Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!rutgers!iuvax!iucs!bobmon
From: bobmon@iucs.UUCP (RAMontante [condition that I not be identified])
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Personal Computer Insurance ?
Message-ID: <4771@iucs.UUCP>
Date: 12 Dec 87 14:50:08 GMT
References: <4769@iucs.UUCP> <4689@eecae.UUCP>
Reply-To: bobmon@iucs.UUCP (RAMontante [condition that I not be identified])
Organization: Indiana University, Bloomington
Lines: 33

driscoll@eecae.UUCP (Mike Driscoll) writes:
>>	[ originally, I say ]
>> Summary: maybe a rider on your homeowner's insurance?
>> 
>> I purchased a rider on my homeowner's policy (actually, renter's policy)
>> that specifically covers my computer stuff -- I had to make out an inventory
>> 
>> My impression from the insurance agent is that such riders, for computers as
>> well as for other specifically valuable items, is a fairly common option.
>
>   I once received an advertisement from some `computer insurance'
>company that said that most homeowner's/renter's policies don't cover
>computer equipment that is used for business purposes.  Was this just
>a scare tactic on their part?  Do the riders mentioned cover the
>equipment no matter what it is used for?

I think the ad you saw was correct as far as it went -- the normal policy
wouldn't cover items that are too expensive, or especially fragile (or other
reasons the ins. company can think of to deny a claim).  When I got my
insurance I asked about my computer, and my agent said it wouldn't be covered
and that I could/should insure it specifically, with this rider.  The rider says
nothing about use.  But it's also an extra cost, in my case more than the
rest of the policy.  It covers any damage to the computer, including things
that are excluded from the normal policy, but it covers exactly and only the
items inventoried, for the covered amount (I went for "replacement cost",
which was of course an estimate on my part).

Probably the only difference between the rider on my policy, and a separate
policy from a `computer insurance' company, is the number of insurance
companies you have to deal with.  I hate this sort of thing, so the convenience
of dealing with one company, paying one bill, having one insurance agent to
talk to, etc.,  outweighs the possible benefits I might get from shopping
around.