Here Is A Thread I Never Thought I Would Start...

JJ

JJ

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May 1, 2008
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Quinta Majay, Pinheiro Bordalo, Portugal
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2,459
MH
Burstner Privilege T
Exp
over 50 years
As some Funsters might know I have an extreme distrust of insurance companies.

In Portugal all my (low cost, somewhat scruffy) vehicles have been insured for the minimum required by law... 3rd party only. No worries. I was of the mind that if someone nicked a vehicle of mine they must be pretty desperate!

Then, by chance and through no effort on my behalf, a big, wide rimmed bucket of cash lands at my feet.

Jeeeeeeez.

With my simple life I have very simple needs. There is nothing I NEED that money can buy.

But... I get a crazy idea and end up buying a motorhome for more than three times the amount I have ever spent on a van... more than I paid for my "Maggie discounted" house way back when.

For the last week I have been enjoying a different level of motorhoming! I get exhausted just walking to the loo... it's so far away.

The problem is my (trusted) insurance man Bruno tells me that in Portugal you cannot insure motorhomes that are over 12 years old for anything more than third party. No fire, no theft... nothing more than 3rd party.

I believe my Burstner Privilege T605 might be attractive to a potential thief and there are several wild fires in Portugal at the moment (I nearly lost my life in one a few years back) so I really want more insurance (I can't believe I just wrote that).

I found a broker online (Abbeygate) with an office in the Algarve who will insure the van fully comprehensive for an acceptable price. The man told me that with 99% of Portuguese insurers, they won't do this but as Abbeygate (Portugal) deal with folk all over Europe they can and will...but the thing is...

How do I know if they any good?

They have dealt with me very efficiently so far, calling back when they say they will and answering all my questions in a very friendly manner and in perfect English but how do I know if they are trustworthy?

I haven't had to need fire and theft cover in the 55 years of my driving life... do I need it now.

Jeeeeez, I am growing old... never used to even think about this never mind worry about it!

Must be this heat.

What should I do?

JJ 8-)
 
Last edited:
Are they brokers or underwriters ?
They sound to me like brokers, if so find out who the underwriters are and investigate from there.
Have you checked for online reviews, trustpilot etc ?
 
Thanks for helping with the wise advice...

They are only brokers.

Working on reading what the policy offers but too hot to complete my reading.

The reviews on Trust pilot are so so good that I suspect them! I believe they are "invited" reviews what ever that means..

JJ 8-)
 
The only pedantic thing I might mention is to declare how close the forest fire got to you a few years back
If you don't declare material incidents you risk insurance declining to pay out.

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PaulyP said:
JJ if you are seriously having trouble with the money and it’s making you unhappy you can send it to me I will suffer instead (helping a fellow Mancunian out) 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Click to expand...

OK Paul... I tell you what I will do... send me your bank details and give up your season ticket at the Swamp and tell me how much you want and I will see what I can do...

JJ
 
JJ said:
As some Funsters might know I have an extreme distrust of insurance companies.

In Portugal all my (low cost, somewhat scruffy) vehicles have been insured for the minimum required by law... 3rd party only. No worries. I was of the mind that if someone nicked a vehicle of mine they must be pretty desperate!

Then, by chance and through no effort on my behalf, a big, wide rimmed bucket of cash lands at my feet.

Jeeeeeeez.

With my simple life I have very simple needs. There is nothing I NEED that money can buy.

But... I get a crazy idea and end up buying a motorhome for more than three times the amount I have ever spent on a van... more than I paid for my "Maggie discounted" house way back when.

For the last week I have been enjoying a different level of motorhoming! I get exhausted just walking to the loo... it's so far away.

The problem is my (trusted) insurance man Bruno tells me that in Portugal you cannot insure motorhomes that are over 12 years old for anything more than third party. No fire, no theft... nothing more than 3rd party.

I believe my Burstner Privilege T605 might be attractive to a potential thief and there are several wild fires in Portugal at the moment (I nearly lost my life in one a few years back) so I really want more insurance (I can't believe I just wrote that).

I found a broker online (Abbeygate) with an office in the Algarve who will insure the van fully comprehensive for an acceptable price. The man told me that with 99% of Portuguese insurers, they won't do this but as Abbeygate (Portugal) deal with folk all over Europe they can and will...but the thing is...

How do I know if they any good?

They have dealt with me very efficiently so far, calling back when they say they will and answering all my questions in a very friendly manner and in perfect English but how do I know if they are trustworthy?

I haven't had to need fire and theft cover in the 55 years of my driving life... do I need it now.

Jeeeeez, I am growing old... never used to even think about this never mind worry about it!

Must be this heat.

What should I do?

JJ :cool:
Click to expand...
Do AXA cover Portugal? I ask cos car is insured via AXA France (French plated car).
 
Langtoftlad said:
The only pedantic thing I might mention is to declare how close the forest fire got to you a few years back
If you don't declare material incidents you risk insurance declining to pay out.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot for your help but that really does seem a tad pedantic! That fire which almost killed me all those years ago makes it safer here now as it burnt down all the surrounding trees!

JJ 8-)

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PaulyP said:
JJ if you are seriously having trouble with the money and it’s making you unhappy you can send it to me I will suffer instead (helping a fellow Mancunian out) 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Click to expand...
Move over I'm first in line
Sad as it is the more you have the more you need to protect it. I hope that you find suitable cover .I used a brokers pool for breakdown cover on the car for years (not the correct term) but they had a deal with one of the big two similar to a multi policy I.never worked put how it worked but when I called the breakdown service all they needed was car reg and the man with the van arrived to my rescue. Don't take too long to get it covered .
 
JJ said:
Thanks a lot for your help but that really does seem a tad pedantic! That fire which almost killed me all those years ago makes it safer here now as it burnt down all the surrounding trees!

JJ :cool:
Click to expand...
Fair enough... but insurance companies are notorious for using any excuse to weasel out of paying claims.
Just thought I'd mention it.
 
JJ, l do know about Abbeygate (Spain) which is the same Broker, Their Head Office is minutes from my property, therefore, l know lots of people who are insured with them and a good number that work/have worked for them, l can tell you that they are reliable and people with Claims have had no problem whatsoever.

l hope this helps.

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Littlewheels said:
JJ, l do know about Abbeygate (Spain) which is the same Broker, Their Head Office is minutes from my property, therefore, l know lots of people who are insured with them and a good number that work/have worked for them, l can tell you that they are reliable and people with Claims have had no problem whatsoever.

l hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much Littlewheels... that really, really helps.

JJ 8-)
 
JJ said:
OK Paul... I tell you what I will do... send me your bank details and give up your season ticket at the Swamp and tell me how much you want and I will see what I can do...

JJ
Click to expand...
Bank details on the way wife was the season ticket holder on the disabled platform and I went as the carer, as she is no longer here I will have to be content with becoming an armchair fan and then like most City fans I don’t need to go to the stadium. 😂😂😂😂
 
They are very well known in Portugal and Spain, many many ex pats use them, and I have my static in Algarve insured with them.
There is also an English broker named Ged Heaney , who you may find here….
gedinsurance.com

GED Expat Insurance in Portugal by Agência Conselheiro Seguros

Ged Heaney and his experienced team at Agência Conselheiro are making it as easy as possible for expatriates to deal with insurance in Portugal.
gedinsurance.com gedinsurance.com

who is often well reccomended. 👍
 
CazPaul said:
What happened to that lovely vintage old classic Hymer with the go on forever Merc engine in it?
Click to expand...

Sold it when I was too old to drive it...

JJ 8-)

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You should have hung on to it then you wouldn't have this problem!
 
I didn't think you drove it - just lived in it.
 

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