Finding a Secure Spot for Spare Motorhome Keys

[Coolcats]

Loving this thread. As a would be motorhome thief and general house burglar all these posts about where people are hiding things are great tips that should save a lot of time hunting around for keys

PS: Joke by the way . . . .

My front door key is swapped from under the door mat, the plant pot, just above the door they will never find it

 

[Coolcats]

Takes me 15 seconds to get in those key safes, that’s if I could be bothered to get under and have a look…..


But a thief could be bothered…

I was wrong then I thought they were pretty secure

 

[Coolcats]

Just been quoted £160 from Timpsons Warrington for a spare flick out key that works the central locking on our 2013 Ducato based MoHo. Any body found cheaper in the Liverpool/Warrington/Manchester area? £505 for OEM!!!

I’d buy from timpsons every time they are a fantastic company and look after their staff you’re not just buying a key but supporting a whole ethos that helps provide better lives for people.

 

[Barclaybasher]

[QUOTE="Coolcats, post:

A key safe is a pretty secure device but I do wonder if the MoHo was taken you need to show all keys to the insurance company. I suspect placing one externally even in a key safe may reduce a payout. You may want to discuss this with the insurance provider.
[/QUOTE]

Do insurance companies insist that you have 2 sets of keys?

 

[RustyRuss]

Timpsons…..They help rehabilitate offenders I believe, the kind of thing our prison services should be doing rather than just locking them up and throwing the key away..

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[stuartholmes]

Timpsons…..They help rehabilitate offenders I believe, the kind of thing our prison services should be doing rather than just locking them up and throwing the key away..

And Mr & Mrs Timpson are long-serving foster carers. Probably should get some sort of official recognition but I wouldn't be surprised if they have but declined.

 

[cyberyacht]

Listen very carefully. I vil say zis only once. Do not hide your keys behind the picture of the 'Fallen Madonna with the big boobies' by Van Klomp. It will be ze first place they vill look.

 

[Coolcats]

[QUOTE="Coolcats, post:

A key safe is a pretty secure device but I do wonder if the MoHo was taken you need to show all keys to the insurance company. I suspect placing one externally even in a key safe may reduce a payout. You may want to discuss this with the insurance provider.

[QUOTE="Barclaybasher, post: Do insurance companies insist that you have 2 sets of keys?
[/QUOTE]

let’s look at this way, where are the spares and can I have them ask’s the loss investigator of course I say and provide them to him, oh you have two sets when did you have the 3rd set cut he asks, I didn’t I say it came with the vehicle, oh he says as VW normally come with two sets how strange.

That was the conversation I had with the loss investigator, without supporting information it could be assumed I had other keys cut. So be carful about assumptions the insurance investigators are thorough and make you feel you are under suspicion which of course you are, they even checked Google maps to see I reverse parked the van which I did on a daily basis.

Lord Brocket found that out to his cost, insurance companies are very thorough.

 

[Barclaybasher]

[QUOTE="Barclaybasher, post: Do insurance companies insist that you have 2 sets of keys?

let’s look at this way, where are the spares and can I have them ask’s the loss investigator of course I say and provide them to him, oh you have two sets when did you have the 3rd set cut he asks, I didn’t I say it came with the vehicle, oh he says as VW normally come with two sets how strange.
That was the conversation I had with the loss investigator, without supporting information it could be assumed I had other keys cut. So be carful about assumptions the insurance investigators are thorough and make you feel you are under suspicion which of course you are, they even checked Google maps to see I reverse parked the van which I did on a daily basis.
Lord Brocket found that out to his cost, insurance companies are very thorough.
[/QUOTE]

I have bought vehicles with one key, advertisers actually tell you if they have 2 keys (as opposed to one)

Unless someone saw the vehicle details when it was purchased how could they question it?

 

[Coolcats]

let’s look at this way, where are the spares and can I have them ask’s the loss investigator of course I say and provide them to him, oh you have two sets when did you have the 3rd set cut he asks, I didn’t I say it came with the vehicle, oh he says as VW normally come with two sets how strange.
That was the conversation I had with the loss investigator, without supporting information it could be assumed I had other keys cut. So be carful about assumptions the insurance investigators are thorough and make you feel you are under suspicion which of course you are, they even checked Google maps to see I reverse parked the van which I did on a daily basis.
Lord Brocket found that out to his cost, insurance companies are very thorough.

I have bought vehicles with one key, advertisers actually tell you if they have 2 keys (as opposed to one)

Unless someone saw the vehicle details when it was purchased how could they question it?
[/QUOTE]

If you have a vehicle of value such as a MoHo it is unlikely you would have one key and insurance companies know that.

Personally I wouldn't like to chance it with an insurance company they have good reason to be sceptical on large claims, no second key who did you give it to? Can’t prove you only had one key hmmmm

On the thefts we had, I had to show the purchase invoice and was asked how I paid for it, when I said cash they said prove it so I did. They paid out, it was to the value I expected. I suspect the payout would have been less or not at all had there been discrepancies.

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[nicholsong]

I have bought vehicles with one key, advertisers actually tell you if they have 2 keys (as opposed to one)

Unless someone saw the vehicle details when it was purchased how could they question it?

If you have a vehicle of value such as a MoHo it is unlikely you would have one key and insurance companies know that.

Personally I wouldn't like to chance it with an insurance company they have good reason to be sceptical on large claims, no second key who did you give it to? Can’t prove you only had one key hmmmm

On the thefts we had, I had to show the purchase invoice and was asked how I paid for it, when I said cash they said prove it so I did. They paid out, it was to the value I expected. I suspect the payout would have been less or not at all had there been discrepancies.
[/QUOTE]

I paid cash for mine, because the seller would not accept a Banker's Draft. It was done by drawing it from the branch of my bank near seller's home. The money was handed over in front of bank staff in a private room.

Whether the bank could produce evidence of the transaction 14 years ag0 might be a problem, although maybe they could dig out archive records of my withdrawing the amount at the branch which would have been the only time I had been there.

Hopefully it will never be necessary.

 

[Moto GBR]

Hi,

Excuse my ignorance.

Reading through this topic I cannot understand the issue about producing two sets of keys to the insurance company.
I thought the OP was to stash a spare for if you loose your key, if you loose your key you cannot produce two to the insurance company.

TA Steve

 

[Coolcats]

If you have a vehicle of value such as a MoHo it is unlikely you would have one key and insurance companies know that.

Personally I wouldn't like to chance it with an insurance company they have good reason to be sceptical on large claims, no second key who did you give it to? Can’t prove you only had one key hmmmm

On the thefts we had, I had to show the purchase invoice and was asked how I paid for it, when I said cash they said prove it so I did. They paid out, it was to the value I expected. I suspect the payout would have been less or not at all had there been discrepancies.

I paid cash for mine, because the seller would not accept a Banker's Draft. It was done by drawing it from the branch of my bank near seller's home. The money was handed over in front of bank staff in a private room.

Whether the bank could produce evidence of the transaction 14 years ag0 might be a problem, although maybe they could dig out archive records of my withdrawing the amount at the branch which would have been the only time I had been there.

Hopefully it will never be necessary.
[/QUOTE]
Hopefully you will never be asked but also posts such as these may help people keep an audit trail I had no idea these questions would be asked

 

[gus-lopez]

Can’t prove you only had one key hmmmm

yes , i only had one supplied. retained the sale details stating only one supplied. Now have 4

if you loose your key you cannot produce two to the insurance company.

as above just like mileage" how many do you want?"

 

[Barclaybasher]

I have bought vehicles with one key, advertisers actually tell you if they have 2 keys (as opposed to one)

Unless someone saw the vehicle details when it was purchased how could they question it?

If you have a vehicle of value such as a MoHo it is unlikely you would have one key and insurance companies know that.
Personally I wouldn't like to chance it with an insurance company they have good reason to be sceptical on large claims, no second key who did you give it to? Can’t prove you only had one key hmmmm

On the thefts we had, I had to show the purchase invoice and was asked how I paid for it, when I said cash they said prove it so I did. They paid out, it was to the value I expected. I suspect the payout would have been less or not at all had there been discrepancies.
[/QUOTE]

The question is - did the insurance company ask for spare keys?

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[Coolcats]

If you have a vehicle of value such as a MoHo it is unlikely you would have one key and insurance companies know that.
Personally I wouldn't like to chance it with an insurance company they have good reason to be sceptical on large claims, no second key who did you give it to? Can’t prove you only had one key hmmmm

On the thefts we had, I had to show the purchase invoice and was asked how I paid for it, when I said cash they said prove it so I did. They paid out, it was to the value I expected. I suspect the payout would have been less or not at all had there been discrepancies.

The question is - did the insurance company ask for spare keys?
[/QUOTE]
Yes I gave them the two spares and they queried when did I have the 3rd one cut and how many others did I have as they are only normally supplied with two (which I did not have any cut)

 

[Pausim]

So far as most insurance companies are concerned the answer to the original question appears to be there are no secure places to leave spare keys in or on your motorhome.

 

[Barclaybasher]

The question is - did the insurance company ask for spare keys?

Yes I gave them the two spares and they queried when did I have the 3rd one cut and how many others did I have as they are only normally supplied with two (which I did not have any cut)
[/QUOTE]

If the vehicles were stolen how would the insurance company know if they have bee given the real spare keys?

 

[Coolcats]

Yes I gave them the two spares and they queried when did I have the 3rd one cut and how many others did I have as they are only normally supplied with two (which I did not have any cut)

If the vehicles were stolen how would the insurance company know if they have bee given the real spare keys?
[/QUOTE]

My guess is that they would expect genuine manufacturer keys, if you give an insurance company doubt to how genuine the theft was and the care you have taken to ensure the vehicle was secure it gives them the opportunity to not pay out.

Keys left in or on the vehicle, near a front or rear door of a house or visible from outside give cause for non payment. Let alone not being able to account for no 2nd key.

 

[Pausim]

If the vehicles were stolen how would the insurance company know if they have bee given the real spare keys?

I think the question is more often about whether you have taken proper precautions to protect the keys rather than giving them to the thieves. I think all policies impose a duty of care to protect the insured property.

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[Li150]

If someone was trying to get the keys off you by force I don’t think they’d accept ‘Sorry, you can’t have them as I’ll need them for the Insurance Company’ as a good reason to back down.

 

[Barclaybasher]

The only reason I can think of that would justify the insurance company refusing a claim is if the vehicle was left unlocked with the keys in the ignition or left unattended   and the insurance company would need to prove that that was the case.

If I had a claim refused if otherwise I would sue the insurance company.

 

[Coolcats]

The only reason I can think of that would justify the insurance company refusing a claim is if the vehicle was left unlocked with the keys in the ignition or left unattended   and the insurance company would need to prove that that was the case.

If I had a claim refused if otherwise I would sue the insurance company.

The onus of proof would be on the owner of the vehicle, I would suspect that others who have had high value vehicles taken will tell you the insurance process is fairly intimidating, not rude or aggressive, no second key it is reasonable you left one in the ignition, one key Mr Barclaybasher what happened to the second, oh you only had one can you prove this, otherwise we may not pay out we really need your help with this.....

 

[Barclaybasher]

The onus of proof would be on the owner of the vehicle, I would suspect that others who have had high value vehicles taken will tell you the insurance process is fairly intimidating, not rude or aggressive, no second key it is reasonable you left one in the ignition, one key Mr Barclaybasher what happened to the second, oh you only had one can you prove this, otherwise we may not pay out we really need your help with this.....

Like I said it would be - pay up or
see you in court

......Fed up with "victim blaming"

 

[Pausim]

Like I said it would be - pay up or
see you in court

......Fed up with "victim blaming"

I don’t see it as victim blaming, just taking a practical approach to getting a claim settled quickly and getting back on the road. Legal action could take years. Lots of policies include a condition that all disputes are referred to arbitration first and that legal rights to Court action only arise after arbitration has failed. For me it would have nothing to do with rights and wrongs, or matters of principle, I would just be wanting the quickest route to a pay out so I could buy a replacement motorhome. Threatening an insurance company that can afford top Barristers and legal advice sounds like a recipe for delay and expense.

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[Coolcats]

Like I said it would be - pay up or
see you in court

......Fed up with "victim blaming"

I like many wouldn't want the stress and many certainly don't have the money to pay barristers to argue the case

 

[Barclaybasher]

I don’t see it as victim blaming, just taking a practical approach to getting a claim settled quickly and getting back on the road. Legal action could take years. Lots of policies include a condition that all disputes are referred to arbitration first and that legal rights to Court action only arise after arbitration has failed. For me it would have nothing to do with rights and wrongs, or matters of principle, I would just be wanting the quickest route to a pay out so I could buy a replacement motorhome. Threatening an insurance company that can afford top Barristers and legal advice sounds like a recipe for delay and expense.

The premise was that you wouldn't get paid out

- no argument.so no 'negotiation'

 

[nicholsong]

The onus of proof would be on the owner of the vehicle, I would suspect that others who have had high value vehicles taken will tell you the insurance process is fairly intimidating, not rude or aggressive, no second key it is reasonable you left one in the ignition, one key Mr Barclaybasher what happened to the second, oh you only had one can you prove this, otherwise we may not pay out we really need your help with this.....

In insurance law if an insurer is relying on an exemption to reject a claim the onus of proof is on the insurer. I not only know this from my professional standpoint, but I also had a practical experience:-

A £3,000 diamond ring went missing after my grandmother died in a nursing home. The policy exempted theft outside her house. Nobody knew what had happened to it. The Claims Manager knew I worked for a City law firm. He suggested it could have been theft. I responded 'Will you be relying on that to reject the claim?.' Answer: 'Mr. Nicholson the cheque will be in the post today, and it was.'

 

[ChesterB]

With our old Hymer, an easy option was to remove one of the rear light units (3-4 screws) and tape a spare door key to the back of the main lighting plate. You then only had to find someone with a Phillips head screwdriver to gain access.
That still meant you had to hide a spare set of keys inside somewhere, but there must be a hundred different places to do that.
Our new MH required Tracker, so we leave the spare tracker fob at home and rely on the system working if someone does ever manage to steal the MH.
We also have what we call "The Medallion", which is a spare door key on a bit of ribbon worn by whoever is not carrying the main bunch of keys when out & about.
Seems to work, so far.
I was quite impressed the other day, when I forgot to re-activate the tracker fob after a period of non-use and the mobile rang before I even got to the bottom of our lane!
Happy Christmas to one and all.
Cb.

 

[Oldrat]

Wow a 4 pager!

If you bought your van new then you might just have got two sets of keys with the purchase, it may well be recorded as such.


If you bought second hand then, unless two sets were declared anywhere, then why would you have to prove to the insurance company how many sets you had.

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