For many years I insured my home and contents with Swinton. I am a professional musician and last year it said it could no longer insure me as I have a small amount of business use in my home. My policy included a violin, viola and two bows. I always checked that they were covered for professional use, and was always assured they were.
However, when I found a new home insurer I was told that I needed specialist insurance for my instruments and that they had not previously been covered for professional use by Swinton. I used Swinton’s online form to complain but heard nothing.
AF, Woodbridge, Suffolk
Swinton is an insurance broker; your policy was with Arthur J Gallagher. Swinton confirms that you had a home insurance policy from 2013-2017 and insists that your musical instruments were fully covered for business and personal use.
A change to Swinton’s panel of insurers last year meant that it was unable to offer you the same level of cover, which was explained when you came to renew.
Swinton has acknowledged the delay in responding to your complaint and apologised. It replied directly offering a £25 goodwill gesture. You have a valuable and wide-ranging collection of musical instruments and while it was fortunate that you did not need to make a claim during this period (which would have tested the cover in place) it seems very odd that the full extent of your cover was not clarified.
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