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The over 50s are keen caravanners with around 347,000 going on this type of holiday last year alone*. However, not every trip is an easy ride as Saga spent more than half a million pounds fixing customer’s caravans last year**.

While some Saga Caravan Insurance customers made claims for a broken window or accidental damage, others made some more unusual claims proving insurance does really protect people against the unexpected.

Here are some of the most unusual claims the over 50s specialist paid out for last year:

Loo looter
One policyholder kept his caravan in storage over winter. However, when he got a call from the storage unit manager saying someone had broken into his caravan he dashed over to assess the damage. At first sight it appeared the thief had just stolen the usual items but on closer inspection the customer noticed that the robber had made off with the fridge and toilet. While it only cost £500 to replace the loo, the thief caused more than £7,000 worth of damage ripping out the various fixtures and fittings.

Blooming blowtorch
A customer liked to park his caravan on his drive so he could keep a close eye on it. However he got a bit of a shock when he spotted a neighbour using a blowtorch to kill some stubborn weeds. The overzealous gardener got too close to a bush causing it to catch fire and blister the caravan’s paintwork. It cost more than £2,000 to repair the damage and it’s safe to say this Saga customer probably won’t be visiting their neighbour for a cup of tea any time soon.

Runaway wheelie bins
A customer parked his caravan on his drive for the evening so he could clean it the following day. However, when he woke up he discovered a runaway wheelie bin had crashed into his motorhome multiple times causing more than £4,000 worth of damage.

Tipping point
A policyholder popped to the shops and while he was out the weather took a turn for the worse. When he got home he got a nasty surprise as he discovered his caravan lying on its side. The strong winds had tipped his caravan over causing almost £2,000 worth of damage.

Humongous hailstones
One policyholder was on holiday in their caravan when bad weather woke them up. When they peeked out of the window to see the storm in action they noticed golf ball sized hailstones hitting the caravan. The hailstones dented the caravan so much that it cost almost £5,000 to fix.

Un-pheasant experience
A customer’s holiday ended rather unpleasantly when a pheasant tried to make a dash across the road. As well as damaging the customer’s car, the colourful bird bounced off the caravan causing almost £2000 worth of damage.


Roger Ramsden, chief executive, Saga Services, commented: “Last year we were clearing up after Kamikaze pigeons, this year we’ve been fixing damage caused by runaway wheelie bins. It’s fair to say that owning a caravan and holidaying in one is more adventurous for some than others. A caravan calamity can be made worse if you don’t have the right insurance.”

Ends

Notes to Editors
*According to data from TGI
**Based on Saga Caravan Claims data over the last 12 months.


About Saga Caravan Insurance
Saga Caravan Insurance is designed for people aged 50 and over. It offers a wide range of cover including:
• Up to 15 years ‘new for old’ cover or 'market value' cover for your caravan, equipment and awnings
• Vandalism cover
• Up to £1,500 contents and personal belongings cover
• Family and friends cover
• Cover in the European Union for an unlimited period available as an optional extra