Posts Tagged ‘Stairlifts’

Home Stairlift Insurance Don’t They Know We’re Pensioners

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

A couple of common question often asked! Should I have insurance cover on my stairlift. Should I try and have it listed on my Home content insurance or find a separate insurance company that deals with mobility products.

Do I need to take out any policy at all? Well some people stroll along through life with no complications and never seem to have any bad luck with items they purchase. Unlike myself! If it wasn’t for bad luck I would have no luck at all. No matter what I buy even if it’s the dearest item in the shop sure as day follows night I guarantee it will breakdown. (Normally just out of the warranty period) So if you are one of them unlucky people like me. I highly recommend some type of insurance cover be taken out.

Stairlift breakdowns can be costly as well as inconvenient: Most stairlift companies will offer you an annual stair lift maintenance contract once your warranty has elapsed. The initial train of thought on discovering the price of these annual service contracts is to wave them goodbye.

What are the Pro’s & Con’s: The simplest solution would be to have a stair lift maintenance contract with the company you purchased the stair lift from. Plus side! Local Engineer on call, Van stocked with spare parts, In-house trained on the products they install service and repair. One phone call should have you flying up and down the stairs again in no time.

The downside: Tied into a twelve month contract, Expensive 300-500 per year (none refundable) Depending on the maintenance contract you take out parts might not be covered or limited (Always read the small print)

Home Policy Insurance: It’s Your job to locate a company that will be willing to attend. If it’s late at night or weekend not much chance of that happening unless you are on their books so to speak. You will still be required to find the cash to pay for the call-out charge and then claim this back through your insurance company (This could take Months)

Lets face it when you need your stair lift you need it NOW. The last thing anyone wants to be doing is looking through the telephone book. Phoning company after company if it’s late at night you will only get a telephone answering service, not much help . Ever made an appointment with a company that never turned up! I have many times, back to square one you best get the phone book out again.

In a nutshell any type of cover is better than no cover. If you want hassle free service and don’t mind the hefty price tag your option is simple. If you are on a limited budget then home insurance would be better than no cover. Insurance companies that insure mobility products should have a private contractor or stairlift company who attends emergency call-outs on their behalf etc.

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Stair Lift Service Repair Contracts

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

Should you take out the optional service maintenance contract most stairlift companies offer once your guarantee warranty has elapsed. If you are not covered by a Maintenance / Repair Cover Plan repair bills can be both inconvenient and costly.

Replacing broken or worn parts on your stairlift can often exceed the cost of a Service Maintenance Contract and no guarantee a company will offer to send a call-out engineer to someone who is not on their books so to speak.

How much do they cost! Annual stairlift maintenance contracts start at around (250-500) Ballpark figure The lower price insurance packages will only give you basic limited cover. You will need to pay for the engineers call-out, parts and labour costs.

You really need to read this bit! Some companies charge you for traveling time. If you do not have a contract with the company you engage the services of. Make sure you ask if they charge for the engineers traveling time.

There is a good reason to try and find a local company! If they are not local and the engineer spends two hours travelling time to reach your destination then that’s going to be a hefty bill! Average call-out price 80 per hour x 2 =160 and he hasn’t even done anything yet. Trick number 2 you will get stung for the two hour return trip the engineer has to make back to his depot 80 x 4 =320 big smackers :(

Stairlift companies offer a range of maintenance service contracts rated by stars or colours. Obviously the more stars or metallic of colour the higher the price but more benefits and cover you receive. All contracts should include an annual service of your stair lift.

Personally I would recommend that you take some type of protection insurance cover out on your stairlift unless you have very deep pockets. It would be wise to use the company you originally purchased the stair lift from. Other companies might not have the service parts required to complete the service or repair of the unit.

In my next article I will explain what you actually get for your money when an engineer arrives to carry out an annual service of your stairlift. Keep your eyes peeled out for that one some good info to be had.

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