What not to do in an Indemnity Insurance Claim

Congratulations, you've got yourself a solid Professional Indemnity Insurance policy and your business is protected should something go wrong! Let's hope that you don't need to make a claim on it anytime soon. 

If in the unfortunate event that you need to claim, what are you supposed to do? Is what has gone wrong covered? What about making an actual claim? How do you go about that? Rhino Trade Insurance is here to help!

Make sure to use your quality piece of cover wisely. Let's spend the next 5 minutes explaining what your insurance covers, when it can get to work and how to make a claim plus, what you should not do in an indemnity insurance claim

When should you claim?

If something goes wrong on-site or during your consultation period with a customer, then timing is of the essence. We'd recommend getting in touch with Rhino (or whoever your insurance broker is) at the earliest possible moment. 

Not to blow our own trumpets, but we are experts in the trade insurance field. Don't stress for another minute, and give our team a call to flag up any potential problems you may have. This will help you in the long run:

As experts, Rhino has a dedicated claims team that will get involved immediately. We have excellent processes in place to avoid any sticky situations building up until they are out of control. After explaining your situation and how you are wondering if your indemnity insurance may cover you, our team will know exactly what to do and work out whether to settle the claim or call upon the legal bigwigs. 

Secondly, in our policy wording (which we are sure you've read!) You will see that you need to inform the insurer as quickly as possible if a claim is to be made. Sometimes, notifying the insurer late can cause an insurer to reject (repudiate) the claim. The simple fact of the matter is: only delay as long as necessary.

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When to make a claim?

So you know what mistakes to avoid and when to get your claim in regarding your Indemnity Insurance. But you may wonder at what point "should I get in touch with my insurance company". What may seem at first like a moan and whinge from a client may spiral into a large claim. 

If a customer is murmuring that your work isn't up to scratch or is generally a bit of a pain, you may want to get your affairs in order. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. General housekeeping of any documents and evidence would be great to store in a file at this point. 

Clients are often sound and can accept simple mistakes or quick fixes to get them on their way. Sometimes though, an indemnity claim may be their only option, so you're best to inform your insurer or us in these situations:

• If you get any criticism of the work you've done. 
• If there are persistent complaints against your work.
• A clear threat of a claim being made.
• A refusal to pay by the customer for the work you did.
• Suppose you are worried that you or an employee made a mistake or wasn't honest with the customer (as indemnity insurance covers more than just mistakes). It can also include dodgy advice. 

This comprehensive list gives you a clearer understanding of what constitutes making an indemnity claim or informing your insurer. But what should you avoid doing?

Things to avoid when making an indemnity insurance claim?

Trying to fix all your issues yourself can only accelerate the chances of a claim being unsuccessful. That's why you should contact the claims team first to get all of their knowledge and insight. Here are a few pointers on what not to do:

• Don't just admit defeat. This can reduce and weaken your insurance provider's position, ultimately making it harder to fight your side. 
• Do not try to resolve the claim yourself. Paying out a claim before notifying your insurer or settling anything isn't the right way to go. 
• It's also good to keep your cards close to your chest. If the claimant gets wind of your indemnity insurance, they may push for more money. Once you know more, let us know, and we will handle it. 
• Lastly, avoid taking actions into your own hands and calling a solicitor. This could void your insurance policy/ claim. 

Who to call when making a claim?

The best team to get in touch with when making a claim would be our' claims team'. I know, creative name, right?

For any tradesperson with indemnity insurance, you want to have a straightforward way of getting hold of the right people and have a seamless process to alleviate any stress. At Rhino Trade Insurance, our expert claims team do just that. We have exceptional systems in place to get a claim logged and processed within 24 hours. 

To get more of an idea of how our indemnity insurance claims work, have a look at this guide, give us a call at 01455 852100 or email claims@rhinoprotectinsurance.com.

Worried about who you can trust with claims? We have thousands of 5* reviews about our team, products, and claims. Check them out now. 

Why Choose Rhino Trade Insurance?

Rhino offers quality Professional Indemnity Insurance at an extremely good price. You can take out a policy for just under £20 a month. If you find yourself in a spot of trouble, our easy and pain-free process will have you sorted in no time. 

Our team is based in the UK, so if you are considering your indemnity insurance options, why not call us now at 0116 243 7904 for a quick quote? Or head to our website and have a look at what you could get.