by Joe Jeffrey
Saga unveils crazy caravan claims made by the over 50s
It’s true to say that caravanning appeals to more people now than, perhaps, ever before. But, as the next generation of caravanners, motorhomers, and recreational vehicle users spend more and more time in the great outdoors, those over 50 are still up there with the best of them, so much so in fact that around 347,000 people over the age of 50 embarked upon this type of holiday last year. It’s not always plain sailing though, as Saga Insurance has found, and it’s also not always as simple as claiming for a broken window latch or door handle either as the insurance company can attest. So read on below to find out more about some of Saga’s more usual caravan claims.
Loo looter
One policyholder kept his caravan in storage over winter. However, when he got a call from the storage unit manager saying someone had broken into his caravan he dashed over to assess the damage. At first sight it appeared the thief had just stolen the usual items but on closer inspection the customer noticed that the robber had made off with the fridge and toilet. While it only cost £500 to replace the loo, the thief caused more than £7,000 worth of damage ripping out the various fixtures and fittings.
Blooming blowtorch
A customer liked to park his caravan on his drive so he could keep a close eye on it. However, he got a bit of a shock when he spotted a neighbour using a blowtorch to kill some stubborn weeds. The overzealous gardener got too close to a bush causing it to catch fire and blister the caravan’s paintwork. It cost more than £2,000 to repair the damage and it’s safe to say this Saga customer probably won’t be visiting their neighbour for a cup of tea any time soon.
Runaway wheelie bins
A customer parked his caravan on his drive for the evening so he could clean it the following day. However, when he woke up he discovered a runaway wheelie bin had crashed into his motorhome multiple times causing more than £4,000 worth of damage.
Tipping point
A policyholder popped to the shops and while he was out the weather took a turn for the worse. When he got home he got a nasty surprise as he discovered his caravan lying on its side. The strong winds had tipped his caravan over causing almost £2,000 worth of damage.
Humongous hailstones
One policyholder was on holiday in their caravan when bad weather woke them up. When they peeked out of the window to see the storm in action they noticed golf ball sized hailstones hitting the caravan. The hailstones dented the caravan so much that it cost almost £5,000 to fix.
Un-pheasant experience
A customer’s holiday ended rather unpleasantly when a pheasant tried to make a dash across the road. As well as damaging the customer’s car, the colourful bird bounced off the caravan causing almost £2,000 worth of damage.
Roger Ramsden, chief executive of Saga Services, said: “Last year we were clearing up after Kamikaze pigeons, this year we’ve been fixing damage caused by runaway wheelie bins. It’s fair to say that owning a caravan and holidaying in one is more adventurous for some than others. A caravan calamity can be made worse if you don’t have the right insurance.”
Have you ever had reason to claim on your caravan insurance under unusual circumstances? If so let us know in the comments below.
