FAO Full time poker fish

[MKKfish]

Post on Hand Analysis thread and tell 'em you teach poker.

[Moskvich]

OK, I've just bitten the bullet and done this - needed some new car insurance from next week, so phoned up a couple of companies and told them that I'm not working at the moment and my income comes from online poker. The first company was happy accepting 'retired' as the occupation, the second put 'independent means', and I confirmed with both that they were adding the online poker stuff to their notes. Neither quote was massively more expensive than if I used my previous occupation of journalist (not more than 20% extra).

Obviously other insurers might take a different view, but it looks like just phoning them up, being honest and letting them make the decision is definitely the best way to go.

Hope that helps Amatay - as long as they don't read your blog and see what else you get up to when you're not playing poker, I think you might be OK...

[Dry em]

Change your address to the correct one, much more hassle than it's worth if you have an accident...

On the job thing, I guess it depends how visible you are. If you just play online you'll probably be fine but when I had an accident I got a letter through informing me that my job on my policy was being changed (when I rung up to query they were quoting me all sorts of things they'd obviously found from Mr Google). Additional premium was about £900 (not even sure if that was for full year) but I got that waived when I told them to look at the recording from when I signed up as I did explain exactly the situation originally and was told "journalist" was fine. When I renew next year though, gonna have to be down as "sports personality" or some bs. Might have to look to change...

[Amatay]

Thanks for that Moskvich

I've actually just thought or something else. Does this apply to all types of insurance i.e building and contents insurance for example??

[seven2unsuited]

The company i work for being a poker player would not make any difference unless your were a high profile player on tv etc.  there would be a bigger change getting declined for you home insurance.  They might see you has a high risk. e.g at out most nights.  Also the underwriters might think there would be a bigger chance of 'gamblers' putting though fraudulent claims if they hit a bad patch.

[Amatay]

Just received this msg from the bloke i know who works in insurance...

House Insurance works slightly differently but in a way even worse. House insurance has a far less claim payout percentage than motor, and the reason is again your taking a lot of times very high claims going into 5 figures. so they make sure even more that all info is correct and occupation is one of them. Now with your job, it will work for and against you. It works for you as due to the fact your at home during the day/night when working, they will rate the property as more secure, as your there more often which will deter theives and vandels.....however......

As your a poker player, they will ask you if you ever go to casino's/betting shops etc in connection with your work (do you take live fishes money as well as online??). if you do they will sky rocket your premium, as they may think what happens if you go to a casino, rinse some guy of all his cash, he follows you home, and either bricks your window or breaks in gives you a kick in and takes his money plus extras back?? I know it a strange way of looking at it but it does happen, some companys (like us) refuse anyone who is a bookmaker or sports better.

I know a lot of people say you can get round it and just dont say out or say a little white lie, and yes, there is a chance you will get away with it, but what happens if some one robs ya place, steals everything, ur companys investigates (any claim over about £5k with send a claims investigater) they find out you havent told them your occupation, and they just refuse to pay out, which they are fully able to do and you can't do jack about it as it says in black and white about informing of all info. End of the day mate, all insurances companys are out to make money and they dont make money by paying out claims, so will do all they can to riggle out of it!!!

What you may get if you call ur company is a quote but just with a few exclusions, for example they may say, they wont insure you if it turns out a theft occured by someone who lost money to you etc etc.

[Jon MW]

Change your address to the correct one, much more hassle than it's worth if you have an accident...

On the job thing, I guess it depends how visible you are. If you just play online you'll probably be fine but when I had an accident I got a letter through informing me that my job on my policy was being changed (when I rung up to query they were quoting me all sorts of things they'd obviously found from Mr Google). Additional premium was about £900 (not even sure if that was for full year) but I got that waived when I told them to look at the recording from when I signed up as I did explain exactly the situation originally and was told "journalist" was fine. When I renew next year though, gonna have to be down as "sports personality" or some bs. Might have to look to change...

Don't put anything about sports, they get a high rating.

Having said that, as was previously briefly alluded to - for car insurance, age is far far more of an influence than occupation so it shouldn't be too surprising if it doesn't make that much of a difference.

[gatso]

what's the reasoning behind the uk insurance industry having different, seemingly random, ratings for different professions? I've never had to declare what I do while getting insured in any other country

[thetank]

Wasn't applicable there maybe. Everyone in Albania has the same job, they all work at the Mill.

[Jon MW]

what's the reasoning behind the uk insurance industry having different, seemingly random, ratings for different professions? I've never had to declare what I do while getting insured in any other country

No it really is random.

In my experience underwriters are superstitious simpletons when it comes to setting premiums, they might as well work it out from tealeaves the level of rigour they put in their analysis.

FWIW when I looked at insurance claims statistics for Hastings Direct, the only factors that made a significant difference were age and gender.

[gatso]

Wasn't applicable there maybe. Everyone in Albania has the same job, they all work at the Mill.

[ ] I even know where albania is

[bolt pp]

Wasn't applicable there maybe. Everyone in Albania has the same job, they all work at the Mill.

[ ] I even know where albania is

Dover

[GlasgowBandit]

ur companys investigates (any claim over about £5k with send a claims investigater) they find out you havent told them your occupation, and they just refuse to pay out, which they are fully able to do and you can't do jack about it as it says in black and white about informing of all info. End of the day mate, all insurances companys are out to make money and they dont make money by paying out claims, so will do all they can to riggle out of it!!!

LOL this ain't correct.

1) Most insurannce companies will investogate claims over 1k.  The majority don't have the capabillity to investigate claims internally over any sort of value.  The will most probs get a Loss Adjuster involved.

2) You occupation is a material fact, when you sign up for your policy you confirm all details provided to be accurate and correct, so by telling a little white lie its the same as telling a big gian fib because if you lie once more than likely you will do it again.

3) Insurance companies don't do all they can to avoid paying claims, they make their money from investing your money in different markets.  Also they have re-insurance so for the claims that you make they have insurance for that.  They don't look not to pay claims if you give them a reason to not pay out then you deserve what you get really. 

[Amatay]

Admiral insurance ftw!! Just sorted everything out. I rang around a few companies and Admiral just put down poker player as my occupation and i got it 350 cheaper, weeeeeeeeeeeee

I highly reccommend all poker fish clarify their current policies because if u did have a serious accident ur policy may not be valid.

[bolt pp]

stop trying to rob car insurance and go play some poker you fckin fraudster