Sitting here for over four hours making up our evidence to present to the financial ombudsman over our recent holiday insurance claim after our accident in France.The bulk of our claim was refused as our protective leathers were deemed to be included in the policies 'valuables' heading which is capped at a low figure. The same companies motorcycle sales blurb infers leathers are the clothing of choice to ride a motorcycle and even the travel policy states you must wear suitable protective clothing!
Of course the clause saying articles made of or containing,leather,silver,gold, jewellery,leather goods,animal skins,photographic equipment, electronics of any kind,video & audio equipment,telecoms,telescopes,binoculars,spectacles,sunglasses, are subject to this limit is buried on the 3rd sub heading on the on line docs you receive AFTER you have purchased the Motorcycle Travel Insurance!
Even my watch was classed as jewellery and it was a day to day Seiko, not a Rolex!
Also sunglasses are classed as a high value item, again really a safety item when riding in the summer daylight. 
If we had worn textiles we would have had £1500 of cover for them as they are not 'high value' items. In reality there not much difference in cost to leather for good quality gear?
Gloves and boots also included in this as they are leather.
Added to this it took over four months for an offer to come from the claims handlers which was full of mistakes and a complaint sent to General Insurance UK who own Ageus was not dealt with until after this offer was made. This complaint was dealt with much more efficiently and £100 offered as compensation for the string of errors made. However the basic faults hidden in the policy detail remain making the policy seriously flawed.
Another clause states that depreciation will be applied and items over five years old will receive no payment towards replacement. I find this very unfair too as bikers leathers and other gear last far longer than that in normal leisure use. (not that this applied to us as our gear was all around a year old).
SO AVOID AEGEAS OR TRAVEL INS DIRECT if you want bikers holiday insurance!
So to sum up, is leather protective clothing for a biker what you would class as a'valuable' item or a necessity? Should it be dealt with any differently to textile PPC?
  Our crash helmets were paid for in full, less a depreciation amount.


Please do send your comments as I will be making use of them to support my views to the Insurance Ombudsman.                                                                                                                                                                             

seems a few travell insurance policies use Aegis as the underwriter so look out. I looked at the MCL travel brokers policy today for bikers..its Aegus again and you cant access the full policy until you have purchased it!                                                                                                                                                                             

  Contact Money Box   &/or  You & Yours at Radio 4   It's. the kind of thing they love to investigate                                                                                                                                                                               

awaiting Ombudsmans decision, MCN interested in unning the story too..

                                                                                                                                                                             

awaiting Ombudsmans decision, MCN interested in running the story too..

                                                                                                                                                                             

  Great, keep us updated mate