GeoffAnn's activity

Questions Asked

Earthquake insuranceWe own a house near Sansepolcro and have been insured with Intasure.

Mon, 11/04/2019 - 10:46

Comments posted

Tue, 10/13/2020 - 12:16

We finally managed to get some earthquake insurance via a friend of a friend, an Italian insurance broker.  In fact we are about to renew our policy through him and are hoping this will go OK.  We can give you his details and we know he is happy to at least try and find a quote. Obviously it all depends on your particular circumstances and the main thing to remember is that this would be an Italian insurance policy and these are not exactly like British ones in many ways.  However, given that no British insurer will touch earthquake cover in Italy, it’s Hobson’s Choice and certainly for the building, we would say go for it if Filippo can give you a quote.  One of the things our insurer won’t cover for a second home is theft, so we now wish we had left our contents with Intasure and just insured the building with the Italian company.  Better having no earthquake cover on contents but have theft cover.
 

Our policy is with Vittoria Assicurazioni.

 

Broker is Dott. Filippo Leonardi, Via Liuti 2, 61122, Pesaro.  Mobile number 0039 329 6889183

email : leonardifilippoassicuratore@gmail.com

 

Good luck.

 

Geoff and Ann.

Fri, 12/13/2019 - 11:28

That's good news, Val.  So pleased you have managed to get something.  Let's hope this insurer decides to stay in the earthquake market!!  The tremors near Florence recently won't help if they are at all twitchy!!

Best wishes.

Ann and Geoff.

Fri, 11/29/2019 - 10:54

Thanks for this, Il Roseto.  Didn't think of that unfortunately, but it seems an excellent solution.  Presumably both companies are happy with the fact they only insure part of the risk, as it were.  Probably too late for us to change now, but perhaps next year. And fingers crossed no break -ins this coming year!!  Time was when insurers didn't cover Accidental Damage for Contents, but we Brits have all got used to having everything covered.  Our greatest fear is any total loss however caused, hence our anxiety about wanting earthquake cover.Ann and Geoff. 

Thu, 11/28/2019 - 07:40

That is excellent news, Il Roseto.  Pleased to have been able to assist.  Let's hope none of us ever has to call upon their services!!  We agree with your general comments as regards the scope of cover and it is also worth noting that the italian insurers do not appear to settle claims on a 'New for Old' basis, but on an indemnity basis which could be tricky in event of Contents claims.  However, we were told that an insurance broker is a useful go-between in such circumstances, whatever that might mean!!  Hopefully we won't have to find out....Like Il Roseto, we too are wondering if you have had any further progress, Valeria.  Do hope so, but sadly you do have that previous claim to contend with and therefore even the Italian insurers may now be less keen to quote for earthquake damage.  Good luck anyway and do let us know how you get on.Ann and Geoff.

Tue, 11/26/2019 - 13:48

Sorry you haven't heard anything yet, but we can only presume that because you have had a fairly recent earthquake claim, the broker was obliged to make more enquiries with more insurers than was necessary for us.  We feel sure he will reply as soon as he has anything to report.  If you read the various posts above, you will see that we did in fact get a quote, but obviously it was easier for him to obtain as we have not, touch wood, had any claims, earthquake or otherwise.  As regards payment, we paid by money transfer (Halifax) and luckily we had a few days to spare and it all reached the insurer in time.  We can only suggest that you wait and see if he manages to get you a quote and if so, cancel your other insurance and take up the new one if you want earthquake cover, which we fully understand if you do.  Remember though that you will be dealing with an Italian broker, an Italian insurer and Italian insurance practices and these do seem to be different from British practices.

Fri, 11/22/2019 - 07:03

Yes, sorry. Email is leonardifilippoassicuratore@gmail.comWe have taken out full house buildings and contents cover.  Doubtful if anyone would give earthquake cover on its own.  It is the other part of the cover which is probably less than we have had in the past with Intasure and others, because British based insurers tend to throw in all sorts of cover to justify the enormous premiums. We feel now that we have bascially something which would cover us in the event of a total loss, be it fire, flood, earthquake and so on.  Theft we are not exactly sure what we have, but as we are not in the habit of making claims for small losses, we are keeping our fingers crossed that we will just be OK in event of the biggie, however caused.Hope this helps.Ann and Geoff. 

Fri, 11/22/2019 - 06:18

OK, for all of you who need immediate cover, we have had some limited success.  We have not got as much cover as we would probably have got with a British based insurer, but we do now have some earthquake cover.  We have obtained this through the cousin of some friends who live in Italy, who is Italian and an insurance broker. He is happy to try and help anyone who contacts him and his details are as follows:-Dott. Filippo Leonardi, Via Liuti 2, 61122 Pesaro. Mobile number 0039 329 6889183.Filippo speaks a very little English, but if you speak in English, he can always use a translation App.Hopefully this may be helpful to anyone who goes down this route.  Obviously it depends on the location and size of house and so on, but for us the cost was not astronomic.May we thank everyone who has responded to our original question with suggestions and as we say, hope this will do the trick.Best wishes,Geoff and Ann.

Fri, 11/08/2019 - 17:14

Yes, this appears to be a very recent decision by Intasure as we are currently insured with them, including earthquake damage, but policy expires on the 20th Nov, when earthquake will be excluded.  At the moment it looks as if we will be self- insuring.

Fri, 11/08/2019 - 11:41

Thanks for your suggestion. We have been in touch with Schofields but they will not provide cover anymore. We have been surprised by the number of people we know who have a property in Italy but do not have earthquake cover!We will keep looking but our renewal date is 20th November so running out of time.Regards to allGeoff and Ann

Fri, 11/08/2019 - 04:12

Allianz have sold their personal insurance lines ( which includes house insurance) to Liverpool Victoria. I have spoken to them and they do not offer holiday home insurance.  Thanks to all who have replied. I am still looking but no success yet.