Advice on Public liability insurance?

[macka09]

Hi guys. Are any of you able to offer suggestion for the above please? I’m being quoted £1100 to cover myself in domestic properties. Seems extremely high to me, although I’ve not had it before. Any advice would be great. Thanks.

 

[Ric2013]

I pay a couple of hundred. Not sure where you are based or whether you have a massive turnover, but would suggest an independent insurance broker. I use AK Insurance Services in Colchester (local to me).

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Rhino trade insurance I found was the cheapest for us

 

[Harvest Fields]

Mines half that mate. I’m with Direct Line and it covers me for plumbing in commercial as well.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Mines half that mate. I’m with Direct Line and it covers me for plumbing in commercial as well.

Inc hot works ?

 

[Ric2013]

Inc hot works ?

Blowtorch is covered, but not use of angle grinder IIRC. I have work in small commercial premises cover too, but not large commercial. I quoted once for works in a children's activity centre in a unit in an industrial centre and apparently that was still considered 'small' enough to be covered. My price will be slightly out of date - as you know I'm abroad and currently off the tools.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Inc hot works ?

Yes mate. I’m also covered for plumbing in school, doctors, dentists (hospitals also apparently, but I’ll never work in a hospital).

 

[macka09]

Do your policies include personal injury and legal cover lads? Or do you get that cover in a different policy?

 

[Ric2013]

Mine does not.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Do your policies include personal injury and legal cover lads? Or do you get that cover in a different policy?

Sure mine does but haven’t checked to be honest.

 

[king of pipes]

I use a broker called Aplan they are a nationwide insurance broker they found me a good deal covers all the types of work I do, that's what you need to make sure each trade you do it's covered plumbing, heating, electrics, tiling, carpentry, minor building, hot work, working a height. I have 5 million cover and legal cover is included , I have accident and sickness cover separately but it can be costly depending on age . Regards kop

 

[Knappers]

I have 1M liability, 100K indemnity, tool cover and personal injury pay for less than £500

 

[Last Plumber]

Hi guys. Are any of you able to offer suggestion for the above please? I’m being quoted £1100 to cover myself in domestic properties. Seems extremely high to me, although I’ve not had it before. Any advice would be great. Thanks.

Try QBE. We go through a broker to get it. Ours is similar to that but it does cover the works for us!

For domestic only I would expect less than £500 at the moment. Check the small print thoroughly.

 

[macka09]

That’s what is concerning me with all this. I had a quote sent through. Seemed a good price but then reading on, things like the height I’m covered to work at was reduced from 12m to 8m. Not that I’m planning on doing much above floor height but you never know. Also, I know most claims are scrutinised so that the insurance company get out of paying up so I don’t actually know what is worth paying for and what isn’t.

 

[Ric2013]

That’s what is concerning me with all this. I had a quote sent through. Seemed a good price but then reading on, things like the height I’m covered to work at was reduced from 12m to 8m. Not that I’m planning on doing much above floor height but you never know. Also, I know most claims are scrutinised so that the insurance company get out of paying up so I don’t actually know what is worth paying for and what isn’t.

Worth getting the actual policy document. Does 8m mean 8 metre above ground level? In which case anything above 3rd floor level is out...

 

[Last Plumber]

That’s what is concerning me with all this. I had a quote sent through. Seemed a good price but then reading on, things like the height I’m covered to work at was reduced from 12m to 8m. Not that I’m planning on doing much above floor height but you never know. Also, I know most claims are scrutinised so that the insurance company get out of paying up so I don’t actually know what is worth paying for and what isn’t.

Well worth a good read. We have had quotes in the past for industrial, commercial and domestic Plumbing and Heating which did not cover industrial boilers or associated pipework. Some have had a height restriction of 10 M which might not seem too bad but it also depends on what they mean by working height as mentioned above and the work you might take on later in the year when you've forgotten what the restrictions are on your policy.

I go through ours with a fine tooth comb and drive the broker mad but it is our company, customers, employees etc. who lose out if the cheeky monkeys wriggle out of paying for something. I make sure it covers everything we do and it costs but it's there in black n white.

 

[macka09]

Is legal expenses something i should have included guys? I'm thinking it would be best to have it. These people are tying me in knots

 

[ShaunCorbs]

It’s one of them depends how much

 

[macka09]

It’s one of them depends how much

In terms of what mate? How much it bumps the price up or how much cover?

 

[macka09]

I can certainly see why people stay on the books thats for sure.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

How much it bumps it up

 

[macka09]

quite a bit if I'm honest.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

I wouldn’t then if it was 30-100 then I would think about it

 

[Ben-gee]

I wouldn’t bother. Domestically you should be able to sort things out yourself with a worst case scenario of claiming on your public liability.

What you need to do, and experience is the only way, is learn to read potential customers and avoid those that raise the hackles - instinct is good, don’t ignore it and don’t be afraid to walk away from potential work.

 

[macka09]

Again thanks for the replies. I think I'm pretty good to be honest, and if I felt a potential customer was going to be an issue, I'd probably walk away rather than have the headache