Stolen Bike from NL Resurfaces in Poland, Insurer Refuses Repayment
A bicycle stolen from a Dutch man during a New Year’s Eve festival has resurfaced in Poland, but his insurer refuses to refund him as it was outside the covered geographical area. The theft took place in 2019 while the man was participating in the ‘New Year’s Dive’ event in Dortmund, Germany.
The victim, Rob van der Meer, had insured his bike worth €5,000 through Nationale-Nederlanden (NN). He filed a claim in 2019, but NN rejected it, citing that the theft occurred outside the Netherlands, Belgium, or Luxembourg, where coverage was applicable.
To Van der Meer’s surprise, the stolen bike recently appeared in an online ad in Poland. He recognized it due to distinctive details like a customized seat post and original serial number. He contacted the seller, who claimed to have purchased it in Germany.
Van der Meer reached out to NN again, emphasizing that the bike was found, but the insurer stood by their initial decision, as the bike was not returned to the Netherlands.
NN’s policy states that coverage applies only to the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Moreover, they require policyholders to take ‘reasonable efforts’ to recover the stolen item.
Van der Meer, disappointed, plans to challenge NN’s decision. "It’s ridiculous that after all this time and effort, I’m still no closer to getting my bike back, or even compensation," he said.
This case highlights the importance of thoroughly understanding insurance policies, especially the geographical limits and recovery requirements.
