EQC only cover TV's if they are secured?

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LostBoyNZ

574 posts

Ultimate Geek

#95410 3-Jan-2012 09:42

Someone mentioned to me that now EQC only cover TV's if they were secured. For example tied down, wall mounted etc.

I know that wasn't the case in 2010 when I had to claim for my TV, but I can understand why they'd want to do that. Just as far as contents of the home go, TV's probably make up the largest $$$ of claims.

I was wondering if anyone else had heard this?

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750 posts

Ultimate Geek

#563959 3-Jan-2012 11:26

Don't know if its true - but it should be. If anyone in NZ is now dumb enough to have an unsecured flatscreen they shouldn't expect NZ insurance premium payers to stump up for their stupidity should the thing fall over. We know ACC pays out for stupidity but EQC shouldn't.

The only unsecured things left at our place are the things we can afford to loose and wouldn't claim on. Not that there's much left to break.

Did you hear about the family that are being done for fraudulently claiming the loss of their flatscreen. Family Member A claimed for TV with serial number XXXX. Passed the TV to family member B who claimed for TV with serial number xxxx. Passed to family member C who claimed for TV with serial number XXXX. Clearly stupidity is a genetic trait.

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Cloudmelon

186 posts

Master Geek

#563963 3-Jan-2012 11:35

Would have thought securing expensive/heavy/potentially dangerous things was common sense?

Not just for the sake that if its expensive you should be taking precautions in protecting it.

And I would hate to hear about a child get injured by a 50" tv falling onto it..

casewindow

310 posts

Ultimate Geek

#563967 3-Jan-2012 11:50

What do they mean by tied down? Both the Flat Screen TVs we have come with little straps for the base which secure to the entertainment cabinet by being screwed in. Is this considered sufficient?

Oblivian

7270 posts

Uber Geek

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#563987 3-Jan-2012 12:44

Look into this with christchurch brain.

A large percentage of the contents claims for the past 3 events we have lived through, are exactly that.. TVs that magically 'fell over'. And they never bothered to inspect/prove. And word got out fast. So magically even in non badly hit areas more tvs 'fell over' in events post 7.2 than as result of it. Sound legit to you?

Not only did they tighten down from replacement value to current market resale value (stopping anyone from getting free upgrades) but now this.

And yes, the straps for the anti tilt are there for that. In theory, a LCD shouldnt fall forward (unless it is knocked or moved violently) they are afterall, set to be rear heavy.

keewee01

1736 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#564029 3-Jan-2012 15:12

Oblivian: Look into this with christchurch brain.

A large percentage of the contents claims for the past 3 events we have lived through, are exactly that.. TVs that magically 'fell over'. And they never bothered to inspect/prove. And word got out fast. So magically even in non badly hit areas more tvs 'fell over' in events post 7.2 than as result of it. Sound legit to you?

Not only did they tighten down from replacement value to current market resale value (stopping anyone from getting free upgrades) but now this.

And yes, the straps for the anti tilt are there for that. In theory, a LCD shouldnt fall forward (unless it is knocked or moved violently) they are afterall, set to be rear heavy.

So all those A$@%#!&s that claimed non-existent TV's are the reason that EQC are treating us as stoopid and trying to claim all the cracking to our 50 year old house is due to natural settlement and not earthquake damage! Did even matter that the interior was painted 5 years ago and that's showing cracks in the corners, etc! (Funny - would have thought the natural settlement would have happened in the first 49 years - not the last 18 months; boy EQC and their inspectors are THICK! Or they've now become the one who are dishonest - crooks!)

EvilSteve

232 posts

Master Geek

#564155 3-Jan-2012 23:00

I also heard this but it was a kind of word of mouth kinda deal.

What defines secured though? I lost my 32inch in the February quake, it fell forward onto my gaming chair (a car seat screwed to some mdf) and once i got a replacement all i could think about was what if it happens again?!

I have around a dozen large cable ties holding it to the entertainment unit now, rather unsightly but im not willing to risk it again. (In saying that, i took them off to use the tv at a ps3 lan and only put them back on the day before the december quakes!!)

mattwnz

20006 posts

Uber Geek

#564167 3-Jan-2012 23:42

halfbaked: I also heard this but it was a kind of word of mouth kinda deal.

What defines secured though? ?I lost my 32inch in the?February?quake, it fell forward onto my gaming chair (a car seat screwed to some mdf) and once i got a replacement all i could think about was what if it happens again?!?

I have around a dozen large cable ties holding it to the entertainment unit now, rather unsightly but im not willing to risk it again. (In saying that, i took them off to use the tv at a ps3 lan and only put them back on the day before the december quakes!!)

Well unless they actually put it in writing and advertise it, how are people supposed to know. My sony tv dn't come with any strap, although there was a bit about tying it down at the back, to prevent it tipping forward, to protect it falling on children. But they didn't provide the screw or strap to do this. However that wouldn't prevent it falling backwards. There doesn't seen to be anyway to stop that happening. I think it should be compulsory for manufacturers to include some form of way to tie it down, as we do live in an earthquake zone....
I could strap it at all teh corners with some form of brackets, but that would look ugly, and I think sony should have it designed for.

keewee01

1736 posts

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#564192 4-Jan-2012 07:52

mattwnz:
halfbaked: I also heard this but it was a kind of word of mouth kinda deal.

What defines secured though? ?I lost my 32inch in the?February?quake, it fell forward onto my gaming chair (a car seat screwed to some mdf) and once i got a replacement all i could think about was what if it happens again?!?

I have around a dozen large cable ties holding it to the entertainment unit now, rather unsightly but im not willing to risk it again. (In saying that, i took them off to use the tv at a ps3 lan and only put them back on the day before the december quakes!!)

Well unless they actually put it in writing and advertise it, how are people supposed to know. My sony tv dn't come with any strap, although there was a bit about tying it down at the back, to prevent it tipping forward, to protect it falling on children. But they didn't provide the screw or strap to do this. However that wouldn't prevent it falling backwards. There doesn't seen to be anyway to stop that happening. I think it should be compulsory for manufacturers to include some form of way to tie it down, as we do live in an earthquake zone....
I could strap it at all teh corners with some form of brackets, but that would look ugly, and I think sony should have it designed for.

Manufacturers, or resellers? OR the purchaser? The last one would make the most sense if it is for earthquake proofing.

My previous employer earthquake strapped most stuff with plastic clips on the two surfaces and a very short and tough rubber strap snapped into the two clips. Was a bastard for those of us in IT as anytime wanted to move a computer or screen, or get into a box, we had to unstrap the computer - easier said than done!!

TheUngeek

924 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#564216 4-Jan-2012 09:13

Lots of people scamming it too. Claiming on TVs they never had, or kicking over their old CRT and it gets replaced with a flat panel.
Made easier by insurers etc not checking things. Relatives of mine made a claim, took lots of pics of the damaged items etc and kept them (Hadn't shown them to insurer) and were very surprised when paid out with no inspection done or questions asked.

talisker

65 posts

Master Geek

#564217 4-Jan-2012 09:18

So let me get this straight - there were people who had lost their homes but were stuck in limbo because the EQC were busy processing claims for TVs? How ridiculous that EQC wastes its time on low value items like those. And yes, fixing it to the wall seems a pretty easy solution.

TheUngeek

924 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#564218 4-Jan-2012 09:19

Isn't contents covered by private insurance and not EQC?

meesham

973 posts

Ultimate Geek

#564223 4-Jan-2012 10:02

TheUngeek: Isn't contents covered by private insurance and not EQC?

The first $20,000 of contents is covered by the EQC. I haven't heard anything about the requirement for TVs to be strapped down, my understanding is that if your insurance policy is new for old then the EQC honours this.

I was also one of the people who kept everything that was damaged and sent in a load of photos, when the EQC assessor came to look at our house after the Feb & June quakes they weren't interested in looking at contents (and only stayed for 10 minutes after I told them that our insurer had already assessed it at over $100,000 worth of damage).

Dunnersfella

4081 posts

Uber Geek

#564526 4-Jan-2012 23:36

minimoke: Don't know if its true - but it should be. If anyone in NZ is now dumb enough to have an unsecured flatscreen they shouldn't expect NZ insurance premium payers to stump up for their stupidity should the thing fall over. We know ACC pays out for stupidity but EQC shouldn't.

Quoted For The Truth.
I don't believe it is gospel from EQC, but the more people who follow the path of securing their sets, the better.
Oh yeah, and remember, when people strap their TV to the cabinet so that it can no longer move... the cabinet is now a little more top heavy.
After all, if the quake wants to break your TV, it will.

insane

3205 posts

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#564531 4-Jan-2012 23:54

I don't live in CHC, however after reading this I think I'll work on getting the TV's secured as both are simply perched on their standard stands (which seem fairly solid). Never thought of securing them as a decent wall brackets cost half the price of the TV!

I would have thought that the EQC would only cover property damage while your home/contents insurance (which everyone should have) would cover the rest.

mattwnz

20006 posts

Uber Geek

#564536 5-Jan-2012 00:16

There could be a business in this. Kits for securing tvs. I haven't come across anything. I think there are business ones (straps) for LCD monitors and tower desktops.

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