Top Christmas present could damage your TV

by Richard Kilner

Story link: Top Christmas present could damage your TV

Halifax Home Insurance has issued a warning regarding the Nintendo Wii, one of this year’s top Christmas presents. The firm says that the console can cause damage to televisions.

Ironically it is the Wii’s unique selling point that is responsible for its potentially damaging ways. The controls for the console are hand-held and used to mimic on-screen actions, such as swinging the controls to play a tennis stroke for example.

Unfortunately this means that players not paying full attention can quite easily hurl their controllers at their televisions, causing damage that could run into hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

The Halifax commissioned a survey which revealed the Wii’s prominent position on the most wanted presents list. A fifth of all respondents stated that they intended to buy one this Christmas.

In light of the Wii’s popularity, the Halifax is strongly advising policyholders to make sure that their insurer is aware of the presence of any high cost goods (such as televisions) they possess, just in case they are damaged during a particularly energetic bout of Wii playing.

Martyn Foulds, Senior Claims Manager for Halifax Home Insurance, has seen recent cases of claims made after individuals accidentally let go of the Wii controller.

As plasma televisions can cost up to £2,000, Foulds firmly advises people to make it clear to their insurer if they possess such an expensive item, just in case the Wii controller slips from their grasp and damages their TV.