Personal Liability Insurance - I don't really get it

Finance, Taxes, Banking, Insurance and Retirement
1
Hi all,

I've lived in the UK all my life and, although I've always had home contents insurance, I've never had personal liability insurance. I've always thought I would do the same in Switzerland but after reading this forum it seems lots of people do have it.

Should I consider getting it? Why do I need it in Switzerland if I've never had it in the UK? What exactly would it cover?

As usual all help appreciated!

Cheers

Nik

2
It was like the first thing I was told to have in CH

I am sure that there will be detailed info from other members...I am not an expert but I can give you a practical example:

We have aproblem with the heating in our apartment. The agency has not really tried to help. I called our insurance, they connected me with their lawyer and the guy told me step by step what to do and of course offered to intervene if it does not work. Very helpful. I have Zurich Connect, very good website and sevice in English. I pay 190 chf per year...

Hope it helps...

3
This insurance is really important, you can easily make mistakes here, and this will cover the financial payments of you and your family, at the same address.

First of all it covers your liability when riding a bike, or in-line skating, or skiing, or even crossing the road!

Secondly it pays for any damages you unfortunately make in your rental accommodation.

Thirdly it can cover the loss of any no-claim bonus when you drive a friend's car and have an accident (Usually costs a bit more).

It doesn't cost much, http://www.mobi.ch/mobiliar/live/ver...herung_de.html

Compare private liability insurances, http://en.comparis.ch/hausrat-versic...ngsnehmer.aspx

4
Just to add to the other comments already made which are correct. You can get personal liability insurance in many cases included in your contents and home insurance

5
I think that with or without insurance, you pay for everything in Switzerland !

6
You're not alone.

Am I the only one with no Hausrat Versicherung?

7
just imagine the stereotype of the US with people suing each other for everything.

now transplant that to Switzerland but where prices of everything is that much greater and you will get an appreciation of why it is good to be insured.

8
That's true anywhere, not just Switzerland.

Tom

9
The decisive point for me was when moving apartments, it simply gives you peace of mind, as the landlords here try to literally screw you The private liability insurance just helps in making sure they don't because they're the ones who would foot the bill, specially when you don't know all your rights etc. As others have mentioned it also covers other things like driving other people's cars (optional), causing accidental damage to third party property / belongings etc. There is a deductible so it's only worth claiming on it when the claim amount is higher than the dedectible. For CHF10.- a month it's worth every penny or rappen since we're in Swiss .

10
It's 'since we're in Switzerland', but anyway, just being pedantic.

11
It's so inexpensive for what it covers that for me it's a no brainer really.

It basically covers any third parties for any damage you may cause to them whether that be corporal or material.

Some examples :

i) The flooring in your rented apartment belongs to your landlord.

You scratch/dent/ruin it - your liability will cover it.

ii) You go to visit a friend and spill a cup of coffee over his/her brand new computer/TV/camera/kindle and ruin it.

Your liability insurance will cover the cost of a new computer / TV / camera / kindle for your friend.

iii) You're going skiing and you'd like to film the lovely Swiss mountains so a friend lends you his/her video camera.

You break it.

Your liability insurance will pay for a new camera for your friend.

iv) You're cycling and you run someone over.

Your liability insurance will cover any damage caused to the person and his/her belongings.

---

In all of the above examples, if you damage your own property, your liability insurance won't cover it.

e.g. you drop your iphone and it breaks = not covered

you drop your mate's iphone and it breaks = covered

Just a couple of pointers :

i) When you ask an insurance company directly, they sometimes sign you up for 10 years

Make sure you sign for 5 or less.

Remember that if you leave Switzerland for good before the end of your policy, you can cancel your policy for the day you leave - you won't be asked to pay the non-used years or anything like that.

The advantage of signing for several years is that they cannot increase your premiums and if they do - you can leave.

ii) 9 times out of 10, they will put a deductible on it.

For the difference in premium, it's often not worth it.

The deductible is often 200CHF and a lot of claims may be under that amount so you may as well take a policy with no deductible so that if you do have to claim you're ok.

---

Hope that clarifies it a little?

12
That was on purpose hence why I highlighted it in bold...

13
sorry for bumping this thread, but I have a related question if anyone would be kind enough to answer.

Does personal liability insurance cover anything in relation to a burglary in the property you reside? I know it doesn't cover any items stolen but does it cover any damage caused to the fixtures and fitting of the property during the break-in. My liability cover does read that it covers 'Property damage' but then again does go on to say it doesn't cover 'replacement of locks'.

Anyway, I have asked the insurance company the question but if anyone has any advice/experience on the matter, it would be much appreciated.

14
Simply No.

You are confusing the private liability insurance with the household insurance. If you have household insurance you can clarify with the insurer regarding damage caused to your property by presumably thieves, I guess they will probably cover it.

15
To cover any damage in your property, you will need another insurance called Hausrat Versicherung.

16
In the UK liability insurance is usually included with home contents insurance. Rather like BUPA covers illness & accident in the UK! Here you have illness insurance, work accident & non work accident!

17
Ok - thanks for swift responses. As i thought. Guess I was clutching at straws having seen 'Property damage to the leased property' being covered for under the Schedule of Benefits section of the liability insurance contract. But I guess this is for anything deemed directly as my fault.

We were burgled yesterday

18
NO NO NO!!! You are talking nonsense here.

19
Why do you confuse the OP even more?

What does Hausratversicherung have to do with Liability Insurance???

Back to subject: "Personal Liability Insurance" is useful if you damage someone else's property or do harm to someone else.

Message to all smart@asses who don't have one: I am curious what will you say/do when someone like you rolls you over by bike (since no Vignette anymore ) or ski, or by foot, badly hurts you or a family member? It will get quickly VERY expensive for you and unless the other person has a lot of liquidity, you are LOOKING AT A LONG LEGAL BATTLE. In comparison if the other party had liability insurance, the insurance would pay all your costs / compensation.

20
And just to add a point for all dog owners:

Many cantons require dog owners to carry liability insurance, usually in the area of 1-3 mio coverage. For most dogs, standard Privathaftpflicht (personal liability insurance) is all you need. If you have questions, speak with your insurance agent or with your Gemeinde.

The fine for dog owners who do not carry liability insurance in Kt ZH, btw, can be as high as CHF 1000.