the underwater concern. If you're selling images, that's a different story and they may have an issue. It could also be a location thing. I'm guessing Insurance agents in Arizona don't get many requests for underwater coverage. I'd still give another agent a call.

 

Steve

[eyu 27]

When I purchased the policy my agent specifically asked if I did professional photography since the "any peril" policy does not cover professional photographers. By definition if one sells a photo one is considered a professional photographer and needs to declare the income for taxes.

 

Elmer

[Marjo 8]

Anyone had a claim with DEPP lately? If so, how was your experience? How long did you wait to get a reply?

 

I have a claim with them and are starting to get really worried! How long is it reasonable to wait? I made a claim on 10/19, go a reply on 10/21 from DEPP and a confirmation that claim had been made from AWRY on 10/28. Now 31 days later, I still don't have a go-ahead to have the equipment repaired, and it just sits there at Canon, presumably corroding away. I had an email from DEPP saying it could take "up to 30 days" to get a reply, but its now been over 30 days? Subsequent phonecalls and messages asking for information have not been replied to.

 

Am I being impatient? How long is it reasonable to wait for an answer? What to do?