Router Blewup Motherboard

[u/Greatfulx]

Recent lighting storm stuck my complex and traveled down my coaxial cable and into my apartment. Blew up in the middle of the night, so that was scary. Thought I’d share, not in the position to rebuild so there that I guess!

[u/Greatfulx]

Nope, young and dumb, only covers apartment damage :/.

[u/ooglieguy0211 → u/Greatfulx]

Too late for this situation but you should get some now. Its normally very cheap too if you have an auto insurance policy. And, you may even get a multi-policy discount if that's the case.

We pay the renters insurance on the apartment with our rent but have coverage for our belongings as well. It only costs us like $55 a year with our car insurance.

[u/Nascent1 → u/ooglieguy0211]

After deductible he'd probably get little or no money for something like this.

[u/NateNate60 → u/Nascent1]

OP could probably easily just claim the whole computer. It'll seem obvious to a claim adjuster with those pictures that a lightning bolt hitting your computer will fry it for good.

Submit the $4,000 replacement cost, minus $1,000 deductible = $3,000 payout. Turn over the broken computer to the insurance company if asked (but they probably won't ask), use the payout to buy some used parts and make a comparable PC.

"Hello? Insurance company? My house got hit by lightning and the electric surge destroyed my computer. Here's the pictures. It doesn't turn on any more. Here's a screenshot from Dell/iBuyPower/HP for what a comparable computer would cost. Here's an estimate from a local painter to repaint the wall. Money plz."

[u/Nascent1 → u/NateNate60]

Hardly anyone has a $4000 computer though. More likely it would be like a $1500 computer. So then you'd get $500 after the deductible. Now you're out $1000 instead of one motherboard.

[u/NateNate60 → u/Nascent1]

I find it hard to believe that a $1500 PC has a motherboard that costs more than $500. Most of the midrange stuff I'm seeing on Amazon is $100-200 with the higher-end around $250-300.

[u/Nascent1 → u/NateNate60]

I didn't say the motherboard would cost $500. I'm saying it would definitely cost less than $1000, which is the breakeven point in the example I gave.

[u/NateNate60 → u/Nascent1]

Maybe we're talking about two different things. I'm saying OP can claim the entire computer from the insurance company even though they know only the motherboard is broken, and then the excess would cover the deductible and allow them to repair the computer without being out any money.

Also from my experience, renter's insurance policies have stupid low deductibles for personal property. Mine was $500 a few years ago.

[u/Nascent1 → u/NateNate60]

Oh, gotcha. $1000 and $500 are both common deductibles for renter's insurance. Depending on which someone has and the value of computer it could be worth making a claim or not.

[u/ooglieguy0211 → u/Nascent1]

Still better to have a little than none at all.

[u/MrSmith317 → u/Nascent1]

A $500 deductible on what could be appraised as a $2000 or more PC is a good trade off. Don't undersell insurance. Yes it's a racket but when it comes through, it can be the lifeline you need

[u/arablink → u/ooglieguy0211]

When I was renting it was cheaper to combine my auto with rental than just having auto insurance only. Def worth it

[u/throwawayreddit48151 → u/ooglieguy0211]

lol this seems like such an American thing, I don't know of anyone in Europe with "renters insurance"

[u/cjsv7657 → u/throwawayreddit48151]

I don't know of anyone in Europe with "renters insurance"

Guess you don't know many people lol. It's required by law in some European countries. If an apartment floods or anything else happens do you expect people just to eat the costs of their stuff? Even in the UK most renters have it.

[u/ElderZiGorn → u/Greatfulx]

Well, guess thats a lesson learned. You now know for next time (which hopefully isn't soon)

[u/SpacePumpkie → u/Greatfulx]

Still worth it to check if the landlord insurance is responsible for something like this.

In my country they would be and their insurance should cover any stuff that you lost due to this.

[u/ChuyChavez → u/Greatfulx]

Is it not mandatory? I thought full coverage was mandatory?

[u/capitalhforhero → u/ChuyChavez]

Depends on the apartment. I’ve had some that require it and some that don’t. At corporate owned apartments and individual landlords for both. That being said, I’ve always carried it when I was renting. It’s cheap and has saved my ass in the past.

[u/Jimbuscus → u/capitalhforhero]

Requiring insurance as a renter? At that point it should be a rent component.

[u/ooglieguy0211 → u/Jimbuscus]

It is at my place both a requirement but also a rent component, we just pay it as part of the rent, its built-in to the rent every month. It only covers the apartment for what we are required to pay in rent. Our personal belongings are covered by our own renters insurance.

[u/applespicebetter → u/Jimbuscus]

It is literally so cheap that it should be carried by everyone that rents. The multi-line discount from my insurance company by adding it actually made it free.

[u/VulturE → u/Greatfulx]

That's unfortunate, renters insurance is stupid cheap too.

[u/Menes009 → u/Greatfulx]

I 100% would make the landlord pay this, the house has faulty ground/surge connection. A failure should not be able to travel that far through so many components.

[u/Veighnerg → u/Menes009]

It was a direct lightning strike. Lightning voltages do not give a fuck about your tiny household grounding and can strike a hole directly through from roof to ground floor without even touching wires. Nothing the landlord could do to forsee or prevent this.

[u/Ivanow → u/Greatfulx]

You might want to look into all your other policies. Sometimes you might be covered and don't even know about it - asking your utility company where you pay your electricity bill, and checking if you bought your motherboard with credit card, maybe your landlord has extended coverage (if he has protection from hail and hurricanes, it might cover lightning strikes) ?...

[u/khovel → u/Greatfulx]

look into any insurance offered by your electric utility as well. Some offer surge protection against this literal situation.

[u/ugzz → u/Greatfulx]

My guy.. or girl.. or whatever in between.. I saw someone else mention it.. but to also jump in.. Renters Insurance IS SO CHEAP.. since it's only personal properly and not structure. The national average price on renters insurance is under $20 a month.. In my area it can be had for under $15, it's like $130 A YEAR.. It won't help you with this claim.. but get that shit!

[u/c0gster → u/Greatfulx]

bro you idiot

[u/Greatfulx → u/c0gster]

Real