Pat’s FAQ
Do you have to declare
a little fender bender even
if you won’t be making a claim?
Oh yeah, definitely. I mean, let’s say the other guy goes and blabs his side of the story to his insurance company—then you’re running the risk of his version winding up in the Fichier central des sinistres automobiles (automobile claims database). Do you really want HIS version on your file? Come clean and don’t take any chances.
My computer got stolen out of my car.
Who covers that?
If someone jacked your computer along with anything else that looked tempting, you’re home insurance will cover it. If the lowlife thieves scratched your paintjob while they were at it, the repairs will be covered by your auto insurance. But this wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t left stuff lying around.
I had a fender bender.
Should I call the police in
to determine who was responsible
for the accident?
If nobody got hurt, don’t call the police. Who backed into who? Who didn’t stop? Whose fault is it? Your insurer will make the call. The only thing the cops will do is give you a joint report to fill out. Or lean over and pull out the one you already have in your glove compartment.
I am not responsible
for a car accident.
Who pays?
Simple. Whether you’re responsible or not, your insurer always pays.
Is it true that insurers
don’t cover Acts of God?
First off, we’re talking about natural disasters. Only my grandma says “Acts of God”. Yup, most insurance policies cover everything from hurricanes to hail, lightning and tornadoes. You can even get protection against earthquakes. But there’s a couple of things that they don’t insure: landslides and flooding caused by a river or a lake overflowing its banks. That’ll make you think twice before building your house two feet from the water.
My kid decided to redecorate
my neighbour’s car with a paintbrush.
Does my insurance cover this?
Yes, because your home insurance covers more than just your house. That includes most of the shenanigans perpetrated by your progeny. Basically, whenever Junior makes a boo-boo, you’re covered. Same goes for you: anywhere in the world, you are insured against your own screw-ups.
The snow melted and water
got into my basement, ruining my floor.
Am I covered?
Not necessarily. The downside of our beautiful winters is that you might want to add this to your insurance policy if it’s not already included. While you’re at it, you might want to check and see if you’re insured for sewer backups as well. One phone call could save you a few hours of “spring cleaning”.
My girlfriend is moving in with me.
Is she covered by
my home insurance?
If you guys aren’t married yet, then no. Once she changes her address and turns your wardrobe into a walk-in closet, you should tell your insurer. That way, if anything happens the two of you will be OK. And since your home insurance covers her civil liability, if she is as lucky as me and damages somebody else’s person or property, she’s insured. So marry her or add her to your insurance policy—it’s up to you.
Does my home insurance
cover the damage caused by
my dishwasher emptying its contents
into my kitchen?
Yup, that one’s covered. But here’s a tip: start your dishwasher when you’re at home, not when you’re getting off to work. Then at least it won’t be the guys living downstairs who find out that your dishwasher finished up its last cycle on the kitchen floor.