Can I insure against losing a gift in transit?

Q IAM considering buying my wife an expensive watch for Christmas but I need to use a third-party delivery service to get it sent to an Irish address. Given the cost of the item, is there anything I can do to insure myself against the item being lost in transit? Geoff, Lucan, Co Dublin

THIRD-PARTY delivery services, whereby you place an order which is then delivered to a locker near where you live or work, can be an attractive option for online deliveries as some sellers won’t deliver to Ireland — or you may not be able to be at home when the delivery comes.

If you use one of these services, this involves a contract with a company which supplies you with an address that the goods can be delivered to, and the company then delivers it to a locker for you to pick them up. If you use this service to deliver your order, you are entering into two separate contracts — one with the online retailer and one with the delivery service. Once the online retailer has delivered the item to the delivery service’s warehouse, the online retailer has fulfilled its contractual obligations and your contract with the delivery service company begins.

If you are using a delivery service, check its terms and conditions beforehand and see what (if any) liability cover it provides for lost items. It is not obliged to provide you with any liability cover. However, some do — but it may be capped at a certain amount (for example, losses up to the value of €100 might be covered). The delivery company may also offer you the option of paying to have a higher level of liability cover for a certain period of time. In your case, it is important that you know that if anything happens to this expensive gift, it will be covered, so do your homework before you make your final decision.

If your item is misplaced or stolen, the first step is to contact the delivery service provider to make them aware of your situation and also to find out the next steps to recover the losses to which you are entitled to — as stated in the company’s terms and conditions.

Right to return party dress

Q I ordered a dress for my Christmas party from a well-known retailer and collected it in-store. However, when I tried it on at home, it was too big. Can I return the dress and get a full refund? Ger, Co Meath

YES — if you order something online it doesn’t matter if you get it delivered to your address or you click and collect in-store, your rights are the same. When you shop online, you are buying from a distance so unlike in a shop where you can see the item before you buy it, it may not be what you expected. You may also not be happy with the quality, fit or colour. The right to cancel the order, return the item and get a full refund comes from the Consumer Rights Directive, and you can return it for a full refund for any reason within 14 days of it being delivered. However, this right only applies to websites that are based in the EU.

You must cancel your order within 14 days of it being delivered. Then you must return it within 14 days of cancelling the order. Some retailers may offer a longer return window so ensure you review the terms and conditions on the website.

In relation to postage costs, if you cancel the order within 14 days, the trader must refund you both the cost of the item and the cost of standard delivery. However, if you cancel the order because you change your mind, as opposed to because the dress is faulty, you may have to pay for the cost of returning it.

Gadget insurance for laptop

Q MY son is asking for a new laptop for Christmas. He is at college and living away from home and has a habit of losing and breaking things. For this reason I am considering getting gadget insurance. Is gadget insurance a good investment? Tina, Birr, Co Offaly

WHEN you buy expensive electronic equipment, it makes sense to want to protect yourself. Remember however that if the product develops a fault after you buy it, you have statutory consumer rights, regardless of whether you take out insurance on the item. Insurance for electronic goods, such as laptops, can be quite expensive when compared with the cost of the item itself so there are a few things to think about before you sign up to any policy.

If you buy insurance from a shop, the shop assistant may be earning commission from the sale so it could be in their interest to convince you that you need the insurance. Before you buy, find out what, if any, cover you may have already under your existing home or contents insurance policy. You might be able to get the laptop covered using ‘all-risks’ cover. This is an optional extra available under most home insurance policies and protects you against loss, theft or accidental damage to personal belongings both inside and outside of the home. If you have all-risks cover, check with your insurance provider if this policy would cover your son when he is living away from home, and ask about any exclusions. Find out if there is an excess to pay on the policy if you make a claim and consider the implications on your home insurance premium for next year. If this is possible, ask your insurance company what it would cost to insure the laptop under your home insurance and then compare this with any other insurance product you are considering. If looking at gadget insurance policies, check the excesses and exclusions and weigh up how likely your son is to lose or damage the laptop and the overall cost of insuring it versus the cost of replacing it.

If your son has other valuable items he could consider taking out his own gadget or renter’s insurance. Renter’s insurance covers moveable objects in the home if you are a renter and can provide cover for items you temporarily remove from the house. However, he should talk to the insurance company to see which policy would give him the cover if he needs.

Claiming for storm damage

Q MY house was badly damaged when a tree fell on it after a storm. The damage is significant so I am preparing a claim for my insurance company. I have never made a claim. Should I get an assessor to help me? Tom, Co Cork

START by checking your home insurance policy to see what cover you have for storm damage. Some policies will exclude damage to fences, gates, hedges and garden furniture. Then call your insurance company and give them details of the claim and ask for a claim form. It’s a good idea to take photographs and videos of the damage (and if possible, what caused it) so that you can show your insurer. Your insurer should give you advice on what to do next.

For larger claims, such as yours, you may want to hire an assessor. An assessor works on your behalf and will negotiate with your insurance company to settle your claim. An assessor’s fees are not covered by your policy, so you will have to pay for this service yourself.

Before making a claim, check the excess on your policy — this is, the portion of any claim you have to pay yourself. The amount varies, but is generally between €100 and €300. You won’t be able to claim for amounts less than the excess. Making a claim can also lead to an increase in your premium when you renew your policy.

There is no definite length of time to settle a claim — it tends to depend on the type of claim. Your insurer will consider your claim and decide whether your policy covers you for the damage. It is your choice to accept their proposed settlement. You can negotiate with your insurer or broker if you are unhappy with your insurer’s offer.