Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

Just had an interesting experience and wondered if anyone else has had the same problem. Getting a new house AND I own a couple of spotted pythons. You know, little guys. Well, as I'm getting the policy written, they ask if I have any exotic animals, turtles, ok, Geckos, ok, Python.. PYTHON!!!! oh NO!!!

So after a call to underwriting, who I am more than sure heard no more than the word Python, said we can't cover you, they are too much of a liability. Because, I'm sure, they're gonna get loose and eat the neighbor. So. I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem, and if you have, what did you do about it? My dog is more likely to hurt you with his toenails than these snakes are.

Right now I am of two minds about this. One side of me is vastly amused at the common ignorance of people and the "creative" solution to my problem. The other is irritated beyond belief at the common ignorance of people/companies and how common this is. My agent said few people would write policies for any python. Utter ridiculousness. So I wonder, especially for those that own the larger boids, what do you do?

Hoping lots of folks chime in on this one,
KC

And the only ppl that need to know are you, your friends, and your customers (if you breed). Other than that, nobody really 'needs' to know about them. However you might be able to tell them that they are the world's smallest specie of python. I know they're actually not, just giving you tips on what to say to retards with authority. Good luck,
Josh

>>Hi,
>>
>> Just had an interesting experience and wondered if anyone else has had the same problem. Getting a new house AND I own a couple of spotted pythons. You know, little guys. Well, as I'm getting the policy written, they ask if I have any exotic animals, turtles, ok, Geckos, ok, Python.. PYTHON!!!! oh NO!!!
>>
>> So after a call to underwriting, who I am more than sure heard no more than the word Python, said we can't cover you, they are too much of a liability. Because, I'm sure, they're gonna get loose and eat the neighbor. So. I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem, and if you have, what did you do about it? My dog is more likely to hurt you with his toenails than these snakes are.
>>
>> Right now I am of two minds about this. One side of me is vastly amused at the common ignorance of people and the "creative" solution to my problem. The other is irritated beyond belief at the common ignorance of people/companies and how common this is. My agent said few people would write policies for any python. Utter ridiculousness. So I wonder, especially for those that own the larger boids, what do you do?
>>
>> Hoping lots of folks chime in on this one,
>> KC

I agree, off the topic alittle but.......I rent and when I started to look for places to live they asked "do you have any pets"....Well of course, I said I have 3 snakes. They said He** no.

So I learned to keep my snakes on a "need to know" basis.

Trouble is, if they ask the specific question and you lie, then in the event of a claim, your policy will be invalid.
Some insurance companies ask if you have already been turned down for cover, and want to know why.
G

Does anyone have their collection actually on a policy and covered for loss, like in the case of a fire or something?
-----

Just kidding,.... but seriously,. there was a similar thread recently in the burmese forum about insurance for breeding colonies and I was paying attention because this is something I need soon. I don't remember the name of the insurance carrier, but it was in there. You may want to take a look. Though how ANYONE could truly consider spotted pythons as any kind of an added risk is BEYOND ME!

>>Hi,
>>
>> Just had an interesting experience and wondered if anyone else has had the same problem. Getting a new house AND I own a couple of spotted pythons. You know, little guys. Well, as I'm getting the policy written, they ask if I have any exotic animals, turtles, ok, Geckos, ok, Python.. PYTHON!!!! oh NO!!!
>>
>> So after a call to underwriting, who I am more than sure heard no more than the word Python, said we can't cover you, they are too much of a liability. Because, I'm sure, they're gonna get loose and eat the neighbor. So. I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem, and if you have, what did you do about it? My dog is more likely to hurt you with his toenails than these snakes are.
>>
>> Right now I am of two minds about this. One side of me is vastly amused at the common ignorance of people and the "creative" solution to my problem. The other is irritated beyond belief at the common ignorance of people/companies and how common this is. My agent said few people would write policies for any python. Utter ridiculousness. So I wonder, especially for those that own the larger boids, what do you do?
>>
>> Hoping lots of folks chime in on this one,
>> KC
-----
It isn't "Ideas" that fail or succeed,... it is the "Systems" which are instilled to launch and sustain the idea that either fail or succeed.>[Me.]

Here’s one discussion we’ve had of that topic (click here). But you’ve already learned that lesson, so I guess you’ve already told your agent to look for another insurer? Or, you’re in the market for a new agent?

-Joan

I have a couple of freinds who LOST current homeowners policies and the excuse was "presence of exotic animals". Mentioning that you have any sort of exotics is just like saying you have a dog with a bite history or one of the dogs on the various dog lists. Best to never mention animals when you get insurance. Though, during a home inspection that may be hard to explain.
The reasoning someone mentioned is that insurance companies are covering their butts....albeit with a huge amount of ignorance.

Around here the local municipalities have requested owners are large boids and dangerous exotics to register them with the premise that the EMT people need to know if they are in danger. Reasonable sounding, but gee, enough to make even me suspicious.

There was a bit of a blurb on this in Reptiles magazine a month or two ago...in the letters to the editor.
-----
Sonya

Obviously, I was not the only one with this problem; not terribly surprised over that. My solution to this was to have the snakes suddenly "disappear." Snakes? What snakes? That cage? oh its a leftover I haven't gotten rid of yet. He reasked the question and my answer was, "Nope, sure don't."

Actually in the discussion with the agent he said that this was common, even mentioned one family with a snake collection that they couldn't insure. I think they had boas of some sort. However, he said much the same as ya'll did, just do not mention them to the company. Ever. As I've never heard of an insurance company inspecting the house, we should be good. Even if they do, they can go visit a friend for that brief time.

I didn't think to ask at the time if this policy was just against "pythons" or if it was for all snakes, period. However, should I be put under the gun, I plan to swear they are a strange version of Corn snake.

Thanks for all the comments, it's always an education, too bad the Powers That Be haven't had one.

KC
The owner of the two invisiable, but VERY dangerous spotted pythons. :-P

SF dropped my policy immediately upon hearing about our critters.. I use another company now that doesn't give a crap. E-mail for the company name.

--Bonnie

You mite try reading your local ordinances and codes for the definition of “Exotic Animal”.

In Las Vegas a snake is classified as “Exotic” only if it is venomous.

Therefore, If it is not “Exotic”, then it must be a Normal pet.