Music downloads not covered - Which?

A third of leading home insurers' standard policies do not cover the loss of digital information stored on mobile phones, MP3 players and other portable digital devices, according to Which?.

The consumer champion said music lovers risk losing hundreds of pounds worth of digital music as a result of home insurer not offering protection for downloads.

Which? chief executive, Peter Vicary Smith, said: "It’s surprising that, at a time when the popularity of digital downloads is soaring, insurers aren’t offering music lovers the protection they need.

"People who buy a lot of digital music should double check their home insurance policy to make sure downloads are covered. If they’re not, we’d recommend switching to a provider that has entered the digital age."

Which? identified insurers including Budget and Esure that don't cover music downloads on their standard home insurance policies.

Those that do offer 'digital information cover' include Direct Line and Privilege (up to £2,000), NFU Mutual (1,000) and Hiscox (£2,500).