[Wiz]

...no not that BMFA insurance but, as you may have read, the BMFA have been in negotiations with their new brokers and come up with a policy for modellers and clubs to cover their equipment against loss or damage.

As I understand it, the policies are now on-sale on-line and you can read the details of cover provided, exclusions etc. at http://bmfa.doodsonbg.com  Cover starts for an individual at £25 for an individual and £99 for a club.

Clearly nobody is suggesting you have to have this, agree with it or like the idea but this post is simply to inform members.  Also it may well be that your models and equipment are covered under your household insurance - always worth checking first.

See http://bmfa.doodsonbg.com for more details.

[bobt]

Hmm- just read that, and it seems to cover our locked container, AND our members models while locked in a shed or in transit. Is that correct, as you see it? If so, it is remarkably cheap.

[Wiz]

Hmm- just read that, and it seems to cover our locked container, AND our members models while locked in a shed or in transit. Is that correct, as you see it? If so, it is remarkably cheap.

...I don't feel qualified to answer that - a quick call to the broker should get the answer confirmed rather than me hypothesise about it.

[tekiM]

I've always had the uneasy feeling that household insurers who don't really understand our hobby might balk at a claim if it ever hit them. 

So when I read about this in the BMFA mag, I thought it was a good idea and £25 is quite cheap.  But that's only for £1k cover.  £10k cover costs a whopping £119.  My household cover is only about £400 for my entire buildings/contents - and that includes £10k for outbuildings contents and £2k 'all risks'.

Nevertheless, I thought the £1k cover might be good for the car bit, but this bit from the policy schedule is significant:

We will not pay for damage caused by:
• theft  or attempted theft, unless the insured equipment is stored in a locked building or out of sight in a locked boot, trailer,
roof box or locked compartment of a motor vehicle;

so your vehicle is going to be a determining factor as well - my hatch has to have seats down and parcel shelf removed for anything more than 1 model - leaving everything in view.

So IMV its a great idea, but flawed in its execution.  I hate to be a Jonah, but you were right about clouds, Bob 

Mike

[bobt]

Its still a good idea for a club, I have just had to remove our two generators from the hut, as we have travellers nearby and one of their kids came on our site and got a look in the container. So now I'm stuck with the gennies until they get fed up and bugger off. The law in this country is an ASS!

[tekiM]

Oh for sure - it's just what Clubs need - at least those with the luxury of facilities worth insuring!

[bobt]

Oh for sure - it's just what Clubs need - at least those with the luxury of facilities worth insuring!

It doesnt take much- most clubs now have a hut or container, the cost of a repair to the locks etc could be expensive. Between our gate, container and toilets there are three locks worth £150. The cost of replacing the club trainer would be in the region of £200. I have removed our gennies at the moment, but add another £800 there! The thought of our nice new toilets being vandalised keeps me awake at night. The club has developed these facilities over the last 10-12 years, and it would be nice to have some form of insurance.

[Wiz]

So IMV its a great idea, but flawed in its execution

...I sort of agree but for me the vehicle thing is not so much of an issue as I never leave the car unattended when carrying a load but, having said that I suppose there are times at shows and fly-ins when it is and, having an SUV even with darkened glass in the back, would still mean the load was visible.

Vehicles aside though, I reckon £119 for £10k of cover isn't that bad when you consider most of us have a single transmitter that costs far more than the annual premium.  It's like all insurance though, after the event it was always worth it; before the event we're not so sure.

I think the key wording is...

"accidental physical loss or physical damage to your model planes, helicopters, boats, rockets and trains, remote controlled
craft, vessels and vehicles, power supplies, control equipment, parts, tools and carry cases while being used by you, stored
by you or transported by you or on your behalf".

....and that's a heck of a broad policy in my view and would seem to me to cover a situation where, say, your model was parked-up in a flight line and some twerp falls onto it or even perhaps where another model crashes into it?  I'm doing what I refused to do now and hypothesising lol