Christmas decorations roasting on an open fire. Reindeer stolen from your lawn.
Such are among the 12 most common insurance claims, according to London-based insurer Aviva PLC, which recently released its list of “regular festive fiascos” that it handled during December and January over the last five years.
To avoid a claim, here’s a list homeowners might want to check twice:
- One-hundred-and-ten cracked TVs, knocked over while customers were putting up or taking down Christmas decorations.
- Seventy-seven candle calamities, with candle centerpieces burning dining tables, flames setting fire to Christmas decorations and wax spilled on carpets.
- Sixty-eight carpets and floors stained or damaged by water from real Christmas trees.
- Twenty-seven Christmas party mishaps where possessions were lost or stolen while customers were celebrating. Popular items included mobile phones, jewelry and watches.
- Fifteen items accidentally thrown out with discarded wrapping paper. Lost possessions included eyeglasses, earrings and hearing aids.
- Eleven instances of feet going through ceilings while customers were retrieving Christmas decorations from their attics.
- Seven sets of lights caused fires when they over-heated.
- Six cookers were destroyed while cooking Christmas dinner, with pans and pots dropped on hobs and hard-working ovens catching fire.
- Five ornamental reindeer have been stolen from gardens.
- Four Christmas card catastrophes: a pot of ink knocked onto a carpet, a phone and a china centerpiece smashed while writing Christmas cards, and spilling superglue on a sofa while making handmade cards.
- Two gold rings: One customer was making mince pies and took off her rings while she was preparing pastry. Unfortunately, they got thrown out with the rubbish when tidying up.
- One case of Santa’s sleigh crashing into a house and damaging a doorway, when the horses pulling the vehicle became startled.