Claims

Commercial Claims 

In the unfortunate event of a loss, we are here to assist you.  There is a duty under all policies to notify any loss promptly to Insurers.  If you are involved in an accident or loss, please contact us with the details at your first opportunity.  This will ensure your claim is processed as quickly as possible.  Our aim is to put you back in the same position as before the loss.

Emergencies

Our office hours are Monday to Friday 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.   If you are unable to speak to us at the time, please do what you can to prevent an increase in loss or damage.

Property Damage and or Business Interruption Claims

We will arrange for the appropriate claim form to be sent to you and where necessary we will ensure that a loss adjuster is appointed quickly.

In the event of any incident, it is your responsibility to act as if uninsured and to mitigate any loss to the best of your ability.  Insurers appreciate that emergency repairs may be necessary, however, for other repairs/replacements you should obtain two comparable estimates and forward these to us for Insurer's approval before you proceed.

If the loss involves attempted theft or malicious damage, you must report this to the Police.  If you do not, it may affect how your claim is settled.

If your policy includes cover for Business Interruption, please take what immediate action is necessary to limit losses due to your inability to trade.

Employers, Public and Products Liability Claims

These covers insure you for a legal liability and will not provide any payment unless you are legally responsible.  With the introduction of the Woolf Reforms in April 1999, it is very important that you notify us of all possible claims immediately.

You must not admit liability to a third party in any circumstances, as this may prejudice your Insurer's position and in extreme circumstances could lead to Insurers declining liability under the policy.  If you receive a letter from a solicitor please forward it directly to us immediately, unanswered.

Full details of the incident and any relevant correspondence should be forwarded to us immediately, together with a completed accident report form which we will send to you following your notification.

Hired in Plant Claims

Normally, a policy covering Hired in Plant will also cover continuing hire charges which the hire company are entitled to charge until the claim is settled.  For any loss involving Hired in Plant, please ensure we are provided with full details as quickly as possible.  Any delay is likely to lead to unnecessary hire costs being incurred which may affect your claims record.

Motor Claims

All incidents must be reported to your Insurer immediately.  This can be done by either telephoning us or reporting the incident to your Insurer directly via their dedicated helpline.  You may also be required to complete a claim form.

What do I do if my policy covers repairs to my vehicle and I wish to claim for costs?

Most Insurers offer excellent repair services and on most occasions through selected repairers, which offer:

• A network of repairers who will respond with speed and guaranteed quality to ensure that your vehicle is back on the road as quickly as possible.
• Each appointed repairer has authority to begin work on your vehicle without waiting for an engineer's inspection (subject to the engineer's verbal approval with the repairer) so that the vehicle can be repaired without delay.
• You may also be entitled to the use of a courtesy vehicle whilst your vehicle is being repaired by an approved repairer subject to availability.  Please note that all courtesy vehicles are "Class A" which refers to compact cars such as the Vauxhall Corsa, Ford Fiesta, etc.

If you do not wish to use your Insurer's approved repairer, please obtain a detailed estimate for repairs and forward this to us in order that we can seek your Insurer's approval prior to any repairs being undertaken.

Will I have to pay anything towards the costs of the repair?

Once repairs have been completed, you should pay the repairer any excess under the policy and VAT if the vehicle is used in connection with a VAT registered business.

What do I do if someone claims against me?

It is imperative that any correspondence you receive from others involved in the accident should be passed to us immediately.  Please note that all correspondence should be unanswered by you.  Failure to handle correspondence in this matter may prejudice your Insurer's position when dealing with your claim, potentially limiting the protection afforded by your policy in respect of this incident.  When we receive correspondence of this nature from you, we will forward it to your Insurer immediately who will deal with this on your behalf.

What if I am prosecuted for an offence arising from the accident?

Pass any correspondence to us which informs you of an impending prosecution, inquest or fatal accident inquiry.  We will then forward it to your Insurers who will deal with on your behalf.

What do I do if an incident occurs resulting in windscreen damage only?

Simply telephone your Insurer's Helpline (some have a dedicated line for windscreen incidents) or contact us and you will be referred to a specialist vehicle windscreen replacement company.  They will arrange directly with you a convenient date and time to visit you and repair or replace the windscreen accordingly.  Please check the relevant sections of your policy as your excess for damage to your windscreen may be lower than your overall policy excess.

What should I do if my vehicle is stolen?

If your car is damaged as a result of an attempted theft or is stolen, you must notify the Police immediately.  Following this, you will then report the incident as you would any other, by using your Insurer's helpline or contacting us.  Once the loss of your vehicle is logged with your Insurer, this will normally be kept in abeyance for a 4 week period in order that this will give sufficient time if the Police recover the vehicle.  If it is recovered, then please contact your Insurer/us in order that any necessary repairs can be arranged as normal.

However, if your vehicle is not recovered within the abeyance period, we will then request the necessary documentation from you such as the V5, MOT Certificate etc.  Please note that any settlement offered by your Insurer will be based on the market value of the vehicle at the time of the loss.  Also if your vehicle is subject to a leasing agreement or hire purchase then the amount above the market value (interest, fees etc) are not covered under your policy.  Please advise us accordingly if your vehicle is subject to such an agreement.