Garmin watch considered jewelry by insurers

[Guest Mike Dewing]

Howzit guys.. 

so we were broken into and among other things my garmin watch was taken.. now outsurance are saying my garmin watch is considered jewelry so because we don’t have out and about cover they are not interested in paying to replace my watch.? Anyone else dealt with this.? 
 

I find it hard to believe that a garmin or Apple Watch is actually classed as jewelry and not an electronic device or fitness tracking device.. I see online that generally a watch is never considered jewelry unless it is high end luxury product.. insurance being scumbags on a Technicality.?! 
 

im very tempted to dispute this.. outsurance replaced my AirPods and a Bluetooth speaker 🤷🏼‍♂️.. 
 

Edited September 24, 2025 by Mike Dewing

[Eugene]

Im not an insurance expert, but from an outsider looking in, "out and about" cover is for items lost/stolen/damaged outside of your home. Your Garmin would not have been covered whilst out cycling. 

If it was stolen from your house, then surely it would have been covered under household items? 

[Guest Mike Dewing]

5 minutes ago, Eugene said:

Im not an insurance expert, but from an outsider looking in, "out and about" cover is for items lost/stolen/damaged outside of your home. Your Garmin would not have been covered whilst out cycling. 

If it was stolen from your house, then surely it would have been covered under household items? 

My first argument was that it was stolen from the house in the middle of the night while we slept.. 👍🏻

Secondly it’s 100% an electronic smart device.. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[Prince Albert Cycles]

6 minutes ago, Mike Dewing said:

My first argument was that it was stolen from the house in the middle of the night while we slept.. 👍🏻

Secondly it’s 100% an electronic smart device.. 🤷🏼‍♂️

They are taking a chance 

[Guest Mike Dewing]

8 minutes ago, Prince Albert Cycles said:

They are taking a chance 

I’m 100% sure that if I do the research and back up my argument, possibly insinuate going further, I see there is an ombudsman for insurance disputes I reckon they’ll pay out for it.. just doing the research first.. 

anyone has any procedural advice or anything to use as precedence please share..!

[Prince Albert Cycles]

16 minutes ago, Mike Dewing said:

I’m 100% sure that if I do the research and back up my argument, possibly insinuate going further, I see there is an ombudsman for insurance disputes I reckon they’ll pay out for it.. just doing the research first.. 

anyone has any procedural advice or anything to use as precedence please share..!

It is a gps/fitness tool . Some fit it on the handlebar some wear it on the wrist 

[Guest Mike Dewing]

27 minutes ago, Prince Albert Cycles said:

It is a gps/fitness tool . Some fit it on the handlebar some wear it on the wrist 

The telling of time on these things is like an afterthought if we honest. Exactly agree with you

[Furbz]

Not to self - outsurance is full of it

[Guest Mike Dewing]

I think it helps that I just looked up the individual import customs code for “jewelry”, “watches”, “smart watches”, they are all different codes and therefore taxed differently, if sars differentiates🤦‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️🤣 I think that ends the argument🤔

[RobynE 🚵‍♀️]

44 minutes ago, Furbz said:

Not to self - outsurance is full of it

Agreed.

After our armed robbery they wouldn’t pay out for Ouma’s gold ring. This was a ring that she had had bitten off her finger during the war, and had managed to retrieve. It had been passed down for generations. They said they wouldn’t pay out any value because it hadn’t been specified and there was no proof of purchase.

In short: everything needed copies of invoices/POP/needed to be specified or they wouldn’t pay.

We ended up being paid out 1/3 of our claim.

NB the criminals took the kettle and kitchen clock, microwave, bedding and curtains (they loaded all our vehicles and took them as well). We were quite literally cleaned out of everything that could be carried. Everything.  

In order to get to the 1/3 we had to sit with their auditor or whatever you call it in our house with her laptop for 3 days as she asked for proof of everything we were claiming for. While we stood there in the literal clothes on our backs at the time of the invasion (they took our clothes, too) having endured 3 hours tied up in our home only to face the Spanish Inquisition of “prove to me you ever had that kettle/ring/duvet”. 

We moved to Old Mutual after that, with a broker. 

Not helpful to you Mike but they are absolute scheisters. Give em hell. 

[RobynE 🚵‍♀️]

PS OM doesn’t require specification of every single bloody thing you own, and the premiums are less.

Outsurance hides an awful lot under that carrot of an Outbonus (we had a zero contents claim record before our home invasion). 

[Guest Mike Dewing]

1 hour ago, RobynE 🚵‍♀️ said:

Agreed.

After our armed robbery they wouldn’t pay out for Ouma’s gold ring. This was a ring that she had had bitten off her finger during the war, and had managed to retrieve. It had been passed down for generations. They said they wouldn’t pay out any value because it hadn’t been specified and there was no proof of purchase.

In short: everything needed copies of invoices/POP/needed to be specified or they wouldn’t pay.

We ended up being paid out 1/3 of our claim.

NB the criminals took the kettle and kitchen clock, microwave, bedding and curtains (they loaded all our vehicles and took them as well). We were quite literally cleaned out of everything that could be carried. Everything.  

In order to get to the 1/3 we had to sit with their auditor or whatever you call it in our house with her laptop for 3 days as she asked for proof of everything we were claiming for. While we stood there in the literal clothes on our backs at the time of the invasion (they took our clothes, too) having endured 3 hours tied up in our home only to face the Spanish Inquisition of “prove to me you ever had that kettle/ring/duvet”. 

We moved to Old Mutual after that, with a broker. 

Not helpful to you Mike but they are absolute scheisters. Give em hell. 

Just reinforces insurance houses are run by rats.. 🥵

[Mook]

1 hour ago, RobynE 🚵‍♀️ said:

PS OM doesn’t require specification of every single bloody thing you own, and the premiums are less.

Outsurance hides an awful lot under that carrot of an Outbonus (we had a zero contents claim record before our home invasion). 

I guess their punchline is spot on ..............................

You always get something out (note the emphasis on "something" - not money)

[ChrisF]

4 hours ago, Mike Dewing said:

My first argument was that it was stolen from the house in the middle of the night while we slept.. 👍🏻

Secondly it’s 100% an electronic smart device.. 🤷🏼‍♂️

 

My Santam policy has a "wearable" line item, as an extra to my bicycle insurance.

 

This covers items from my shoes to my helmet, as well as my Garmin watch or Edge, to an agreed maximum value, when out cycling.

 

At home my "all content" covers these items ... will send an email to my broker to make 100%sure

[Milosh]

1 hour ago, Furbz said:

Not to self - outsurance is full of it

 

25 minutes ago, RobynE 🚵‍♀️ said:

Outsurance hides an awful lot under that carrot of an Outbonus (we had a zero contents claim record before our home invasion). 

Outsurance eliminates the broker —the person who fights for you.

Now it is you with no expertise against them with the knowledge, muscle, and motivation 

[Leedupreez]

First wait for letter of repudiation the report them to the ombudsman. National Financial Ombudsman. https://nfosa.co.za/short-term-ombudsman-landing/