Student Possessions Insurance and Protecting Your Belongings - 4 Things to Remember

Nowadays it's essential for students to get insurance to cover the possessions they take with them to their student accommodation. Sadly, there are thieves who are on the look out for soft targets and with the amount of technology; phones, laptops, mp3 players and so on that students own, there are plenty of opportunities for thefts. Here are 4 things to remember when insuring and protecting your belongings.

1. Be security conscious at all times especially when you first move in

Whether you are in halls of residence or in a privately owned student house, you need to be conscious of where your belongings actually are, particularly when you are first moving in. Thieves know that this is a vulnerable time and can even be watching and taking mental notes of any opportunities. In a halls of residence, people will not be familiar with each other at first, so thieves can move around more easily, relatively undetected. The advice here is to try and keep all your property in sight and if possible all together, if someone is helping you move in, make them aware of the dangers so that they can be extra vigilant.

2. Take your time when looking for insurance, to get the best deal

You will reap rewards in time and money saving by doing due diligence when looking for insurance and getting the right cover for the right price. If you can use the Internet for your search, you can more easily make notes, get quotes sent to you by email and print them and also use comparison sites, which should save you money on your policy. Look carefully at each quote and make sure it covers all your requirements with no hidden charges - the cheaper quotes aren't necessarily the cheapest when you factor in those 'hidden' costs.

3. Look for insurance that covers unforced entry

This particularly applies in halls of residence, where you are not solely responsible for locking all doors. It can also apply to a private residence of course, but the point is that a thief could enter without having to force their way in. Look for insurance policies which give you some sort of cover on this eventuality. Any insurer who fully understands the practicalities of student life in accommodation, will offer a policy with this in mind, although it may mean a higher premium.

4. How much will you have to pay for basic cover?

It has been calculated that on average a student owns about £3000 of possessions, so based on this your premium may well be between £20 and £50. The cover will factor in where your accommodation is, (city or town and the area's reputation) and the type of accommodation, (halls of residence or rented residential student housing).

It makes real sense to insure and protect your possessions if you are a student, (or, indeed anyone else). The time and money spent sorting it out will give you peace of mind and save you a lot of time and aggravation.

source:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Student-Possessions-Insurance-and-Protecting-Your-Belongings---4-Things-to-Remember&id=2151359

Is Your Computer Really Covered?

You got the extended warranty and even checked with your homeowners insurance agent to make sure your new computer is covered. So, your safe now from whatever mishaps that may happen to your computer, right? Maybe not.

Now that laptops and computers are such a necessity for many, it is important to make sure they are adequately covered in case of any accidents or complete destruction. Do you really know how much protection you have?

Common ways to protect computers and laptops are:

Manufacturer's Warranties: Generally cover defective parts and hardware from the manufacturer, not accidents you may cause.

Extended Warranties: Better choice. You can purchase an extended warranty through the manufacturer or sometimes the company you purchase the computer through. Besides covering defective parts and hardware, extended warranties may also cover power surges, water spills and breakage.

Your Employer: If you use an employer's computer then it should be insured through your employer and you should not have to worry about additional insurance...but check with your employer to make sure.

Homeowners/Renter's Policies: If you have a homeowners or renter's policy you probably have some protection but depending on your system it may not be enough. Things to ask your agent: What accidents are covered? Do I have ACV or replacement coverage (replacement is better)? What is my deductible? Can I obtain extra coverage for my computer?

Specialized Computer Insurance: There are companies that sell insurance specifically for computers and laptops. Before purchasing an extra policy through a company, make sure you are not already covered by any of the other areas mentioned above. Sometimes people think that if they have extra polices they get to use all of them if something happens, which is not true. So if you are paying extra for the same coverage elsewhere, you are just paying more for nothing. Another point to remember is that the policies from companies can vary widely so make sure you know what you are buying.

So what is typically not covered by any of the protections above? Even the best insurance does not cover every singe thing. Here are some common things that are usually not covered by any type of warranty or insurance:

Pest damage

Corrosion or Rust

General wear and tear

Environmental Elements (dust, dampness, cold, heat)

Intentional damage (you get mad and throw it across the room)

Illegal acts

Data Recovery (all your files and stuff you should be backing up!)

Re-installing programs

Equipment you are selling or leasing to others

War

source:
http://personalinsure.about.com/od/personalproperty/a/aa072505a.htm

Top Tips For Buying Laptop Insurance

Ever thought of buying insurance for your laptop? You might not think it's worth it, but just think of the value you might be carrying around the next time you leave the office.

A report from silicon.com revealed a sharp rise in laptop theft in the UK. Data from the 28 UK police forces, who answered a Freedom of Information Act enquiry by silicon.com, showed an average year-on-year increase in the number of laptops stolen of six per cent. And it looks like the trend is continuing. High profile cases like the one including the Nationwide Building Society show how serious the problem can be when data is lost and personal data is compromised.

In Devon and Cornwall alone some 6,500 laptop were stolen during 2006, an increase of almost 15% from 5,735 in 2005 and this figure only includes laptops stolen while being used or carried outside of the office or home.

Although PC prices are being driven down making them accessible to almost everyone, if you are carrying around one of the more expensive models filled with all the latest features, insurance could be a lifesaver.

But before you make a decision about laptop insurance here are a few things that you can do to keep your laptop protected:-

- Buy a lock for your laptop. Most laptop computers have Universal Security Slot which will allow you to lock your PC to a solid object. Most cables cost less than £25 and can be found in most electronics stores.

- Lock your laptop up in a filing cabinet or out of site when you are finished using it for the day. If you are leaving it in the car, lock it in the boot.

- When traveling, keep your laptop with you at all times. Be diligent in places like airports, where people may distract you.

- Backup all of your important files, in case your laptop does become stolen or broken.

- Disable the guest account in Windows.

- Don't save passwords and don't save the websites you visited. This makes it easier for a thief to log on to your accounts and steal your identity.

- Check out the Immobilise website - http://www.immobilise.com and register your laptop. This could make it easier for the Police to contact you should you laptop fall into the wrong hands.

Considering Laptop Insurance

Laptop insurance is becoming one of the fastest growing specialist insurances and with low-cost monthly premiums it has never been easy to protect your PC. Many providers offer worldwide cover, accidental damage protection and a 48 hour replacement service.

Protect yourself physically with laptop security and financially with good laptop insurance. Hopefully, you will never have to depend on either. But if the worst comes about, you'll be glad you did.

source:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-Tips-For-Buying-Laptop-Insurance&id=1749574

Laptop Insurance: The Vital Parts

Imagine if, for whatever reason, you were without your laptop. You need to do some work on it, or maybe some planning - you know why you need it.

But you cannot. It is incredibly frustrating. Many people have been in this situation.

Your laptop might be lost, stolen, damaged or just plain not working. How soon would it be before you are back with a functioning laptop, and how much is it going to cost you to get there?

Laptop Insurance is recognised as the necessary tool to help you through this, but how do you know if you are getting good cover at a price that represents good value to you?

To answer that, first you need to define exactly what is important to you. What are your likely risks?

For example, if you never travel with your laptop - maybe you just use it at home, sometimes in the lounge, sometimes in the study - then you are probably not going to need international cover as part of your laptop insurance. In this instance you are probably not going to need loss cover either (a laptop is not something you are likely to lose down the back of the sofa).

What if you just drop your laptop? You need your laptop insurance to be able to protect you for this. You do NOT want to have to commit insurance fraud (and thereby break the law) by lying in your claims process, you would want to make sure that you are covered for accidental damage.

So outline what elements of cover you think you will need. For example …

• Will you need Extended Warranty in case it just breaks down?
• Will you need loss cover?
• Will you need international cover?
• Will you need water damage cover?
• Will you need accidental damage cover?
• Will you need theft cover?

It may seem obvious to you that you need certain elements of cover, and maybe not others, but just consider the list above. Some people might feel more at risk of theft than water damage, while others might be the other way around.

For example, compare a travelling businessman with a Hydrological Consultant who might be planning river system controls). The latter would obviously seem more at risk of water damage than theft.

Let's look at each in turn …

Extended Warranty:

Bizarrely, very few companies offer Extended Warranties as part of Laptop Insurance. If you want to be covered for your laptop simply going wrong or breaking down, you need to be covered for this. You can find providers on the internet that offer Extended Warranty, but look closely.

Loss Cover:

It would appear that almost no provider offers loss cover. It is most likely deemed to be too risky to insure.
International Cover:

Many providers will protect you for up to 60 days per year outside of the UK.

Water Damage:

This is not a common element of cover in many laptop insurance company's policies, but it IS a common killer of laptops! How many times has that cup of tea or class of orange juice been dangerously close to spilling over your laptop keyboard?

Accidental Damage Cover:

Again, this is a common need for laptop insurance. You are walking along, maybe in a crown, and your laptop bag gets knocked out of you hand … and smacks down on the concrete. This is a relatively common element of laptop insurance.

Theft Cover:

This is the most obvious risk for your laptop. You laptop is a very portable, high value item. Anything that is worth a lot and can be carried while running away is a prime target for thieves. Consequently, this is the most common element of most laptop insurance policies.

On analysis of the market, if you need all of the different elements of cover, then the 2U Laptop Insurance is, to the knowledge
of this author, the only laptop insurance policy available on the market that will meet all of your needs.

However, if you do not need to protect yourself for all of these eventualities, you can find slimmed down levels of protection for your laptop with your local insurance broker, or in your search engine.

source:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Laptop-Insurance:-The-Vital-Parts&id=361245

What You Need to Know Before Buying Laptop Insurance

With the average price of a laptop computer being anywhere from £300-£400 for a minimum performance personal laptop to £1,200 to £3,500 for a high performance computer, or £3,000 to £10,000 for a gaming laptop, did you consider insuring your laptop? What do you need to know before buying laptop insurance?

Did you know that you can insure your laptop against theft, accidental damage, and malicious damage. You're going to invest a lot of your money in a laptop. Did you ever consider laptop insurance?

Imagine what would happen if your laptop were stolen or accidentally or deliberately damaged. How would you replace lost data? Where would you get the money to buy a new one? Also, because laptops are portable, they can easily be damaged or stolen while travelling. Experts say laptop insurance is recommended for those reasons for students and businesses alike. It is also useful for anybody who can't afford to be without their computer. Many polices will cover you internationally.

If you buy laptop insurance and your computer is ruined, it can be replaced in as little as 48 hours. Experts suggest you purchase the insurance before it is too late.

When considering whether or not to purchase laptop insurance, it might interest you to know that as of 2006 there was a 40% increase in crime involving electronic devices such as laptops and mobile phones. In addition many thousands of such devices were destroyed by accidental means, such as someone dropping them in water.

According to experts, if one were to examine the police docket in a major city, we would see that laptops are one of the highest types of stolen items. Statistically, a laptop computer is stolen every 53 seconds. Considering the statistics, don't ever leave your laptop in a library, cafeteria, open office, or lounge. Don't do it even if you are only going to be gone briefly.

Consider all that can be done with laptops. You can work at home, on a bus, train, or plane. You can watch films, listen to music, or play games. Consider everything you would lose if your laptop were damaged or destroyed. It wouldn't be that hard to accidentally damage it yourself either. Damage or destruction would not require a thief to take it from your or an enemy with a grudge to destroy it. Consider if you accidentally spilled a drink on it while you were traveling in a bus, train, or plane. How much would you lose? Would you have the money to replace it?

It is true there are things you can do to protect yourself against the theft of or damage to your laptop. You can pack it well. You could put it in a safe bag. One problem is, however, that even taking your laptop to an airport can create risks.

Don't feel safe against the theft of your laptop just because you have homeowners insurance. Your homeowner's insurance might not protect you. Even though it might protect you against theft if the laptop was used strictly for personal reasons, there might be limits of liability if your laptop was used strictly for businesses purposes. Even if it would cover you if the laptop was used for business purposes only, if it would be stolen away from your residence, it might not provide protection.

It is also worth noting that manufacturer warranties do not cover a stolen laptop or accidental damage to your computer. That is true even if you have an extended warranty.

There are a lot of good reasons why experts suggest taking out laptop insurance.

source:

http://ezinearticles.com/?What-You-Need-to-Know-Before-Buying-Laptop-Insurance&id=2643118

Broken Laptop Screen Leads to Trade in For Cash

I had definitely gotten up on the wrong side of the bed. 8 A.M., with wrecked hair and badly-burnt coffee, I began my work-day with the intention of collating some old emails. Unfortunately, my laptop would not power up. After numerous attempts to woo, coddle, and accolade the machine, I finally got the old laptop to power up. A few minutes later, detecting its sudden bit of verbal inattention, the laptop involuntarily shut down and became once more a black screen. Bad words were said. A quick consultation with my husband, who is much more technical-minded than I, provided me with the realization that I had an old, broken laptop which I must trade in for a new one. After a brief Googling, I come across a site that would pay me to trade in my used laptop. This seemed too good to be true, especially because I could trade in a laptop that was both old and broken to get cash to supplement a new laptop. At that moment, I thought that the sun had just come out on my cloudy day.

I visited the website immediately to do some preliminary research. First, I noticed the professional graphics on the site and the E-trust and Veri-sign verification logos at the bottom. This was very promising thus far, for I had become somewhat attached to the old laptop in the past few years and I wanted to get the best possible value for it when I trade the laptop in. The first step was to get a quote. This took less than thirty seconds and I was ecstatic to get an offer of $150 to trade in my used, broken laptop. This was great news. However, my next question was how a business that could recycle an old or broken laptop could work, so I consulted the FAQ to find out. There I discovered more great news. The website pays for shipping, by sending a pre-paid, insured box to ship my laptop in. Once, the used laptop is received, its memory is erased, and within one day, a check is mailed to the customer. Already, I was thinking that this was probably the easiest possible process to trade in my broken laptop, however I wanted to do some alternative research to see what other deals I could get.

First, I went to some competitor sites, which also offered to pay cash to trade in a used or broken laptop. I found that these sites either didn't offer as much money as the first site I went to did, or the websites just appeared to be scams with inexplicit privacy policies, or vague information on the location/age of the business. Then, I went to E-bay and ran a search for used laptop parts. Almost a thousand hits. Considering that I didn't have the time, energy, or technical know-how to take apart my used laptop and requisition its parts, I decided to try local. I called a local computer store who offered to buy my used laptop for $100. I politely declined the offer and decided that my first option to trade in the broken laptop was the most viable and economic option. Plus, I felt good about doing my part to recycle electronic waste and help save the planet. (It was the least I could do for the planet, considering the hundreds of aerosol hair-spray cans I have used throughout the years.)

Needless to say, in a few days I got the prepaid box, slipped the broken laptop in it, and slapped the shipping label on it (which came in the box). In a few more days, the mailman delivered a deliciously sweet $150 check in my name. With this, and a little help from a healthy tax return, I am enjoying the sound of the happy clicking of shiny keys on a new laptop. Thus, I have already collated those emails, and have a bit of extra time to give some advice on how to easily trade in an old, broken laptop. However, I am at a bit of a loss with the burnt coffee...

source:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Broken-Laptop-Screen-Leads-to-Trade-in-For-Cash&id=2014909

Laptop Repair Services

Are you in search of an expert laptop repair service center in the UK? With the rise in laptop buyers its essential for laptop users to make certain they make proper use of their laptop to the fullest and make sure they can achieve the highest performance. Laptop repair isn't always easy, but sometimes it can be. At times we do realize how frustrating it is when our laptop breaks down and we require a fast turnaround with a professional service. If the laptop isn't under warranty and you don't feel happy replacing some of these parts yourself, you'll have to find a professional laptop repair service center to do it.

Some of the laptop problems many of us face today and for which we need to consult an experienced technician include laptop overheating, laptop DC power jack repair, laptop won't turn on issues, laptop needs more memory, laptop running slow, laptop shutting down constantly, laptop needs an upgrade, laptop motherboard installation, laptop software and many more.

As of today, there are laptop repair professionals throughout the UK who are devoted to treating customers with respect and decency while focusing on service, quality and value and believe in quality service as a number one standard for success! With an excellent team of technicians, most of the service and maintenance shops provide customers the best in terms of technology and performance for almost all makes of laptops including IBM, Sony, Compaq, Dell, Toshiba, Apple, Asus, Acer, Panasonic, Packard Bell, Siemens, HP, Gateway, Fujitsu, Lenovo, NEC, Alienware, Advent and many others.

Some of the UK laptop repair services offer an onsite service and will be at your door within 24 hours, often on the same day you call. Even though most laptop repair stores provide fast, reliable and affordable laptop repair services, additional time may be required for ordering parts or waiting for the availability of parts. While choosing a laptop computer repair company in the UK, make sure that the company has as much as necessary experience in this field and moreover has professional staff to accomplish the project within stipulated time. As you know that laptop and notebook repair in the United Kingdom is not easy to afford despite the fact that so many companies are engaged in it, it is advisable to ask for the charges and compare it with other companies before settling down to one particular company. Equally, ensure you don't simply go according to the rates charged; make sure the company you fancy has the knowledge and potential to carry out your repair needs.

source:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Laptop-Repair-Services&id=1375274