pel@unh.UUCP (Paul E. Leclerc) (05/31/89)
Has anybody had any good or bad experiences with the computer
insurance company named Safeware? Are there other alternatives
besides renters insurance? I remember not too long ago, there
was a thread about it. Did anyone save it? If not, I will
certainly summarize.
Thanks
Paul Leclerc
--
===========================================================================
Paul Leclerc, Computer Specialist III |Bitnet: P_LECLERC@UNHH.BITNET
University of NH |UUCP: ...uunet!unh!pel
===========================================================================calhoun@cis.ohio-state.edu (robert r calhoun) (05/31/89)
I don't know about most insurance companies, but my homeowner's insurance covers computer equipment up to $5000 at no additional cost. Their renters insurance is the same way. I know I shouldn't say their name on the net, but I'll just say I am in good hands with this company. (kinda subtle) R. Calhoun
mlawless@ncrwic.Wichita.NCR.COM (Mike Lawless) (06/01/89)
In article <PEL.89May30234025@unh.UUCP> pel@unh.UUCP (Paul E. Leclerc) writes: > >Has anybody had any good or bad experiences with the computer >insurance company named Safeware? Are there other alternatives >besides renters insurance? I remember not too long ago, there >was a thread about it. Did anyone save it? If not, I will >certainly summarize. I bought a Safeware policy about a year ago ($16K on H/W, $4K on S/W). About 2 months later, a power surge smoked my Bernoulli Box, causing it to wipe the FAT on both my main and backup cartridges. (Ouch!). On the word of the IOmega service technician, they reimbursed me the cost of repairing the subsystem ($625), plus an allowance for my time required to reconstruct the FAT entries to recover some especially critical files (business financial records, customer files, etc.). They weren't especially happy about the fact that I had done the data recovery myself; oddly enough, they seemed to be more willing to reimburse me for having someone else do it, even if it cost them more money, I guess because it is more quantifiable--there is a bill showing an exact amount of "loss", versus a recorded number of hours times a somewhat arbitrary hourly rate. Nevertheless, they did agree to compensate me for my time. In my opinion, I had a better chance of recovering the data successfully than just about anybody else, because I had detailed knowledge of the contents of many of the files in question; I did data searches to find sectors of data in the process of reassembling lost files, and I had to sometimes distinguish between a sector from the real file and a sector from a backup version of the same file. All in all, I found the policy to be very worthwhile. I get coverage that no homeowner's policy can come close to for a very reasonable annual premium ($150). Their claims handling is fast, does not involve a lot of hassle, and is fair. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this company to anyone. -- Mike Lawless, NCR E&M Wichita, Box 20 (316) 636-8666 (NCR: 654-8666) 3718 N. Rock Road, Wichita, KS 67226 Mike.Lawless@Wichita.NCR.COM {ece-csc,hubcap,gould,rtech}!ncrcae!ncrwic!Mike.Lawless {sdcsvax,cbatt,dcdwest,nosc.ARPA}!ncr-sd!ncrwic!Mike.Lawless
dts@cloud9.Stratus.COM (Daniel Senie) (06/01/89)
In article <PEL.89May30234025@unh.UUCP>, pel@unh.UUCP (Paul E. Leclerc) writes: > > Has anybody had any good or bad experiences with the computer > insurance company named Safeware? Are there other alternatives > besides renters insurance? I used Safeware on two different occasions (two different computers). I found them overpriced and incompetent. They completely screwed up billing me, discovered their error 6 months later, and billed my credit card without contacting me first. Their actual coverage is not great. Most insurers require a list of equipment and serial numbers, so that if there is a fire, there is some record of the equipment which was damaged. Safeware wants you to keep that yourself. I think they hope you keep it at home so there is no record in the event of a fire. (Hint: keep the list in a safe deposit box). For the amount of equipment I have at home (386, laser, etc.) Their charge would be at least $69, and probably the next increment above that. For around $25 I have a rider on my homeowners policy which covers MORE than Safeware, and it's through my local agent who I know and trust. He maintains a list of the covered equipment, too. The policy covers the computer, software at 50% of the computer equipment cost (comes out about right for me), media at 25% of the computer worth, and so forth. If you do not own a house, you should have renters insurance (homeowners policy without the structure being covered) regardless. You should always have your household possessions covered. In the event of a fire, your insurer will provide funds for temporary shelter and moving, in addition to replacing your stuff. So as long as you have homeowners or renters insurance, why pay Safeware for a separate policy? One final note: Safeware is just an insurance agent for Fireman's Fund (I think that's who they wrote my policy with). You could get a similar policy, if you really want a stand-alone policy, from any decent independent insurance agent. -- Daniel Senie UUCP: harvard!ulowell!cloud9!dts Stratus Computer, Inc. ARPA: anvil!cloud9!dts@harvard.harvard.edu 55 Fairbanks Blvd. CSRV: 74176,1347 Marlboro, MA 01752 TEL.: 508 - 460 - 2686
mdfreed@ziebmef.uucp (Mark Freedman) (06/06/89)
In article <50349@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu> calhoun@cis.ohio-state.edu (robert r calhoun) writes: > > I don't know about most insurance companies, but my > homeowner's insurance covers computer equipment up > to $5000 at no additional cost. > > Their renters insurance is the same way. I was told by one agent that my computer was covered. When he ceased to operate (as an agent), I learned from the new broker that the policy excludes computer systems used for business. In fact, there's some question as to whether I need a special "home office" rider to keep the rest of the policy in force. This is a "standard" condominium policy. I believe that the homeowner's and renter's policies contain similar escape clauses. >
wales@valeria.cs.ucla.edu (Rich Wales) (06/07/89)
In article <5404@cloud9.Stratus.COM>
dts@cloud9.Stratus.COM (Daniel Senie) writes regarding Safeware:
Most insurers require a list of equipment and serial numbers,
so that if there is a fire, there is some record of the equip-
ment which was damaged. Safeware wants you to keep that your-
self. I think they hope you keep it at home so there is no
record in the event of a fire. (Hint: keep the list in a safe
deposit box).
When I enrolled in Safeware (by phone), the representative specifically
asked me to keep my receipts, etc., somewhere *other* than where the
computer equipment was.
In any case, you should *always* keep receipts, photos, equipment lists,
etc. in a safe deposit box or other safe place. *Don't* rely solely on
a list you've given your insurance agent. For example, if the insurance
people turn out to be dishonest or incompetent, and "lose" the list you
gave them, and if you don't have another copy of your own, you lose.
For around $25 I have a rider on my homeowners policy which
covers MORE than Safeware, and it's through my local agent who
I know and trust. . . . So as long as you have homeowners or
renters insurance, why pay Safeware for a separate policy?
Great. Does this rider cover "business" or "for-profit" use of your
system? The standard coverage in many homeowners policies doesn't;
the Safeware policy does.
One final note: Safeware is just an insurance agent for
Fireman's Fund (I think that's who they wrote my policy with).
My Safeware policy says it is by the "Central National Insurance Company
of Omaha", for what this may be worth.
-- Rich Wales // UCLA Computer Science Department // +1 (213) 825-5683
3531 Boelter Hall // Los Angeles, California 90024-1596 // USA
wales@CS.UCLA.EDU ...!(uunet,ucbvax,rutgers)!cs.ucla.edu!wales
"This is yet another example of how our actions have random results."waynec@hpnmdla.HP.COM (Wayne Cannon) (06/16/89)
Read your homeowners' policy for what it does NOT cover. My computer system was "covered" by my homeowners policy for about $15. Safeware wanted $125. After reading an extensive discussion about this topic on Compuserve's CONSULT forum, I started looking into it further. The homeowner's policy had a very low ceiling on what they would insure (about $5000, I believe) meaning that they would not write more than that, did not cover replacement cost (only depreciated value), did not cover any natural disasters (about the only thing they covered was theft and fire), did not cover any software at all, would not cover my equipment if it was used for any commercial purposes, would not cover it off premises, and every item had to be specifically itemized with the company prior to the loss. Before you say that I had a braindead policy, the experience of those on Compuserve who checked their policies was essentially the same. Homeowners' Policies simply do not offer realistic coverage for computers. There were only three companies that people found that provided realistic computer coverage, and Safeware was one. Safeware covers ALL losses (including brownouts and voltage spikes), all commercial software (must have a verifiable price), provides blanket coverage (verify it at the time of the loss) to allow for the dynamics of system configuration and software purchases, covers the computer anywhere except in an unattended vehicle (then, if evidence of forced entry exists), covers replacement cost, and equipment used for commercial purposes. They do insist on having the face value of the policy cover ALL computer equipment and software that you own (I had to add for an old computer until I am able to sell or dispose of it) and you have to keep your receipts in a safe place (Isn't that what you are doing when you place a copy with your agent?) in order to have proof of ownership if you need it. Their rate was less than for an equivalent amount of (fully covered) jewelry from my homeowner's policy. After checking with one other local homeowner-tyep company, I didn't hesitate to switch to Safeware. I would feel the same about any other company with as clean and comprehensive a policy for the same rate. Wayne
rab@ssc-vax.UUCP (Robert A. Birgenheier) (10/03/89)
A few months ago, I caught part of a discusion about homeowners/renters insurance vs. home computer insuance coverage. I attempted to contact some of the writers without success. Could someone please email the discussion or other information along this subject. I would especially like addresses and phone numbers for Safeware or any other company that offers a home computer insurance policy. Thanks -- Bob Birgenheier Lefebvre belebvre ...!uw-beaver!ssc-vax!rab