Writer: Helena Bergström
Insuring this boat and our accommodation has not been easy ... We have talked to so many insurance companies, and most of them laugh or reply that it is impossible to insure a houseboat. So far we have managed to take out insurance, but it has not been easy.
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Insurance companies 1
First, we called Insurance Company 1 (Trygg Hansa, the one we've had all these years) and told them we were moving to a houseboat. ”Good for you, but thank you and goodbye”, they replied (more or less). We kept other insurances with them, but went looking for someone who would insure a boat. We then contacted Insurance Company 2, (Alandia) which insures boats.
Insurance companies 2
Getting houseboat insurance with insurance company 2 (Alandia) went very well, but when I rang up later for some details, I had to talk to a new agent who grunted something about how they ”don't really insure boats that are stationary, but now that we're in the system, so...”
Eeeeh...? Ok, at least I learnt that the only thing that is insured besides the boat is things needed for the boat's progressthat is, life jackets, a dinghy, rubber boots... Not fridges and computers, in other words.
Insurance company 1 (Again)
Of course, we also needed home insurance! Home insurance covers contents, but also includes things like travel cover. I called Insurance Company 1 (Trygg Hansa) and told them that the boat is insured, but could we perhaps take out home insurance? Yes, that would be great! The agent also gave us a good price ”because we had several insurance policies with them”.
Yesterday, I called up to check some details, and then I got to talk to a new agent. "No, we don't have that product!" he exclaimed. He said that if we had paid and a claim had been made, we would not have received any money because the insurance was wrong. "But you're the one who made the mistake", I thought. "Yes, it was stupid of us, but you wouldn't have received any money." Eeeeeh?
Insurance companies 3
No point in wasting energy getting too upset, so I called Insurance Company 3 (If). They actually had this product, provided you are registered on the boat. We are, so now we are insured! But the part about a discount because you have many insurances in one place ... we can forget about that.
English (UK) 
Svenska
BP says:
What a jungle! About insurance companies - it doesn't really matter which one you choose. Because it only becomes apparent how good/bad it is once you have a reason to use the company.
This from someone who has very little experience with insurance companies, but who has been paying all these years without any claim for compensation... until the brand new winter tyres were stolen from the basement storage. We didn't get a penny for the tyres. Then we changed companies, so to speak...
11 October 2013 - 9:16
admin says:
BP, you are quite powerless as a consumer. You can get angry and change companies and then you think "there you go, haha", but you just switch to another company, and you have no idea whether they are better. And at the same time, some other customer is probably switching in the other direction ...
😉
11 October 2013 - 9:40
Steve says:
The advantage of sometimes finding yourself in such situations is that it gives you the opportunity to separate the wheat from the chaff. I have changed insurance companies a few times, always for the better.
Insurance companies are undoubtedly one of the trickier industries. They promise gold and green forests in their advertising, but when the insurance is actually used, it is the REALITY that counts. From time to time it turns out not to be covered by the insurance.
It's good that you are now insured.
11 October 2013 - 10:04
Agneta says:
Yes, yes, yes, insurance companies are not easy to deal with. They always have a loophole to avoid paying out.
It's good that you now have comprehensive insurance in case something happens (which I hope doesn't happen).
11 October 2013 - 10:55
Ama de casa says:
Yes, what a jungle... Interesting that you can take out an insurance policy that doesn't apply??? Scary. Something for the newspapers, I think.
🙁
It's good that you ARE insured now, after all.
🙂
11 October 2013 - 11:09
admin says:
Steve, it's good that we're insured now. But you won't know what it really means until something happens one day...
Agneta, yes, it sounds like it's comprehensive, although there may be loopholes in the small print...
Ama de casa, I also thought it was scary. If I hadn't happened to call, I would have THOUGHT we were insured...!
11 October 2013 - 12:46
Ditte says:
Breathe! Why should it be easy? I don't think the insurance company officials/administrators always know what they are doing....either they have the service that is required or they don't. And no insurance company, bank, politician, etc. does anything for the sake of the customer.
Good that it is now resolved and it was interesting to see which companies you had contact with. I understand from friends that company no. 3 has always been positive even when there have been accidents....
11 October 2013 - 13:42
Ulla & Torgny says:
Can only agree with the above comments. Imagine IF you had not called, woe betide you. After much agonising, you can now sleep peacefully.....
Have a nice weekend!
11 October 2013 - 14:36
admin says:
Ditte, it's good to hear that you have good experiences with them. Very difficult to know in advance! And as you say, they're not there for the sake of the customer...
Ulla &Torgny, you go crazy when you think about it...!
11 October 2013 - 15:46
Veiken says:
What a mess. How does everyone else who lives like you do??? Good that it worked out in the end anyway! 🙂
11 October 2013 - 18:28
Gubben says:
It sounds complicated to get a houseboat insured, although at the same time it is fortunate that there is one that accepted it. Can feel that it is good that you tell them right away as some have done instead of selling and then not living up to what you as a consumer thought. An advice read through the condition carefully so you do not think that you can, for example, put stolen goods in a basement storage room. no insurance company will take that.
11 October 2013 - 20:33
Johan says:
hello
I wonder which insurance company you have
Since I have not found a company that takes my
CE marked houseboat Kajutan
23 July 2014 - 22:44
admin says:
Johan, we have a combination of two insurance policies now. The boat itself is insured with Alandia. Then we have home insurance with If. It won't be super cheap, but it seems to be a combination that works. Good luck to you!
24 July 2014 - 6:52