Budget Direct home and contents insurance

Budget Direct’s contents insurance policy covers a whole range of items, some of which are standard contents automatically included and some that you can specify for cover on your policy. These contents can include:

• Furniture
• Fixtures and fittings
• Clothing, bags, briefcases, wallets and suitcases
• Glasses, sunglasses and contact lenses
• Electrical appliances
• Computers, tablets and other electronic gadgets
• DVDs, CDs, digital storage devices, videotapes and other media
• Blinds and curtains
• Medical aids, mobility scooters and motorised wheelchairs
• Baby capsules, car seats, prams and cots
• Bicycles and sports equipment (except when damaged while in use)
• Binoculars and telescopes
• Toys
• Picnic sets, picnic rugs and camping equipment
• Potted plants
• Gardening equipment
• Tools of trade
• Musical instruments
• Above-ground swimming pools
• Collections and memorabilia
• Jewellery and watches
• Artworks and home decorations
• Silver and gold items (separate from jewellery and watches).

When it comes to specific types of items, you may have to purchase optional cover, like Budget Direct’s Specified Personal Effects option which covers things like mobile phones, bags and computers when they’re taken outside the home. Some items are also not covered at all, such as diving equipment, caravans and parachutes.

There are a couple of ways you can make a home and contents insurance claim with Budget Direct: You can call the dedicated customer support line 24/7 or lodge your claim online through Budget Direct’s website. You will need to provide any related documentation, which could include:

• Your policy number
• Photos of the damage
• A police report for stolen contents or malicious damage
• Damage reports
• Receipts and invoices proving ownership

You can purchase a contents insurance policy from Budget Direct for your possessions and fixtures, which are not technically a part of the home. Aside from your possessions being insured for damages or loss, Budget Direct also covers temporary accommodation and legal liability as well within your contents policy.

Certain events are not covered by any of Budget Direct’s home and contents insurance policies, such as:

• Tidal waves
• Asbestos
• Illegal activity
• Communicable diseases
• Contamination or pollution
• Structural defaults
• General wear and tear
• Hacking and cyber-attacks
• Intentional damage caused by a member of the household
• Fraudulent claims
• Legal repossession
• Terrorism and war
• Leaving your home unoccupied for more than 60 days
• Damage from birds, insects, rodents and vermin.

Remember to always read the PDS for the full details of what is covered and what events or items are excluded from the policy.

You will need to pay an excess when you make a claim depending on its nature and circumstances. You will need to pay a basic excess, which is set when you purchase a policy, and you may incur one of the following excess types as well:

• Tenant default excess (if you purchased this optional extra)
• Tenant theft and malicious damage excess
• Fixed excess (subject to underwriting criteria)
• Earthquake or tsunami excess

You can cancel your home and contents insurance with Budget Direct anytime by calling their customer support line. Budget Direct has a 21-day cooling-off period from the date of purchase or renewal; if you cancel within this time and haven’t lodged any claims, you may receive a full refund.

If you cancel after the cooling-off period, you may receive a refund for the period of cover you haven’t used yet, provided you paid annually. There will be a cancellation fee deducted from your refund.