Hi Guys,
Im starting a new thread on N gauge security. The reason why im starting this thread is because N Gauge/Scale loco's and rolling stock and layout equipment is (as we all know) very exspensive. As a precaution it is wise to seperately insure your hobby.
Believe it or not alot of home insurance policies do not cover hobbies in detail like ours(read your small print). There are several things that we can do to protect our hobbies by insurance. I will say now that iam not an insurance seller or associated. Its just that I have looked at my 20 years+ collection of N Gauge/scale and want to make sure if something bad happens (theft/loose/damage) that at least i have insurance appropriate to my hobby.
I have insured my collection through an actual N Gauge insurance specialist. I wont advertise the agent on the forum for fear of promotion or being blamed of being in the trade, but if any member wants further details, please PM me and I will provide details of a reputable insurer. I have been insured for 2 years now, and i am satisfied that if something bad happens, I have security.
My eldest brother works with West midlands police. He has no interest in Model railways but he knows my interest and he told me that crooks are targeting households with known model railway connections/collections (all scales, 00, N, G ,Z, 0 etc).
He says the best way to protect is to get insurance and there is other measures we can take:
He gave me a UV Pen (ultraviolet). I have wrote my name and post code under all my engines, so that if the worst happens, at least i have a chance of getting back my property.
I will provide details of where to obtain UV pens soon. Also it is good practice to photograph your whole N Scale collection, then upload to Photobucket or similar, at least then, if the worst happens, you can prove to insurance companies you had the items you are claiming on.
Railway model crime is unfortunately big businness now, just look after your investments.
If you need any advice or help on loss prevention, please PM me.
Kind Regards
Quote from: mjkerr on June 08, 2011, 07:43:29 PM
Quote from: owl729 on June 08, 2011, 07:11:58 PMHe gave me a UV Pen (ultraviolet). I have wrote my name and post code under all my engines, so that if the worst happens, at least i have a chance of getting back my property.
I will provide details of where to obtain UV pens soon. Also it is good practice to photograph your whole N Scale collection, then upload to Photobucket or similar, at least then, if the worst happens, you can prove to insurance companies you had the items you are claiming on.
A UV pen is now becoming pointless
The original details can simply be covered over / obliterated
Equally a model can be stripped of the part with the UV marking
As a result UV pens are only of use on larger household items
My preference is now the microdot
These can be applied in several locations on the same model, such as bogies, interior of the bodywork, interior of the glazing, etc
As above, the best permanent record is to photograph each item (take at least two of each so that its condition is clear)
For coaches and wagons, it is best to compile these as lots
This not only applies to model railways, but just about anything in your home that has replacement value
ManyThanks for your comments. However a UV Pen is still the first line of defence. It is still better to identtify your equipment/models before hand, afterall this is a mark that can help local police. The point of my thread is not say what is best, but to raise awareness of what to do as a precaution.
Not something I had ever thought about to be honest (and some of my Japanese stuff aint cheap!) Certainly the UV pen would be useful on controllers, compressors etc and, dare I say it, larger scale stuff. Would be interested to hear more about the microdot too.
Owl could you pm the address of the insurer please.
Good info from you both, thanks guys :thumbsup:
Thanks for the information, as I had no idea that I might not be insured. :-\
Would it be OK if i gave details of a reputable insurer on the forum without being blamed of any connections or commisions?
I assure you all that my only interset is loss prevention to memebers and our great hobby. If in doubt, Google N Gauge Model railway insurance, GO COMPARE!
I'd like the name of the insurer as well please. :wave:
Hi Guys,
Reason for my thread is to make you aware of the potential danger not just from theft but also damage!. I have no interest in profiting from insurance or such. On a next thread I will provide details of whom i am insured by.
Its up to you guys. If you dont want insurance, read no further. If you do want insurance yet you dont want to be insured with my provider then go compare (thats what Google is for)
My only interest is to make sure that you guys are fully aware of WHAT could happen without cover and that you consider insurance.
Please note that i will provide details of my insurer on a next thread, but bear in mind that i have no connection with this company, profit wise or other (than being insured by.), My only interset is to help you guys being part of our N Gauge community to prevent you being victims of crime aimed at n Gauge.
The choice is yours, but consider all that has been said ladies and gentlemen................................
Insurer for model railways as follows:
Magnet insurance services LTD
Aura Business centre
Manners Road
Newark
Nottinghamshire
NG24 1BS
For Quote Tel: 01636 858249
E-Mail: info@magnetinsurance.co.uk
Please note this is a UK insurer, for our forum friends and members in Europe,Africa, Americas (North and South) Asia and Australasia please contact local insurer.
Also note that most UK home insurance policies do not cover hobbies including N Gauge (Check with you provider!!!!!)
Disclaimer: I HAVE NO CONNECTION WITH MAGNET INSURANCE SERVICES LTD, other than BEING INSURED DIRECTLY BY THEM FOR MY MODEL RAILWAY PROTECTION. MY ONLY INTEREST IN PROVIDING THEIR DETAILS IS TO HELP MY FELLOW N GAUGE COMMUNITY IN PROTECTING THEMSELVES AGAINST POSSIBLE LOSS, DAMAGE AND THEFT. IF YOU DONT WANT INSURANCE THEN READ NO FURTHER. TAKING OUT INSURANCE WITH THE ABOVE IS YOUR OWN CONCERN AND NOT MINE.
Good of you to post the info Owl. thanks
I have a specific £5k Model railway listed on my contents. Probably now not enough though for what I have..
Cudders
Most household insurance will cover some stuff but in general it's likely to cover item costs (off the shelf models) possibly allowing for wear/tear and not going to cover things like time taken to build kits or most layout stuff.
Your insurer should be able to tell you, but get it on paper because then they can't deny it later.
Thanks for all your comments. please bear in mind that many household insurance's in the UK do not cover hobbies or rare items (the same way they dont automatically cover lap-top computers) under the bog standard contents insurance(however always check your small print). Insurers tend to base their quotes on a standard household, i.e TV, microwave, radio, furnishings, fittings. They dont tend to include out building insurance (sheds) and rare or un-declared items: Model railways, collections of any type, antiques of any type, plus paintings etc.
All ways insure your collection seperate. This is not scare mongering, just common sense, afterall, you are not only insuring against theft but also damage(including self damage!!! we have all dropped stuff!!), fire, flood damage etc. Also most specialist model railway insuresrs include cover for transit (i.e moving your trains from A to B) and also limited exhibition insurance (however if you are a regular N Scale exhibitor then seek correct cover for this sort of activity)
I just want members to be safe and covered, I pay £60 a year (the price of x1 RtR loco) and that covers me for £12.500 of cover (not just locos but also all layouts, DVD's , rolling stock, magazines...any thing to do with my hobby.)
All the best guys :)
Quote from: owl729 on June 09, 2011, 09:18:38 PM
All ways insure your collection seperate. This is not scare mongering, just common sense, afterall, you are not only insuring against theft but also damage(including self damage!!! we have all dropped stuff!!), fire, flood damage etc.
I just want members to be safe and covered, I pay £60 a year (the price of x1 RtR loco) and that covers me for £12.500 of cover (not just locos but also all layouts, DVD's , rolling stock, magazines...any thing to do with my hobby.)
Why pay £60/year if your household insurance covers it as many do. Much cheaper to get them to confirm that in writing.
I note that Magnet Insurance are advertising in this months issue of Railway Modeller
Quote from: owl729 on June 08, 2011, 07:11:58 PM
Also it is good practice to photograph your whole N Scale collection, then upload to Photobucket or similar, at least then, if the worst happens, you can prove to insurance companies you had the items you are claiming on.
Railway model crime is unfortunately big business now, just look after your investments.
I would hesitate at uploading to photobucket for purely security reasons. With the modern hacker/thieves around all you are doing is advertising your collection on line and can easily be traced back to your address.
Could I suggest that it
might be safer to date each photo and list it on CD/DVD which can be kept somewhere safely at home (or with relatives), and produced for the insuance Co. if required
Quote from: mjkerr on June 10, 2011, 11:22:46 AM
Quote from: owl729 on June 08, 2011, 07:11:58 PMI wont advertise the agent on the forum for fear of promotion or being blamed of being in the trade, but if any member wants further details, please PM me and I will provide details of a reputable insurer.
Quote from: owl729 on June 08, 2011, 09:18:29 PM
Insurer for model railways as follows
So much for integrity on that one...
Has anyone had to actually claim and been stung from the provider?
I am not aware of anyone, never seen any bad reviews, so long as the insurer receives the Police Crime Number / Report
Checked with my policy again, just to make sure
Had a response this morning, that yes my entire collection would be covered, so long as it is within the buildng of the property, and this includes models, electrics, and structures (seems they have someone that actually knows something about them)
They also confirmed the policy includes my laptop (not specified item) no matter where it is stored or used, but it is not covered when within any vehicle covered by a separate insurance policy (as it would be covered under that)
I fear that this issue has been mis-understood by some members of the forum. As I said in all the posts my intention is to highlight the issue not scare monger......
As for my integrity, I published the name of AN insurer whom im covered by, due to the amount of PM's/requests I had. If you also care to look back on the threads, I also asked the forum if anyone minded if I published the name of the insurer Iam with as an example, to help people. No one logged any issue with this prior to me highlighting an insurer, so I would politely ask that you do not bring my integrity into question again........... This is meant to help people to make informed choices. I also re-call stating that if you dont want insurance by a particular insurer than go compare, thats what the net is for....
Regarding your personal cover, then jolly good for you. Not everyone may be as fortunate as you to have that level of cover. I also note that your particular cover concerns inside a building. My level of cover extends to transportation and exhibition cover.......... Please remember that not every members collections sit at home.
Finally, im not an insurer but awareness needs to be raised. That was my only intention of starting this thread.
FIN
Interesting discussion. Here in the USA, a train collection would be covered under the personal property portion of a homeowners insurance policy, but only up to very low specified limits in the policy, generally $500 or $1000. This is true for other small items of valuable personal property as well - cameras, jewelry, laptops, and the like. Needless to say, without additional coverage a loss to my collection would leave me uncovered to the tune of perhaps $10,000 or more. To avoid this, I've had to purchase an amendment to my homeowners policy for scheduled personal property which is not subject to the policy limitations (as the "unscheduled" personal property would be). The amendment does not cost that much on an annual basis.
I've no idea how things work in the UK, but am happy see the topic was raised. The amount of stock that one can collect over time can really be staggering. I've never seen any of it as an investment per se, but there is emotional investment in my collection and I'd be gutted if it was lost and I could not replace at least a good portion of it.
Matt