Thank you for your email.
I have read the November 2011 email from CIL Insurance, which you also provided, and confirm that the information provided in it by our staff member wasn’t accurate. CIL Insurance strives to answer all cover questions accurately, and we will make contact with the attached email’s writer to clarify their query.
I can certainly clarify for both you and the online forum’s readers what our CIL Secure Caravan Insurance Policy (‘Policy’) does and does not cover, in relation to theft of contents from expandable-style caravans. The insurance cover we provide is set out in our Policy’s Product Disclosure Statement, which is available on our website at cilinsurance.com.au. The contents cover we provide is explained on pages 25 to 32. The discussed exclusion in relation to expandable-style caravans is found on page 28. It reads:
What we do not cover
We will not pay for:
· Theft or attempted theft from your caravan or annexe if:
o It does not have hard walls, or
o It is not securely locked, or
o there is no physical evidence of forcible and violent entry.
Also, page 55 of the Policy defines the term ‘hard walls’ as:
“hard walls” means a wall that is not made of canvas, vinyl or similar materials.
In circumstances where a theft of contents occurs from a caravan which does not have hard walls, as at the time of the theft, then our Policy does not provide cover. Taking the example of a Jayco Expanda, when the bed area is expanded, the material on the outer side of the caravan at that time would not be considered a ‘hard wall’ under our Policy. The reason our policy excludes theft in these circumstances is because the risk of a theft is greater when a canvas wall (or similar) is the only barrier to the inside of the caravan. Whilst we accept that it would take forcible entry, say by way of slashing the canvas, to obtain entry, the ease with which such entry can be made is relevant. To confirm, page 28 of our policy does not require forcible entry via a ‘soft wall’. Rather, any theft of contents from a caravan which is not composed of all hard walls at the time would not be covered.
So, for example, if a claim was made for a forcible entry theft of contents from a locked Jayco Expanda, when the bedding area wasn’t expanded, our Policy would cover the insured level of contents. Compare this to a forcible entry into via the expanded bedding area of the same caravan; our Policy would not cover that type of theft.
I appreciate that our Policy’s limited cover in relation to the theft of contents in these circumstances may disappoint some owners of expandable-style caravans. It is however important to understand that every caravan insurance policy does contain limitations and exclusions, and that these do differ between insurance products in the market. The policy premiums we charge are calculated on a large number of pricing factors, and the scope of cover offered is a pricing factor for our product, as we need to ensure that the premiums received are adequate to pay out the claims our insurance policies promise to cover. CIL Insurance does offer a comprehensive policy designed to meet the needs of most caravan and recreational vehicle owners. Our Policy’s Product Disclosure Statement explains what we do and don’t cover, and we always encourage anyone interested in our cover to take the time to read this document, to understand the limits of our cover.
I also note that in your email you mention that our salesperson promoted purchasing additional contents cover for an expandable caravan. Whilst the policy exclusion above exits, our contents cover does extend to many other events apart from theft. For example damage due to fire, storm, flood (but not actions of the sea) and road accident, including if your expandable caravan rolled over whilst being towed and your contents were damaged.
CIL Insurance will consider the present wording of its Policy and may review it in future. We therefore thank you for bringing this issue to our attention.
Should you have any questions about CIL Insurance’s cover, please contact me at via our website, and attention your question to me.
I have read the November 2011 email from CIL Insurance, which you also provided, and confirm that the information provided in it by our staff member wasn’t accurate. CIL Insurance strives to answer all cover questions accurately, and we will make contact with the attached email’s writer to clarify their query.
I can certainly clarify for both you and the online forum’s readers what our CIL Secure Caravan Insurance Policy (‘Policy’) does and does not cover, in relation to theft of contents from expandable-style caravans. The insurance cover we provide is set out in our Policy’s Product Disclosure Statement, which is available on our website at cilinsurance.com.au. The contents cover we provide is explained on pages 25 to 32. The discussed exclusion in relation to expandable-style caravans is found on page 28. It reads:
What we do not cover
We will not pay for:
· Theft or attempted theft from your caravan or annexe if:
o It does not have hard walls, or
o It is not securely locked, or
o there is no physical evidence of forcible and violent entry.
Also, page 55 of the Policy defines the term ‘hard walls’ as:
“hard walls” means a wall that is not made of canvas, vinyl or similar materials.
In circumstances where a theft of contents occurs from a caravan which does not have hard walls, as at the time of the theft, then our Policy does not provide cover. Taking the example of a Jayco Expanda, when the bed area is expanded, the material on the outer side of the caravan at that time would not be considered a ‘hard wall’ under our Policy. The reason our policy excludes theft in these circumstances is because the risk of a theft is greater when a canvas wall (or similar) is the only barrier to the inside of the caravan. Whilst we accept that it would take forcible entry, say by way of slashing the canvas, to obtain entry, the ease with which such entry can be made is relevant. To confirm, page 28 of our policy does not require forcible entry via a ‘soft wall’. Rather, any theft of contents from a caravan which is not composed of all hard walls at the time would not be covered.
So, for example, if a claim was made for a forcible entry theft of contents from a locked Jayco Expanda, when the bedding area wasn’t expanded, our Policy would cover the insured level of contents. Compare this to a forcible entry into via the expanded bedding area of the same caravan; our Policy would not cover that type of theft.
I appreciate that our Policy’s limited cover in relation to the theft of contents in these circumstances may disappoint some owners of expandable-style caravans. It is however important to understand that every caravan insurance policy does contain limitations and exclusions, and that these do differ between insurance products in the market. The policy premiums we charge are calculated on a large number of pricing factors, and the scope of cover offered is a pricing factor for our product, as we need to ensure that the premiums received are adequate to pay out the claims our insurance policies promise to cover. CIL Insurance does offer a comprehensive policy designed to meet the needs of most caravan and recreational vehicle owners. Our Policy’s Product Disclosure Statement explains what we do and don’t cover, and we always encourage anyone interested in our cover to take the time to read this document, to understand the limits of our cover.
I also note that in your email you mention that our salesperson promoted purchasing additional contents cover for an expandable caravan. Whilst the policy exclusion above exits, our contents cover does extend to many other events apart from theft. For example damage due to fire, storm, flood (but not actions of the sea) and road accident, including if your expandable caravan rolled over whilst being towed and your contents were damaged.
CIL Insurance will consider the present wording of its Policy and may review it in future. We therefore thank you for bringing this issue to our attention.
Should you have any questions about CIL Insurance’s cover, please contact me at via our website, and attention your question to me.
