Cover warning over downloaded music
Updated on 12 July 2007
Music download collections worth hundreds of pounds are not covered by insurance if they are lost to computer viruses, a consumer group has warned.
Collections wiped out by hard drive failure were also omitted from policies offered by 46 insurance firms surveyed by Computing Which?
Just 22 out of those insurance providers gave any sort of cover for music and other digital downloads.
These applied in the event of fire, flood, storm or theft.
But none of the providers offered cover for downloads in the event of hardware or mechanical failure.
Computing Which? editor Abigail Waraker called on insurance firms to provide full cover for all digital content.
"Downloading music online is widely accepted now as being the easiest and most convenient way to buy music. Music lovers know it, the music companies know it - but it seems insurance companies are determined to stay behind the times," she said.
Owners aren't automatically covered if their laptop, MP3 player or mobile phone are taken outside the home.
This requires additional personal possessions cover as part of an insurance contents policy, Which? said. Some insurers put a cap of £1,000 or £2,000 on claims for digital downloads.
This limit should easily cover the average digital music collection which costs £257 to replace, Which? said.
These news feeds are provided by an independent third party and Channel 4 is not responsible or liable to you for the same.
