<p>Just wanted to clarify post #14: I don’t think anyone would have their premiums raised or be dropped from homeowner’s insurance for filing a single claim. It’s when you have to file several claims in a year that you run into problems.</p>
<ul>
<li>When I specifically asked, CSI told me that one or two claims in a year, no problem.</li>
<li>Three or more claims in a year: DROPPED. (Allianz, the underwriter, would consider 3+ claims/year a risk & refuse to underwrite the policy.)</li>
</ul>
<p>A friend also ran into this problem with her cell phone provider, which insured her college D’s cell phone. Her D damaged/lost 3 phones in a year. After the 3rd claim, her D was dropped from the family service plan & not permitted to return for a year. I think her D had to purchase a pay/go phone until her “probationary year” was over.</p>
<p>While I could purchase Renters Insurance for the kid at essentially the same rates as CSI and NSSI, the one thing that HO does not cover is misuse damage for a laptop or cell phone, such as dropping them or spilling a soda on the keyboard. The two dorm companies cover such instances. Great protection, IMO.</p>
This was some time ago, but I did have problems after a renter’s claim…</p>
<p>Back in 1993, I had two mountain bikes stolen out of the garage at a house in CA that I was renting. When I went to buy a house in 1995, one insurance company denied me homeowner’s coverage because of that one claim.</p>
<p>I have insurance through USAA and I plan on checking into a separate renter’s policy. Sounds like CSI might be a good alternative if I don’t like what USAA offers us.</p>
<p>Just fyi, I was comparing CSI to NSSI - CSI limits coverage to musical instruments to $2000. That killed it for me because the 2 alto saxes are the most valuable thing ds is bringing to college! $2000 is about 1/2 the value of just one of them.</p>
<p>We just chose NSSI because my S doesn’t have much of value beyond his laptop, and they have a lower minimum coverage amount than CSI. The coverage looks quite comparable between the two.</p>
<p>We use NSSI… S spilled liquid on his 3 year old MAC laptop last year. We received a nice sum of money and were able to purchase a new one thru the college tech center at a discount.
Very easy to deal with and we are using them for D now too!
Good luck!</p>
<p>I’m going to purchase through CSI for my son’s stuff at college. One question - he has an iPhone and we have insurance on that through Verizon. Do we still need to carry that insurance if we have the CSI insurance? Does the CSI cover all possible damage to the iPhone. Dropped, broken screen, gets wet? I’d love to drop the Verizon coverage because it’s expensive, and I don’t know what the advantages of having both are, if any. Thanks!</p>
<p>akmom, you can drop the Verizon insurance. CSI covers all accidental damage. My S just dropped his EVO smartphone and broke the glass screen. He filed his claim with CSI on Friday and e-mailed them his proof of ownership and photos of the broken phone on Saturday. They told him to get a repair estimate locally or he could mail the phone to their repair center in GA. He took it to a local repair shop on Monday after work, got it back yesterday, emailed the repair receipt to CSI this morning and he just got word that the reimbursement check less his $25 deductible has been issued and is in the mail.</p>
<p>This is his first claim with CSI and they couldn’t have been easier to deal with. :)</p>
<p>We called our insurance agent to see if D was covered on our homeowners while she was in college. Our policy does cover her and her possessions, but the deductible is $250. She also said that if we put in claims, the homeowners will most likely increase. Our agent recommended NSSI. I had read good things about NSSI on CC, and we signed her up today. They even had us download software that will ‘track’ her laptop in case it is stolen.</p>
<p>We’ve been happy with NSSI…they issue checks for replacement cost so it’s actually been an upgrade when the kids have had claims for iPods, computers, etc. that were a few years old. That, and the separation between their insurance claims and my homeowner’s, not to mention the great coverage for spills, easy claims process, etc., makes it well worth the $100 or so a year.</p>
<p>Gee, I’m wishing we’d bought this. Kitten #1 had bicycle stolen (staying on campus this summer) last week. I’m assuming they cover bicycles?
Think I’m going to check into CSI and NSSI and get policies for both Kittens very soon!</p>
<p>~flood, surface water, waves, tidal water, overflow of a body of water, or spray from any of these, whether or not driven by the wind;</p>
<p>~water which backs up through sewers or drains; or</p>
<p>~water below the surface of the ground, including water which exerts pressure on or seeps or leaks through a building, sidewalks, driveway, foundation, swimming pool or other structure.
*</p>
<p>??? </p>
<p>If they won’t cover damage due to water, then wouldn’t that encourage people to just lie and say the item was stolen?</p>
<p>amandakayak…you can add to the csi policy to include instruments over 2000.</p>
<p>Are there any sub-limits on the CSI policy?
A: Yes. Jewelry, art and musical instruments are limited to a maximum of $2,000, unless endorsed onto the policy and supported with receipts or appraisal at the time of filing a claim. You will be given an opportunity to “schedule” jewelry, art and musical instruments that are beyond the $2000 limit when you order or renew your policy online. Coverage over $2,000 is not automatic and requires prior approval from CSI.
Insurance coverage of bicycles is limited to a maximum of $2,000.
Top</p>
<p>Another suggestion for anyone that wants to insure a new item but doesn’t want a whole dorms worth of insurance is Square Trade - [SquareTrade</a> Warranties | Extended Warranties for 70% Less Than Retail | Electronics Insurance Alternative](<a href=“http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/]SquareTrade”>http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/) I use them when I buy electronics on woot.com. I’ve found them extremely easy to deal with.</p>
<p>VTmom - The coverage isn’t the problem, it’s the deductible. Most homeowners insurance has a $500 deductible so if a bike or a camera get’s stolen, you likely wouldn’t even contact your insurance company and you would have to pay for the total replacement.</p>