Allstate Won’t Cover My Stolen Instrument Because Sometimes I Get Paid To Play Music Image courtesy of (frankieleon)
Just wanted to report on a tragic story of Allstate trying to get out of their financial obligations.
So when I moved into an apartment in a town known for its crime (though in a nice part of the town) I took out renter’s insurance including theft protection. Because I am also a musician, I took out a special provision to cover the value of my instrument for $5000 with Allstate. Well, my car was recently stolen and subsequently crashed, with the instrument inside of it. The thieves took the instrument, and I’ve been battling Allstate ever since. They are now telling me that because I occasionally use the instrument to play semi-professionally (read: paid gigs) they will not pay out the full value of the instrument, or even close. They are now trying to cap the insurance value at 4% of the cost of the instrument. Regardless of the fact that at the time the policy was made, there was no discussion or question about what the instrument was used for.
So Musicians: be warned! If you EVER use your instrument to gig, and you want to insure it against theft – don’t use Allstate! Even if you take out a special extension for the instrument, they will not pay you.
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