Fingerprint Home Locks and Insurance

[mbart79]

Anyone know how insurance companys think about fingerprint door locks? Looking at the Samsung shs-h705 but just wondering if it will void my insurance if i have a break in.

https://www.samsungsds-nss.com/?p=en_SHSH705

[jaydee]

Not many house breakers trying and pick a lock or bypass an electronic lock like this.
Just come in an open back door/window or smash a window to get in.
I don't think insurance would void it, you've taken reasonable precautions to ensure your property is secure.

[mbart79]

Yeah im thinking the same but would hate to be wrong if it happened

[GasoLane]

I hate stating the bleeding obvious, but could you ask your insurance company ?

[mbart79]

Yeah I've emailed them but being the weekend I don't expect a reply.

[Beastie]

I don't know this product, but I'm assuming that it runs on batteries?

What happens when the batteries go flat?

I'm sure that your insurance company will come back with a very vague response, but if you are doing all that you can to minimize a break-in, that has to count for something?

[mbart79]

There is a manual key you can insert if batteries go flat or a connection on the outside where you can temporary plug in a 9 volt battery

[The Yeti]

Originally Posted by The Beast

I don't know this product, but I'm assuming that it runs on batteries?

What happens when the batteries go flat?

I'm sure that your insurance company will come back with a very vague response, but if you are doing all that you can to minimize a break-in, that has to count for something?

When the batteries run down they issue a different tone and a light is on the display

[foxtrot3]

Originally Posted by The Yeti

When the batteries run down they issue a different tone and a light is on the display

Hi. And then you change the battery, just like everyone does when their smoke detector starts beeping. Cheers MD

[xisled]

You will need to read what the PDS says about securing your home.

The problem about emailing them, is that the person who replies to your email will be more than likely a customer service rep and have never done claims before. The person making the decision at claim time may have a very different answer to what is given in an email.

[Mowdit]

What Xisled said.
Also most of the policies state a "dead locked" door !
Insurer's will use any avenue to get out of paying, you have an alarm why wasn't it on, I was up the street for 5 min buying milk and didn't see the point, DENIED !!!
Locks are a joke unless dead locked, GOOGLE "bump lock" !!!!

I have an older push button version of this, each fortnight when the step kids go to their fathers the code gets changed (he has tried to get in before when the kids have said we are away).
Easier than changing locks every few weeks, going for a walk you don't need keys, wind blows the door closed and you're not locked out.
Best value for money home security lock and convenient.
Buy it, if you ever do get rolled it won't be the point of access and you can tell your insurer that.

[xisled]

Originally Posted by Mowdit

What Xisled said.
Also most of the policies state a "dead locked" door !
Insurer's will use any avenue to get out of paying, you have an alarm why wasn't it on, I was up the street for 5 min buying milk and didn't see the point, DENIED !!!
Locks are a joke unless dead locked, GOOGLE "bump lock" !!!!

I have an older push button version of this, each fortnight when the step kids go to their fathers the code gets changed (he has tried to get in before when the kids have said we are away).
Easier than changing locks every few weeks, going for a walk you don't need keys, wind blows the door closed and you're not locked out.
Best value for money home security lock and convenient.
Buy it, if you ever do get rolled it won't be the point of access and you can tell your insurer that.

Insurance companies are not in the business of not paying out claims. Its only a small percentage of claims that are not paid out and that is after hundred and thousands of claims are lodge yearly. In most cases it actually cost the insurance company more to not pay out a claim than pay it out.

Let me ask you a question how many claims have you made in your life and with those claims how many have not been paid out?

Personally made around 10 claims and have had all of them paid out. Some of those claims could have be denied very easily.

Also if an insurance company denied claims all the time, why would you pay them hundreds a dollars a year to insure your items on a chance they may cover it.

Read the PDS it has the answers you are looking for.

[Yellow_Festiva]

I'm curious about this as well. My front door and gate will be keyless when finished.

When I looked into these systems a while back they still have a key than can be used. Some have terminals to press a 9v battery to power up if it's flat.

Having said, NRMA tout that they pay out even if you leave the door / window open 'by accident'.

I don't think you have an issue. Many garages have electric opening doors and access to the house. Should they get in via the garage they cant use the excuse that it was secured with an electric lock and void the claim.

Read the PDS, state you have XYZ type of security and get them to OK it via email for future reference.

[mbart79]

Lock has been given thumbs up by insurance broker

[Mowdit]

Cool, nice work
Broker, or actual insurer?
In 25yrs never claimed home insurance, car is 1 for one
Not disagreeing,
have had friends knocked back, but only because they "thought" they were covered
Most of us chase a cheaper price, and in turn the insurer looks for savings, it should all be in the policy, but who reads all 46 pages of legalees
Good work MBART, better to follow up and know than find out the hard way.

[Stefan]

Pretty cool, always thought about this and or swipe card or car reader........but then I still need a car key so may as well have a house key on my car key.

[mbart79]

Broker... WE have been with him for years so he would know whats what.