Business insurance guide and help topic

‘Business insurance’ is a general term that covers the different types of insurance policies that are advisable or may be a legal requirement for your business or enterprise.
Business insurance options include:
Business premises insurance, also known as commercial buildings insurance
Business assets insurance, also known as business contents insurance
Public liability insurance

Employers‘ liability insurance

Professional indemnity insurance
Other specialist policies
The level of cover available for each different type of policy is subject to the individual policy terms of each insurance company. You should always check the policy documents to see what's included as standard and what is considered an ‘optional extra’ i.e. available at an additional cost.
In this part of our guide we look at insurance for business premises and contents.
Insuring your business premises
If you have business premises then a business premises insurance policy will cover your commercial buildings against a range of risks, for example fire, explosion, storm damage and flooding. Some insurance companies offer ‘all risk’ insurance which provides cover for other damage and loss as specified in the policy terms, including accidental damage cover.
What level of cover will I need?
When you take out a business premises insurance policy you will need to insure the premises for the full rebuilding cost, also known as the ‘reinstatement value’, rather than the market value. The reinstatement value is the cost of rebuilding the property in the event of a total loss; your insurance company may give you the option to add on an additional percentage to protect against underestimates and index linking.
Don't be tempted to under-insure in order to cut costs, as should you need to claim then you will be limited to the amount you insured the premises for regardless of whether the actual loss or damage is more.
What if I am a tenant?
If you are a tenant then it may be your landlord who is responsible for insuring the premises, unless the business has a shop front, in which case the responsibility for acquiring suitable insurance cover will normally lie with the tenant. If your landlord is responsible for insuring the premises and your lease complies with the Code for Leasing Business Premises in England and Wales 2007 then the insurance should be fair, reasonable and represent value for money. You have the right to request details of any commission received by your landlord and the details of the relevant insurance policies relating to the premises.
What if I am a landlord?
If you are a landlord then there will be a variety of policy options available to you, including policies for premises that are unoccupied or let.
Insuring business assets or equipment
Insurance for business assets or equipment is also known as business contents insurance. It's designed to cover items such as stock, machinery or equipment and other contents.
What are my policy options?
When it comes to insuring business assets or equipment you will have a number of options open to you. In terms of cover, you'll normally have the choice of ‘replacement as new’ insurance or ‘indemnity’ insurance.
Replacement as new policies are also referred to as ‘new-for-old cover’ and, if the claim is valid, the policy will meet the full cost of replacing items if they are stolen or destroyed; alternatively, the cost of repair will be met if the items are damaged. Unlike replacement as new policies, ‘indemnity’ policies deduct the cost of wear and tear so that the policyholder is put back in the same state or financial position they were in prior to the loss.
There is also the option to take out a ‘business interruption’ policy to insure against loss of profits and increased overheads resulting from, for example, key pieces of equipment or machinery being damaged or stolen.
Working from home
If you operate your business from your home, or work from home on a regular basis, then you may need a specialist insurance policy as standard home insurance will not provide cover for business-related risks.
In the next part of our guide we explain what public liability insurance is and why it's necessary.

Dental Insurance guide

Are you the one who grinds teeth while sleeping? Is the surface of your teeth facing some problem? If yes, you might be at risk of a serious dental problem. Thus, dental insurance is a total must that can keep your dental health in a good condition. You might be well aware of the fact that paying some visits to the dentist can cost you huge amounts. So it is imperative to find an affordable dental insurance plan that not just suits your requirements, but is affordable as well.

You can have a word with your current dentist in order to see if the professional provides some kind of insurance policy. In various cases, the dentist’s clinic is linked with an insurance firm that can save you great amounts. Being a part of some group dental scheme is a great option as you can get various treatments covered at reasonable rate. If you are not so sure about the best dental insurance plan for your needs, you can refer to your dental care professional to seek advice. In all, various dental clinics recommend affordable and cheap dental plans for the patients. In circumstances where a person does not have enough funds to buy a dental insurance policy, dentists will suggest them to use the discounted dental offers. These plans are in fact identical to the PPO or Preferred Provider Organization.
Moreover, before you search for the best dental insurance plans available, you need to evaluate your dental requirements first. Ask yourself whether you require the maintenance plan or the comprehensive one. In case you have a tendency to face big dental problems, it might be nice for you to opt for the comprehensive plan as such a kind of scheme covers all the expenses of major dental treatments. But you have to consider that the premium for such a comprehensive policy is a bit higher than you generally pay for the maintenance program. In case you are featured with a limited budget and don’t even require much repair, it is recommended that you choose the maintenance plan as this can offer you the regular checkups and annual cleanings for free of cost.

You can even enjoy a discount on your dental plan. Check with your dentist and see if he or she offers any discounted schemes. Basically what actually happens is that the dentists offer you a discount when you get the work done. The benefit attached is that you save some amount and the dental professional gets his or her money the same day without waiting for an insurance company to pay for their work. In short, using a good dental insurance can save you huge amounts that you might spend on regular visits and treatments.

Bike insurance guide

Go for recognised security features

Motorbikes can be a real target for thieves but if you go for industry-approved security measures, many insurers will chop a further 10% off your premiums.

But what are these approved steps? Most insurers want to see that your security devices, such as immobilisers, heavy duty locks and ground anchors, are Thatcham approved.


Motorcycle insurance is required by law. It is to make sure people can cover the costs of any riding related damage or injury. For example if you crash your bike into someone else, motorcycle insurance will pay for the repairs to the other vehicle.
The most important part of looking for a suitable insurance policy is understanding what cover you need and what type of risk you are to an insurance company.
An insurance company will look at a number of factors to determine what type of risk you are i.e. how likely you are to make a claim on a policy, such as:
your riding history (have you a number of prior claims or convictions which may make you a greater risk?)
the area in which you live (is there a lot of vehicle crime in your area?)
the type of bike you ride (is it a high-performance bike?)
Almost every piece of information you are asked when you get a quote will have some influence on the cost of your bike insurance.
Motorbike insurance is there to offer both financial cover and peace of mind for you and everyone else on or about the road.
How do insurance companies protect the victims of uninsured riders?
Even though by law you have to have motor insurance, you can guarantee that somewhere there is someone on the road without insurance cover.
In 1946 the Motor Insurers' Bureau was created. It ensures victims of untraced or uninsured motorists are compensated for their losses. All motor insurers must be members of the bureau and contribute to its funding.
The Bureau has a database with details of private and fleet motor insurance policyholders. The police can access the database and see whether or not motorists have current insurance during spot checks, or at the scene of an accident. The Motor Insurance Database is currently run by the Motor Insurers' Information Centre.
When an uninsured or untraced rider injures a third party or damages their property, the third party should receive compensation from the Motor Insurers' Bureau.
If a motorbike is stolen and the thief damages property or injures someone, the insurance company for the bike will be liable to pay the costs involved.

Documentation or paperwork

When you purchase your motorbike insurance, your insurance company will send you documentation to prove you are legally insured to ride on the road. You'll have to show proof of insurance for example if you get stopped by the police for any reason. The law currently gives you seven days to prove your valid insurance cover to the police.
You should receive the following documents from your insurance company:
Cover note
A cover note is a temporary certificate of insurance which is usually issued to allow either a broker or insurer time to complete their paperwork before they issue the full certificate. It usually lasts for 30 days.
Certificate of insurance
This is the document that proves your legal motor insurance cover as required by the Road Traffic Act.
Schedule and/or policy document
The schedule and/or policy document sets out the full the terms and conditions of your insurance policy.
Remember! You should always read all the documents sent to you, firstly to check that the level of cover you agreed with the insurance company is correct and to also make you aware of any policy exclusions. It is your responsibility to be aware of the exact cover you have agreed. If you have any concerns or queries, contact your broker or insurance company.

No claims discount

For every year you're insured and don't make an insurance claim you will build up a no claims discount. The amount of discount you receive can vary but could be from around 30% discount the first year, increasing to around 60% for your fourth year.
If you make a claim on your policy and your insurance company can't recover their costs, it will affect your no claims discount even if the accident was not your fault. It is a 'no claim' not a 'no blame' discount.
Should you have a claim which is considered to be your fault then you will lose some of your no claims discount. The amount of discount you lose will vary from one insurance company to the next.
Bike insurance and optional extras
Sometimes you want some extra cover on your insurance, which isn't included in the policy itself, for example you may want breakdown cover. This extra cover is known as an optional extra or ancillary product and can be bought with your insurance policy.
Legal assistance or protection
Also known as legal cover or Uninsured Loss Recovery, legal assistance helps cover legal costs following an accident where a third party was at fault.
Legal professionals will deal with your case for you and try to recover any losses on your behalf, for example medical losses, loss of earnings or recovering your policy excess. They will also make a claim for compensation for you if you are injured.
How bike insurance quotes are calculated?

Insurance companies take lots of factors into account when working out what to charge you for your motorbike insurance, which is why they ask so many questions. They work out what type of risk you are to them (how likely it is that you will make a claim on your policy) and charge you accordingly.
They will look at:
Claims history

If you've made a claim on your motorbike insurance in the last 5 years, you must tell your insurance company about it. If an insurance company has had to pay out for a claim, they will see you as a greater risk to them and charge you more for your policy.

Having made a claim doesn't necessarily condemn you to paying huge sums for your motorbike insurance though. Just run a quote through Gocompare.com and we'll bring you prices from the most competitive motorbike insurance companies in the market.

Riders

An insurance company will ask for information about who will be riding your bike, including their riding history, age, claims and convictions history etc. Adding a rider under 25 who has a speeding conviction and has previously crashed their bike will certainly increase your insurance costs compared to letting a 40 year old with a no claims or convictions ride your motorbike.

Riding convictions

It stands to reason, the more riding convictions you have, the more you will be charged for your insurance – someone who speeds habitually may be seen as having more chance of being involved in an accident and so will cost their insurance company money.

insurance company $ 1 billion insurers

Bligh called for insurers to show compassion and flexibility, amid reports some residents faced difficulty with payouts against a damage bill expected to top A$5 billion, with $1 billion of that to be underwritten by insurers.
"It's not in the interests of anyone in our community, including those companies, to stall or delay recovery," said Bligh, whose disaster handling has won wide praise, reviving ruling Labor's flagging hopes of re-election in the state.

Bligh said many Queenslanders had taken out insurance believing they were covered for floods and were now discovering they were not protected.

1 2 Next The flooding, which started before Christmas, continued in other areas of Queensland, with the 6,000 residents of Goondiwindi southwest of Brisbane facing a record flood.

Aerial views of Brisbane showed a sea of brown with rooftops poking out, but the water was receding.

Boats have had to be used in many areas to reach houses, with sofas and fridges floating in filthy water, and residents with no idea when they can return.

"Nobody told me this would become this serious, this terrible," said Su Liu, a Chinese student studying marketing at the University of Queensland.

She had fled her house near the riverside university on Tuesday as water poured into the second floor of her apartment building and was sheltering in an evacuation center.