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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Moderator David@stives on November 07, 2007, 09:23:16 am

Title: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: Moderator David@stives on November 07, 2007, 09:23:16 am
If no please state why  :)
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: windowwashers on November 07, 2007, 09:28:43 am
If no please state why  :)
I am guessing if people dont have insurance they are not going to say on here as they know full well they should have it, but will be intersting to see.
I myself have public and employers
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: gmcs on November 07, 2007, 09:32:27 am
Ditto
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: williamx on November 07, 2007, 09:45:27 am
If no please state why  :)
I am guessing if people dont have insurance they are not going to say on here as they know full well they should have it, but will be intersting to see.
I myself have public and employers

With public liability insurance, you don't legally have to have it, so those who don't have it shouldn't feel embrassed about not having any.

Not having any will be very expensive if anything happens that you might be liable for.

With employees working for you, you do by law need insurance to cover them.

Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: windowwashers on November 07, 2007, 09:48:10 am
If no please state why  :)
I am guessing if people dont have insurance they are not going to say on here as they know full well they should have it, but will be intersting to see.
I myself have public and employers



With employees working for you, you do by law need insurance to cover them.


Public and employers (employers is only not needed in very few cases)
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: nat on November 07, 2007, 10:21:21 am
if you wish to even consider commercial you will need copys of your liability insurance, i have never yet recieved a contract without supplying the relevant paperwork
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: gary999 on November 07, 2007, 10:30:17 am
i only have domestic work i have public liability insurance with axa
my customers dont seem to care when i mention this when quoting,then again
touch wood i havent had anything go wrong yet!

todays world you never can be too careful!!
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: Helen on November 07, 2007, 11:59:15 am
in this world of "lets see if we can get compo" it's a must to have some form of insurance. You just never kinow what sort of person you will take on as a customer :)
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: poleman on November 07, 2007, 02:38:31 pm
Two years ago I have a claim paid out for 10k if I hadn't had insurance I might not have been in business, so it pays to have it

Andy
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: m.b.s. on November 07, 2007, 02:50:52 pm
i have with mma insurance learned the hard way when i first started out never had any then one day i sliped and landed on a new vectra bonnit cost me an arm and a leg to get it fixed  if you dont have it i would strongly recomend it for the sake of a few pounds a month
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: bluez on November 07, 2007, 02:56:13 pm
Two years ago I have a claim paid out for 10k if I hadn't had insurance I might not have been in business, so it pays to have it

Andy
thats why you are called Smart cleaning. good job :)
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: Pj on November 07, 2007, 03:39:29 pm
commercial work demands it
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: ronnie paton on November 07, 2007, 03:41:01 pm
whilst on my iosh traing i was told youDO NEED LIACBILITY INSURANCE!! and yes i do have 5 mill just incase ;)

Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: Dean Aspects on November 07, 2007, 03:46:06 pm
As many of you know in scotland you need a licence and you cannot get one without insurance so all licenced window cleaners in scotland are insured unless of course they just get the licence then cancel the insurance

Dean
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: dai on November 07, 2007, 06:21:04 pm
I won't risk losing everything I own for the sake of a few quid spent on insurance.
In today's litigious society, you would be taking a hell of a chance working without it.
Which reminds me, mine runs out on the 10 th.
Their conning sods, how come, when I started in business it was the 21st November 1993, and over the years they have pinched eleven days cover off me.Dai
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: Dave hook on November 07, 2007, 06:45:53 pm
Im going to get myself employers insurnce who would you guys recomend. Ill be employing after xmas
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: jeff1 on November 07, 2007, 07:07:47 pm
Mines due for renewal soon, so I went shopping around for some one else, because if you sit down and spend the time reading the small print most PL isn't worth the paper its written on.

I looked at the insurance that is on the APWC site,  (and you don't have to be a member) I sent off for a quote, getting a reply the next day, I thought it a liitle expensive at first, but as I say, I sat down and read what was covered and was plesantly supprised to see it covered the job your working on (this is rare) it even covered your tools and other benefits as well.

A well looked into insurance and created for the w/c in mind. when mines up, I would sooner pay the extra to have the extra cover.
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: windowwashers on November 07, 2007, 07:13:27 pm
Im going to get myself employers insurnce who would you guys recomend. Ill be employing after xmas
simply business do a search on google and you will find their web address
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: Wayne Thomas on November 07, 2007, 08:22:19 pm
'No win, no fee' solicitors encourage disreputable people to make false claims against anyone at any possible opportunity. Even more reason to have insurance if only for peace of mind as you never know when you may rely on it :)
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: Village Gleam on November 07, 2007, 09:09:20 pm
Actually Dave I was going to ask you about this. And you can tell me straight. I phoned my broker up today and he told me it was illegal not to have PL insurance. Is this true or not?
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: need a cleaner on November 07, 2007, 09:43:50 pm
We have a fuly comp insurance with 10mill EL and 5mill PL it also covers keys/glass you are working on/professional liability and a few other things it cost us £1200 a year :-\ :'(
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: windowwashers on November 07, 2007, 11:25:23 pm
Actually Dave I was going to ask you about this. And you can tell me straight. I phoned my broker up today and he told me it was illegal not to have PL insurance. Is this true or not?
Is true if you employ people
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: Moderator David@stives on November 08, 2007, 12:37:24 am
Mr S

It is not true.

There is no legal requirement to have public liability insurance.

If you are an employer you need employers liability insurance which ALWAYS comes with public liability as standard.

The APWC always reccommends you do have Public Liability insurance and you cannot become a member without it.

Dave
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: Ian Rochester on November 08, 2007, 05:56:53 am
As far as I am aware Public Liability insurance is a statutory requirement for anyone to trade as either self employed or as a business.

I think anyone who doesn't have it is basically stupid and a cowboy, when I first started out my PL insurance cost £79 from MMA. 

Why risk your house, savings, etc for the sake of £79 PL insurance?
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: Pole2pole on November 08, 2007, 07:56:31 am
Mines due for renewal soon, so I went shopping around for some one else, because if you sit down and spend the time reading the small print most PL isn't worth the paper its written on.

I looked at the insurance that is on the APWC site,  (and you don't have to be a member) I sent off for a quote, getting a reply the next day, I thought it a liitle expensive at first, but as I say, I sat down and read what was covered and was plesantly supprised to see it covered the job your working on (this is rare) it even covered your tools and other benefits as well.

A well looked into insurance and created for the w/c in mind. when mines up, I would sooner pay the extra to have the extra cover.
Mornin Jeff.........Mines up for renewal on the tenth bud. Could i ask you which poilicy you went for from the awpc website so i don't have the hassle of reading the small print, cos you've already done that for me  ;D
Merci bien monseur  ;)
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: xxmattyxx on November 08, 2007, 08:03:20 am
Mines due for renewal soon, so I went shopping around for some one else, because if you sit down and spend the time reading the small print most PL isn't worth the paper its written on.

I looked at the insurance that is on the APWC site,  (and you don't have to be a member) I sent off for a quote, getting a reply the next day, I thought it a liitle expensive at first, but as I say, I sat down and read what was covered and was plesantly supprised to see it covered the job your working on (this is rare) it even covered your tools and other benefits as well.

A well looked into insurance and created for the w/c in mind. when mines up, I would sooner pay the extra to have the extra cover.
Mornin Jeff.........Mines up for renewal on the tenth bud. Could i ask you which poilicy you went for from the awpc website so i don't have the hassle of reading the small print, cos you've already done that for me  ;D
Merci bien monseur  ;)

et moi aussi  ;D
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: Pole2pole on November 08, 2007, 08:32:06 am
You'd have thought Jeff would have had the common decency to take his wireless laptop to work with him so he could check whether anyone had any questions for him. Some people  >:( Oh well,looks like we'll have to wait until he logs on later Matty
Mon Dieu  ::)
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: jeff1 on November 08, 2007, 11:39:05 am
You'd have thought Jeff would have had the common decency to take his wireless laptop to work with him so he could check whether anyone had any questions for him. Some people  >:( Oh well,looks like we'll have to wait until he logs on later Matty
Mon Dieu  ::)

just popped home for a refill?
Wireless laptop indeed ;D ;D
I couldn't get planning permission to lay steam pipes from my home to my place of work, thats how my computers run ;D there still steam generated not this fandangled wireless technology ::)

Well buddie, I'm in the same boat as you now, I don't have any details anymore after having to reformatt my hard drive, I'm sure I had the details from the apwc newsletter but I don't even have that now :'( so I'm going  to have to do another search, I looked on the apwc website to see if the names rang any bells, but as I'm getting old, non of them rang any bells with me.
The only one I could see on there web was by axa who acually do  an insurance for us humble w/c, I shall ask them for a quote, unless Dave can help or jog my memory?
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: ronnie paton on November 08, 2007, 12:09:45 pm
dave im sure has an experienced man your correct on the not needing insurance, but i recently did my cosh traing and was told overwise ???

All in all i think you should and it should be law, wot happens if your a little dodgey and have no house or money(not on paper) how would some be able to get there money for there bently you dropped your ladders on ???
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: Pole2pole on November 08, 2007, 02:11:47 pm
Ah good afternoon young Jeff. So pleased to could finally take time out to help your fellow comrades out instead of p*ssing about trying to earn your next billion  ;D
In all seriousness bud, if you could give us all you know bout insurance cos i'm probably in the majority when i say i'm giving away 200 a year to some broker,whilst in the back of my mind thinkin"I bet i aint covered for this and that" If you do have any joy fella,perlease let us know and i promise i'll give you the absolute pleasure of keeping you company in the not too distant future when our wives totally blank us on one of those "TV's much too good tonight to even comprehend giving the hubby any of my time" nights  ;D  ;D  ;D
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: jeff1 on November 08, 2007, 04:51:54 pm
Ah good afternoon young Jeff. So pleased to could finally take time out to help your fellow comrades out instead of p*ssing about trying to earn your next billion  ;D
In all seriousness bud, if you could give us all you know bout insurance cos i'm probably in the majority when i say i'm giving away 200 a year to some broker,whilst in the back of my mind thinkin"I bet i aint covered for this and that" If you do have any joy fella,perlease let us know and i promise i'll give you the absolute pleasure of keeping you company in the not too distant future when our wives totally blank us on one of those "TV's much too good tonight to even comprehend giving the hubby any of my time" nights  ;D  ;D  ;D
As soon as I track it down young Dino I'll give you the nod ;D I do know it was around the £200 mark, that included property being worked on and tools left in a locked van, that aloan in my mind is worth the £200 mark, let aloan the cover for ding bat  ;D that decides to accidently throw them selfs onto the floor, when they step over my hose or better still trip over the hazzards signs. ::)
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: Pole2pole on November 08, 2007, 05:07:15 pm
sounds like the kind of policy i'm lookin for jeff. 200 sounds pretty reasonable too to be honest. Much better than 150 for a policy that covers me for jack..........cheers jeff  ;)
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: jeff1 on November 08, 2007, 05:18:38 pm
sounds like the kind of policy i'm lookin for jeff. 200 sounds pretty reasonable too to be honest. Much better than 150 for a policy that covers me for jack..........cheers jeff  ;)
I just found this one on the apwc site, I'm getting a quote from them.

http://www.aplan.co.uk/commercial/window-cleaning-insurance.php?int=
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: Tosh on November 08, 2007, 05:20:22 pm
commercial work demands it

I've only been asked twice for my public liability insurance; once from a Hilton Hotel and once recently from a housing association that looks after elderly people.

Most commercial companies in my albiet limited experience don't ask and don't seem to care either.
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: Pole2pole on November 08, 2007, 06:04:49 pm
Jeff, is that public liability or van insurance "with" public liability all rolled into one?  ???
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: jeff1 on November 08, 2007, 06:33:13 pm
Jeff, is that public liability or van insurance "with" public liability all rolled into one?  ???
I started to fill out the quote and it asked about my van, I DON'T want van insurance ::) it does say something in there about PL insurance, but I didn't bother in the end, So back to the search.

Can some one check the last APWC news letter to see if there is an Insurance link on there?
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: Pole2pole on November 08, 2007, 07:53:17 pm
Thats what i came across jeff. Nowts simple is it?   ;)
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: Rob.Hall on November 08, 2007, 08:51:33 pm
Yes there is.

I have asked the question to the one broker about damage to property whilst being worked on.

will let you know the outcome.

Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: Pole2pole on November 11, 2007, 02:30:19 pm
Did you have any joy with a policy Jeff?
Title: Re: Do you have public liability insurance
Post by: Paul Coleman on November 11, 2007, 02:47:17 pm
As many of you know in scotland you need a licence and you cannot get one without insurance so all licenced window cleaners in scotland are insured unless of course they just get the licence then cancel the insurance

Dean

That's an interesting anomaly.
Public liability insurance is not a legal requirement (though it should be IMO).  This means that you can run your business perfectly legally without it.  This means that potentially, a licence would not be granted to a perfectly legal window cleaning business.
Personally, I wish the legislaters would just stop messing about and make being insured a legal requirement from the off.