British holidaymakers’ £1.5 billion missing items bill

8th September 2006

British holidaymakers have racked up £1.5 billion of missing items in the last three years, with £839 million of possessions lost and a further £624 million stolen.*

New research from Direct Line Travel Insurance has revealed that more than one in 10 Brits abroad (12 per cent) have had over £500 of personal possessions stolen in the last three years, with a similar proportion (11 per cent) having misplaced items worth that amount.

The most popular items to lose are clothing (28 per cent), sunglasses (23 per cent) and cameras (20 per cent), with British holidaymakers most commonly leaving their belongings behind in hotel rooms (19 per cent), at the airport (16 per cent) and on the beach (15 per cent).

Although having possessions stolen is less common than losing them,** it can be more expensive, with money (34 per cent), purses and wallets (29 per cent) and credit cards (15 per cent) commonly targeted by thieves. But despite fears about mugging and pick pockets, one in four victims of theft (24 per cent) most recently had things taken from their hotel rooms.

The Direct Line Travel Insurance research also found that lost or stolen items can have a broader impact on people’s holidays. One in 10 holidaymakers (9 per cent) who have suffered a loss or theft admitted that they were unable to afford to do everything they wanted to, with others needing to borrow money from fellow travellers (6 per cent) or have cash sent to them from home (5 per cent).

And as well as having their holidays affected, the study found that two thirds of holidaymakers (66 per cent) were also unable to replace the missing items for something of equal value upon their return to the UK – 11 per cent of these because they had no insurance and couldn’t afford to do so.

But despite their experiences, holidaymakers continue to travel without insurance. Fifteen per cent of holidaymakers who have lost possessions and 10 per cent of holidaymakers who have been victims of theft admitted that they went on their most recent holiday without travel insurance.

Chris Price, Business Manager at Direct Line Travel Insurance:

“The summer holiday is many people’s largest annual purchase but it can be ruined by loss or theft. This can often be made worse by people being unable to replace the items upon their return home, either because they have no insurance or because of inadequate cover.

“We would advise all holidaymakers to protect themselves by taking simple, sensible precautions and by making sure they are insured against any loses in case the worst happens.”

Direct Line Travel Insurance offers new-for-old claims cover, offering brand new replacements for lost or stolen items. Seventeen per cent of holidaymakers who have lost possessions or had them stolen had them replaced by items of a lower value.

For more information, log on to www.directline.com/travel.

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Carmel McCarthy/Direct Line Press Office
0208 256 2178
Email: carmel.mccarthy@directline.com


Notes to Editors:

Research was carried out online by YouGov Plc who interviewed a sample of 2,227 adults between 28 and 31 July 2006. Results are weighted to be representative of the GB adult population. YouGov is a member of the British Polling Council.

* The adult GB population is 57,843,100 (ONS). Seventy-one per cent of British adults have been on an overseas holiday in the last three years, of whom nine per cent have lost possessions (YouGov). The average cost of lost possessions over the last three years is £227.06 (YouGov). Therefore:

57,843,100 x 0.71 x 0.09 x 227.06 = £839,253,288.88

Six per cent of British adults who have been on an overseas holiday in the last three years have had possessions stolen. The average cost of stolen possessions over the last three years is £277.73. Therefore:

57,843,100 x 0.71 x 0.06 x 277.73 = £684,358,953.34

The total amount lost and stolen over the last three years is therefore:

684,358,953.34 + 839,253,288.88 = £1,523,612,242.22

** Six per cent of British adults who have been on an overseas holiday in the last three years have had possessions stolen. Nine per cent have lost possessions.

Direct Line Insurance plc, authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Calls may be recorded. Conditions apply.