Claim for leathers and helmet on home contents insurance?

Following my recent off, I've just tried claiming on my Direct Line home contents insurance, stating that I had fallen off my bike and damaged the items.

They accepted the jackets claim, on the basis that I could "wear it anywhere, not just on the bike", but denied my helmet claim, as it says in the policy docs exlusions list:

"motorised vehicles, caravans, trailers, watercraft, hovercraft, or aircraft (other than hand propelled or models) and their accessories (while attached)"

They class it as a vehicle accessory. I tried to say I could equally wear my helmet whilst off the bike, and that its not a vehicle accessory, on the basis that it does not attach to the bike by any means, and its an item of safety clothing.

They still refused. They will refer my complaint to the "customer relations team" but they may take some weeks to get back to me.

Has anyone succesfully claimed from Direct Line for this?

Any advice?

I can't help feeling you're on a hiding to nothing with this one. Even though you definitely could, there aren't really any non-bike circumstances where you actually would wear the helmet, if only because you tend to look a bit of a tool walking round the shops with your helmet on! They will just say "Safety clothing for what exactly?"

Good effort though!

Other folk have managed it though!! They did say if I'd dropped it down the stairs I would be covered. I may wait a month or two and drop it down the stairs

I work for Direct Line just now. The clothes are covered under personal possessions away from the home. Helmets aren't covered I don't think, however if you have accidental damage it may be covered under that.

I'll call the claims team tomorrow and find out for sure, and if it can be covered I'll get back to you and sort it out for you.

[MisterTommyH]

Hmm, how is the helmet attached to the bike?

Can you get round it by arguing that it wasn't attached at the time because you were 10 feet from the bike by the time it hit the floor? It is very specifically worded.

Originally Posted by Tommy H

Hmm, how is the helmet attached to the bike?

Via the rider....

[MisterTommyH]

Yeah, but if he'd had an 'off' there wouldn't have been an attachment.........

Bit tenuous?

Originally Posted by Tommy H

Yeah, but if he'd had an 'off' there wouldn't have been an attachment.........

Bit tenuous?

The joys of insurance. They get round it by saying if it isn't explicitly covered in the booklet, it's not covered. You could argue that if it doesn't say it's NOT covered then it is, but unfortunately the law and the Financial Ombudsman Service are on the side of the insurer here.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by WeegieBlue

however if you have accidental damage it may be covered under that.

I never knew many people fall off on purpose

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

I never knew many people fall off on purpose

You'd be amazed what people will claim to get an insurance payout!