Home Insurance legal cover

jem16

If you have legal cover on your home insurance does it always cover employment matters such as fighting an unfair dismissal case?

Or is each policy different?

Savvy_Spender_South

I must admit i did not think it covered any employment legal unless specifically worded, but then i have seperate insurance for business matters so perhaps i just have not looked closely enough?

dacouch

The majority of Home Legal Policies cover employment disputes, however they generally have an exclusion period eg the policy has to have been running for a certain amount of months before the incident occurred (This could also include any prior connected incidents connected with the employment dispute).

As with any Insurance policy cover varies from company to company so it is best to read the policy wording for your policy

*Scarlett

I think most policies cover employment issues but the dispute would need to have started after you took the policy out.

I would ring the legal cover helpline. They will be able to tell you if you are covered. Normally these policies are a separate cover so it won't be recorded as a claim or incident that would affect your normal house insurance. You have paid for legal advice so why not use it.

I have read though that they are reluctant to take on claims that are below a certain % of success but have no personal experience of this.

jem16

dacouch wrote: »

The majority of Home Legal Policies cover employment disputes, however they generally have an exclusion period eg the policy has to have been running for a certain amount of months before the incident occurred (This could also include any prior connected incidents connected with the employment dispute).

No prior incidents and insurance has been in force for a while.

As with any Insurance policy cover varies from company to company so it is best to read the policy wording for your policy

It says £50,000 legal cover provided by DAS Family Legal Protection. Home Insurance Policy is by Hiscox. Having read the policy it's not too clear although DAS website does mention it as being included in their family legal protection.

simpav

Re Scarlett's response

When we tried to use our cover we were told that there had to be a greater than 50% chance of being successful.

andyd

Most legal expenses policies will only cover you if the insurer (or their solicitors) feels your claim has a more than 50% chance of success. Obviously you need to read the exact terms and conditions.

The insurer isn't going to risk its own money on a case that is more likely to lose than not so such policies aren't as valuable as is commonly thought.

jem16

andyd wrote: »

Most legal expenses policies will only cover you if the insurer (or their solicitors) feels your claim has a more than 50% chance of success. Obviously you need to read the exact terms and conditions.

At the moment the issue is whether or not the legal cover includes employment disputes rather than whether or not the insurer will take it on.

andyd

DAS policies often do include employment matters but check with them.

They will also insist on you using their own "approved" solicitor (i.e. one who has paid to be on their panel) rather than one of your own choosing though this type of stance is being challenged in the European court.

jem16

andyd wrote: »

DAS policies often do include employment matters but check with them.

Checked with Hiscox. They say it isn't covered and refer to this paragraph;

We do not cover any claim relating to the following;

1.A contract regarding your trade, profession, business or employment.