Gadget insurance
Our gadgets are a part of daily life, so it’s vital to have some backup in case of accidents!
- Homebase gadget insurance has worldwide cover. From Scarborough to the Sahara, your favourite tech is covered for as long as you’re away
- Cover against accidental loss is included as part of our basic gadget insurance – we won’t charge you extra for being human!
- Unauthorised calls are covered up to £1,000 per claim
- You’re fully covered from the first day of your policy – no hidden fees or exclusion periods
- Malicious damage cover included, for things that aren’t so accidental
No more scrolling – take out Homebase gadget insurance today!
- Worldwide cover for as long as you’re away
- Cover against accidental loss, unauthorised calls & malicious damage
- Full coverage & claims from day 1
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1) What is gadget insurance?
Gadget insurance is a smart, cost-effective way of protecting the gadgets you rely on to get through your day; whether that’s the laptop you use for work (if it’s owned by you, of course), the phone in your pocket, or the tablet you use to keep your kids entertained. These things aren’t cheap to repair or replace, and gadget insurance is a fuss-free way of lowering these costs. When your covered device is damaged, we’ll foot the bill for either repair or replacement, so you can get back to using your device ASAP.
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2) What’s covered by my gadget insurance policy?
Your gadget insurance policy covers the cost of either replacing or repairing your device(s) and any accessories after a loss caused by accidental/malicious damage, theft, accidental loss, breakdown, liquid damage, or unauthorised calls. You can refer to the gadget insurance policy wording included in your policy documents at purchase for the full terms and conditions.
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3) What products does the Homebase gadget insurance cover?
Our cover is available for PCs & laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
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4) What’s excluded from my gadget insurance cover?
Generally, we don’t cover:
- • Any gadget that doesn’t meet the cover criteria (e.g. a device older than 36 months)
- • Any claim where you can’t supply us with evidence of ownership/proof of usage
- • Any deliberate damage caused by you or your immediate family
- • Damage caused by ignoring manufacturer instructions
- • Wear and tear
For a full breakdown of what’s excluded from cover, please refer to pages 5-8 in your policy wording document.
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5) When does my gadget insurance cover begin?
Your policy start date is determined by you during the quote process, so please refer to your policy schedule for your own specific start date.
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6) Is my gadget covered outside of the UK?
With Homebase gadget insurance, you’re covered almost everywhere within the UK and abroad for as long as you’re away. If it’s damaged while you’re away, any repairs your device needs will have to be done within the UK when you’re back.
However, if you’re travelling to a country where the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) have advised against all but essential travel, you won’t be able to claim for any damage or loss sustained in that area. You can check the FCDO’s travel advice at https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
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7) How do I make a claim on my gadget insurance policy?
To make a claim, you’ll need to contact your Claim Administrator as soon as possible, which you can find details for in your “How to Make a Claim” section on page 11 of your policy wording.
You’ll need to pay your excess and provide your Claim Administrator with evidence of ownership and/or proof of usage before your claim can be paid out.
Depending on the device and the loss you’re claiming for, you may need to take further steps. For example, if your device has been stolen or lost, you need to report that to the police within 24 hours of discovery and provide us with either your crime reference number (in cases of theft) or lost property number (in cases of accidental loss). Further information on how to claim and what we’ll require from you when you claim can be found in the ‘How to Make a Claim’ section on page 11 of your policy wording.
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8) What documentation will I need to make a claim?
If you need to make a claim on your gadget insurance policy, you’ll need to provide us with:
- • Evidence of ownership (e.g. a copy of your receipt, a delivery note, etc.)
- • Proof of usage (for mobile phones; this is just confirmation from your network provider that the phone in question has been used by you)
- • Anything else that your Claim Administrator requests during the claim process.
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9) What’s an excess?
Your policy excess is the amount of money you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket when you make a claim. If your device is valued under £700, excesses are set at a flat £75 per claim; if your device is worth more than £700, however, you would have selected your preferred excess during the purchasing process. For a full rundown of how much excess you’ll have to pay if you want to make a claim, please check your policy schedule.
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10) How do I make a change to my gadget insurance policy?
If you want to change any aspect of your policy, you can give us a call on the number provided in your policy documents.
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11) How many times can I claim on my gadget insurance policy?
You can claim as many times as you need to, up to a maximum of 2 claims a year, for the lifetime of your device.
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12) How do I cancel my gadget insurance policy?
You can cancel your policy at any time. If you cancel in the first 14 days of your policy and haven’t made a claim in that time, you’re entitled to a full refund of your premium. To cancel your policy, you can contact us via the details contained within the “Cancellation” section on page 10 of your policy wording.
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13) Who arranges and underwrites my gadget insurance policy?
This insurance is arranged by Best Risk and Financial Service Limited and underwritten by Collinson Insurance (a trading name of Astrenska Insurance Limited). Registered in England number 01708613. Collinson Insurance is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom, under Firm Reference Number 202846. These details can be checked on the Financial Services Register by visiting the Financial Services Register at https://www.fca.org.uk/firms/systems-reporting/register.
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14) Does the Homebase replacement cover work on a new-for-old basis?
Our policies are designed to put you back in the same position you were in before you experienced a loss, which means that we replace devices on a like-for-like basis. If your gadget needs to be replaced, we’ll try to supply you with one of the same model, age, and condition.
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15) Can I insure a gadget I bought from a friend?
We currently don’t offer cover for second-hand devices.
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16) Can I take out gadget insurance cover for my work phone?
You can only take out gadget insurance for devices you own. If you purchased your work phone yourself and are listed by name on the evidence of ownership, you can take out gadget cover for it. However, if your employer purchased your work phone, we can’t offer you gadget cover.