“photoguard.co.uk & thistleinsurance.co.uk
I will amend this review if my claim for loss of lens due to theft is reversed.
So far I have received poor very performance from this company which should make you think twice about using them.
I shoot a lot of corporate events, usually on my own. I was photographing in a room and rested my long lens and monopod to shoot some wider stuff. When I turned around my lens was no longer on the monopod, it had been stolen. Bare in mind this is a high end corporate event with lawyers and accountants, an AV crew, security to gain entrance to the building.
Therefore, to have a lens stolen is a highly unusual circumstance, and in my 25 years as a photographer shooting these events, such a thing has never happened.
So, I naturally assume my insurance company, Photoguard, will have me covered; WRONG. They are telling me because I did not have my eyes on the lens they are classifying the theft as an unattended item, therefore not covered.
Think about that, guys and gals, as an event photographer you are required to have your eyes on your kit throughout, because if an item gets stolen and you were not looking at it, photoguard.co.uk & thistleinsurance.co.uk will not cover you.
I am challenging their decision as I feel they're deliberately using 'unattended' in its most narrow sense in order to weasle out of not paying.
Standard insurance company behaviour but then one has to ask whatever areas they will fail in, in their duty of care towards their clients. One has to ask if their Public Liability would be applied properly.
Either way, I will be seeking another company as a photoguard.co.uk & thistleinsurance.co.uk have shown themselves to be shysters.”
“Horrible company. I haven't taken out any policy with them, but from their customer services team and the way they are ran, here's my observations:
-) The Customer service team does not know much regarding the Policy. Any additional questions on the Policy wording is extremely difficult to get a concrete answer to. All the questions I've asked are pretty easy to answer and standard for other insurers, but no one seems to know.
-) Customer service team do not get back to you when you say they would check with the their team, you have to chase them up more than once to get your questions answer
-) I would be extremely wary of what will happen when I make a claim, it would be extremely easy for them to turn around and tell you that you've not understood the Policy correctly, or that you've missed something. Try calling them yourself and see.
My advice is to STAY CLEAR!”
“Amazing service from photoGuard on my recent claim. From purchase through to the point at which i unfortunately had to make a claim I have been very pleased at all stages.”
“I am very upset so far with the service from Photoguard. I made a claim about 3 weeks ago regarding my camera and lens which unfortunately is at the bottom of Loch Lomond. I sent all the information they required except a repair report which I am unable to do as no camera repair shop on earth will give you a report on a camera they are unable to inspect. I explained this in the information I supplied to them but they said they can not process my claim without it. I then phoned them today to ask what I could do to resolve this. I was told by Dean that it has been passed to the complaints department who will contact me in the next few days. I am awaiting now for a response. Hopefully a good one but let's see... Depending on the outcome I would have recommended but to this point I wouldn't.
Update. So I received a call from thistle insurance / photoguard they have stated that I am not covered by my policy. If the camera is stolen that's ok but If you lose your camera due to an accident no you are not covered. Both ways you will never see your camera again. I am very annoyed that by a very unfortunate accident and losing my camera. I now have to buy another camera to replace my lost one. I will never recommend photoguard to insure your camera equipment. I was checking other insurance policies they have like orchestralguard which DOES cover loss. But cameras no. Very strange...very selective.... So stay clear from this insurance company unless you just want to cover accidental damage or theft but definitely NOT ACCIDENTAL LOSS.”
