Product/Public liability insurance

x12yhp

Hi Guys,

Having a bit of trouble here. New start up, sole trader and I will be buying cleaning chemicals from a manufacturer and selling onwards to others in the trade (not the general public at this stage). It sounds pretty simple but I cannot get any quotes!

I have a couple of problems which seem to keep coming up.

1) Chemicals can sometimes be hazardous. Immediately that has insurers running the other direction.

2) I am a new start and thus they, again, run the other way.

Any suggestions on what to do? There are endless people doing this same sort of thing so there must be a better way that running without insurance for a year until the group 2 insurers will talk to me!!

Thanks

wallacebob

I work in a specialised industry, and found insurance difficult.
Phone as many companies/brokers as possible. Find out who the main insurer is for your competitors, they will be better at risking the situation.
I eventually found Hiscox good, on a continuous policy. But I needed to have lots of answers ready, and they wanted to see evidence of trading/business like VAT reg, client base or a website!

dacouch

Try Camberford Law and Sutcliffe Insurance

x12yhp

Thanks guys. I will try Camberford law.

I have asked a couple of others in the same trade what they are doing about it. In practice my liability would be quite limited since my customer would be the seller to the end user whilst the manufacturer is, well... the manufacturer!

All the best

Adam

InsideInsurance

Hiscox have very good policies but their pricing tends to reflect that.

A good local broker should really be able to assist you. I was impressed by a lass called Katy who works for O.C.Commercial when I was looking to get my PI/ PL/ EL insurance as she really went the extra mile - didn't end up buying from her as she couldnt beat my over drinks with the underwriter approach but got massively closer than anyone else managed

x12yhp

I have at least one quote now, thankfully!

Hiscox were not interested... they don't cover that kind of business.

paddyrg

Glad you have a quote at least! But don't stop there, I had quotes for a few days filming equipment hire and made the mistake of taking the first policy/price offered (I was green). Now I pay the same for 4 years cover as some bright spark got me to pay for 4 weeks. In a niche you can be held to ransom, but keep looking, sometimes a new broker/underwriter will be interested in breaking into an expensive niche!

dizsiebubba

I think Chaucer will cover this as long as you aren't re-packaging or re-labeling the products and all sales are UK based - they are a Lloyds Underwriter so are very flexible.

Source: I am a broker with a company i won't try to promote on here and find them to be very good!

dacouch

dizsiebubba wrote: »

I think Chaucer will cover this as long as you aren't re-packaging or re-labeling the products and all sales are UK based - they are a Lloyds Underwriter so are very flexible.

Source: I am a broker with a company i won't try to promote on here and find them to be very good!

Chaucer are a company you really need to avoid

dizsiebubba

dacouch wrote: »

Chaucer are a company you really need to avoid

On what grounds?