[net.micro.pc] insurance

stev@bu-cs.BU.EDU (Stev Knowles) (09/19/86)

hello campers. i just got a _byte_deck_ of cards in the mail, and
was sitting here looking through them. i found i card dealing with
insurance, and began to wonder, do any of you have special insurance
for your pc's stereo's etc? will your regular insurance cover them?
who offers it? is it worth it? any other thoughts?


stev


-- 
stev knowles, boston university distributed systems group

	ARPA:		stev@bu-cs.bu.edu
	CSNET:		stev@bu-cs.CSNET
	UUCP:		...harvard!bu-cs!stev
	BITNET:		ccsk@bostonu.BITNET

tim@j.cc.purdue.edu (Timothy Lange) (09/23/86)

Check your home owners policy, most will cover a PC at home.  I have
Shelter Insurance and I remember when I checked there was no limit on
cost.  If the machine is used for a business you should get a separate
policy, at least that is what my agent told me.

Tim Lange
Purdue University
-- 
Timothy Lange
Purdue University Computing Center
West Lafayette, IN
317-494-1787 extension 260
tim@j.cc.purdue.edu

lyourk@ihlpf.UUCP (Loran N. Yourk) (09/23/86)

> Check your home owners policy, most will cover a PC at home.  I have
> Shelter Insurance and I remember when I checked there was no limit on
> cost.  If the machine is used for a business you should get a separate
> policy, at least that is what my agent told me.
> 
> Tim Lange
> Purdue University
> -- 

Make sure you check out the limits of the coverage for
electronics.  Most insurance companies have about a $1,500.00
limit for such stuff (stereo, cameras, vcr's, TV's, etc) and this
is for each occurrence of a loss no matter how much you really
lost.  It is best to read the fine print which only comes with
the final policy.  If you have more than the limit, you can get
an extra rider for some extra $$.  The same goes for the
sports person who has lots of money in guns.

Loran Yourk
AT&T Technologies

ark@alice.UucP (Andrew Koenig) (09/24/86)

> Check your home owners policy, most will cover a PC at home.  I have
> Shelter Insurance and I remember when I checked there was no limit on
> cost.  If the machine is used for a business you should get a separate
> policy, at least that is what my agent told me.

Maybe yes, maybe no.  I can think of at least three reasons a PC at
home might not be covered:

	1.  Your policy might explicitly exclude computers.

	2.  You may have a ceiling on personal property losses.

	3.  Your policy might exclude property used to produce income.

I understand there can be a tricky problem with PCs owned by
employers.  The general principle that applies is that you cannot
insure yourself against someone else's risk.  Thus, before you
can ask whether you are covered for loss of a PC owned by your
employer, you must ask who would pay for the loss if you weren't
covered.

If you would be liable, then you can insure against it.  If your
employer would be liable, then you can't insure.

I have seen some employers who, when they lend employees PCs, say:
"If this machine is stolen, you should file a claim against your
homeowner's insurance."  As far as I know, such a claim could only
be valid IF YOU WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE LOSS IF THE CLAIM WERE
DENIED.