We also provide:

Q: Who do you provide cover for?

A: The eTradesman Insurance policy can provide cover for Tradesmen based in the UK carrying out work as shown on the Acceptable Trades list and provides rates for Public/Products Liability as the compulsory cover with optional covers for Employers Liability, Commercial Legal Protection, Money/Assault, Business Equipment, Contractors Tools, Stock, Contract Works and Personal Accident cover.

Q: Why are the rates so competitive?

A: Firstly, you should note that the cover we have provided is VERY, VERY wide so we have not cut the rates by cutting the coverage !



We are able to provide very good rates due to the fact that we have embraced cutting edge technology and by utilising bulk purchasing powers and cutting down on unnecessary costs/expenses we can pass these savings back to our customers by way of reduced rates.

Q: Can you cover Buildings?

A: The eTradesman policy CANNOT provide cover for Buildings. If you require this then we recommend that you contact us on 0870 756 7836.

Q: What legal liabilities do I need to know about and what policy limit will provide adequate cover?

A: Public Liability



Public Liability insurance is not compulsory but large sums for damages are now routinely awarded in court for personal injury and are coupled with escalating legal costs. Claims amounts therefore can be many times higher than the average small business could afford to meet and so to protect your financial standing cover is essential.

Local authorities and other principals usually require contractors to hold such cover without which contracts will not be awarded. The cover will protect you if in the course of the trade or business, the insured, any partner or director or employee accidentally injures a third party or damages their property and they seek recompense for which you are held legally responsible. This also includes damage or injury caused by defects in goods or materials supplied by you.

You can choose from £1 million, £2 million or £5 million indemnity.

There is a policy excess applicable – £250 each and very claim for third party property damage and loss of or damage to premises hired or rented. Increased to £500 if involving the use of heat.







Products Liability

If you supply goods to someone else then these goods could cause injury or damage to other persons or property not belonging to you. If you are deemed negligent when these goods cause injury or damage then Products Liability cover protects you. It includes solicitors fees, all cost and litigation expenses, damages and claimants costs which you would be legally liable for.

Our cover allows you to select up to £5 million indemnity i.e. the Products Liability limit is the same as the chosen Public Liability limit.

There is a policy excess applicable – £250 each and every claim for third party property damage and loss of or damage to premises hired or rented. Increased to £500 if involving the use of heat.







Employer's Liability

You are legally required to take out Employers Liability if you employ anyone to work for your business either on a full-time basis or on an ad-hoc contract / part-time basis. The law also requires you to take out Employers Liability cover if you have any self-employed, labour only or any other persons working in your business under your direct control. Apart from your payroll workforce, the range of persons extends from Directors (in the case of limited companies) to a young person on a work experience training scheme.

You are obliged to provide £5 million of cover however the Employer's Liability section provides up to £10 million of cover for employers and fully complies with statutory requirements.

There is NO policy excess applicable.

Q: Why is Commercial Legal Protection cover available and how much is it?

A: The introduction of new laws and regulations in areas such as health & safety, corporation tax and employment law creates a complex legal environment.



Commercial Legal Protection provides up to £500,000 cover for legal action in relation to a whole spectrum of issues affecting businesses such as employment disputes, debt recovery and VAT disputes.



To ensure you comply with ever-changing regulations and to get the maximum benefit from the cover, we provide access to a legal and tax help line, an online employment manual, as well as providing a limit for legal costs for an incident in connection your business.



All of this is provided to you at just £10 if you do not have employees. The cost is £20 for up to 5 people in the business.



There is a policy excess applicable – £500 for contract disputes where amount in dispute exceeds £5,000 ( £200 for aspect enquiries )

Q: What is the difference between bona-fide subcontractors and labour-only subcontractors?

A: A bona-fide sub-contractor is appointed by you to provide specialist services

e.g. plumbing. Normally they are paid a fixed price which includes wages, materials,

costs and profit for completion of the whole task. Their work on site is not directly governed by you and they should have their own Public/Products Liability & Employer's Liability insurances. You are not liable for Employer's Liability cover at all, and only contingency cover for Public/Products Liability.



A labour-only sub-contractor or temporary employee’s actions are directed / governed by you and because of this they are regarded in practice as employees.

Q: Does the policy provide cover for Bona-Fide Sub-contractors?

A: The Public/Products Liability section includes indemnity to the Insured for his liability resulting from actions of Bona-Fide Sub-contractors provided that payments to them represent less than 25% of your annual turnover. You must ensure, prior to their appointment, that such contractors hold current Public/Products Liability insurance appropriate to the work to be carried out.

Q: How do I calculate the total number of employees?

A: You should start by calculating the maximum number of employees you expect to employ on a site at any one time.



If you use bona-fide sub-contractors, labour only sub-contractors or temporary employees, providing the payments you make to them over a 12 month period represents less than 25% of your annual turnover you do not need to include them.



If payment does exceed 25% then you need to count them in your total number of employees.

Q: What about clerical employees?

A: A reduced premium is required for people who are purely clerical workers for Employers Liability cover.



Public/Products Liability is provided free of charge.

Q: What is ‘Injury to Working Partners’ cover?

A: The Public and Products Liability section of this policy excludes Injury to Working Partners. Thus if one partner injures another partner, or if he is injured by an employee, there is no cover under this contract.

Cover can be extended to include this at an additional premium.



N.B. If the firm is a limited company, then all persons working for the company, including directors/partners etc are deemed to be employees so this extension is not required.

Q: To what does the 15 metre height limit apply?

A: Applies 15 metres from the ground level or where drop exceeds 15 metres.

Q: My business fluctuates according to the type of contract secured so how can I ensure that the policy will adequately protect me?

A: In the majority of cases, referral to the question set, the summary of cover and the policy wording (the latter two available on the web site) should provide sufficient guidance.



However, if the contract is of such a size that the actual workforce exceeds 5, it will be necessary for alternative cover to be arranged on a more appropriate policy so please contact us on 0870 756 7836.

Q: Do you cover my business if it is involved in contracts at high risk premises?

A: Please note that there is no cover under this policy for contracts involving work on or in certain High Risk Premises.



High Risk Premises are defined as:



1. on or in

(a) power stations or nuclear installations / establishments

(b) oil, gas or chemical;

i. refineries

ii. bulk storage

iii. production

(c) mainframe computers or rooms containing mainframe computers

(d) aircraft, aerospace systems or hovercraft

(e) watercraft other than work, not involving the use of heat, on or in watercraft docks, harbours, boatyards or inland waterways

(f) railways or airports



2. underground or underwater

Q: What exactly do you mean by Business Equipment?

A: These are items such as your laptop, mobile phone or other business equipment that are vital for running your business. The policy provides cover for such items whether it is lost, stolen or accidentally damaged anywhere in Europe and or up to 30 days anywhere in the world. There is also cover whilst the item is in transit or left in your vehicle – however cover excludes theft from unattended vehicles if all doors and windows have not been locked and vehicles must be left overnight garaged in a locked building or secure in a fully enclosed yard or compound.



Cover also includes the cost of changing locks following theft of your keys, as well as theft of employees and visitors personal belongings.



You can choose a limit of £2,500, £5,000, £7,500 or £10,000.



There is a policy excess applicable – £250.

Q: What is the cover for Stock?

A: Stock and materials are a valuable asset for many small businesses, whether stored at home, on site or in transit. The policy provides cover for a maximum of £1,000 on an All Risks basis for loss, theft or accidental damage.

However cover excludes theft or attempted theft from unattended vehicles if all doors and windows have not been locked and vehicles must be left overnight garaged in a locked building or secure in a fully enclosed yard or compound.



There is a policy excess applicable – £250.

Q: What about Contractor's Tools cover?

A: Your tools are your business and so your hand tools and power tools are covered for loss, theft or accidental damage. Cover also extends to include tools while in transit or left in your vehicle.



However cover excludes theft or attempted theft from unattended vehicles if all doors and windows have not been locked. Vehicles must be left overnight garaged in a locked building or secure in a fully enclosed yard or compound.



Overnight is deemed to be the period after 9pm to 6am, or earlier if you are using the vehicle as part of your working day.



It is possible to increase the level of overnight cover for which an additional premium will be charged.



You can choose a limit of £2,500, £5,000, £7,500 or £10,000.



There is a policy excess applicable – £250

Q: When applying heat to any property or materials away from the premises what precautions are required?

A: Prevention protects profits. We are in partnership with you to minimise avoidable disruptions to the business and damage to your reputation.



You must ensure that in connection with damage caused by the use of

(1) electric, oxy-acetylene or similar welding or cutting equipment

(2) cutting or grinding equipment using abrasive disks or wheels

(3) blow lamp, blow torch, hot air gun or hot air stripper

(4) asphalt, bitumen, tar or pitch heater

used away from premises which You own, hire or rent, that the following precautions are taken:



(1) Before Starting Work

(a) Where You and any other person(s) for whom You are responsible are working at a site, a responsible person must be appointed for fire safety to ensure the following precautions are taken.



(b) Fire safety checks to identify material that might be liable to catch fire must be carried out before work commences including the areas;

(i) under floors or decks or above ceilings (including false or suspended ceilings)

(ii) behind walls, screens, bulkheads or partitions

and such checks must be repeated regularly while work is in progress and immediate steps taken to extinguish smouldering or flames detected.



(c) At the point of application of heat, including, if there is a risk of ignition directly or by conduction, combustible materials including;

(i) under floors or decks or above ceilings (including false or suspended ceilings)

(ii) behind walls, screens, bulkheads or partitions must be removed.

If impracticable, combustible materials within the immediate vicinity when using any blow lamp, blow torch, hot air gun or hot air stripper and/or 10 metres when using any electric, oxy-acetylene or similar welding or cutting equipment, cutting or grinding equipment using abrasive disks or wheels or any asphalt, bitumen, tar or pitch heater must be covered and protected by overlapping sheets or screens of non-combustible material.



(d) All gaps or holes through which sparks or flames could pass must be covered by non-combustible material.



(2) While Work Is In Progress

(a) A sufficient number of portable fire extinguishers in full working order and suitable for dealing with the type of fire risk expected must be kept available at the point of application of heat and used immediately smoke, smouldering or flames are detected.



(b) Heat equipment

(i) must not be

* lit until immediately before use.

* left unattended while lit, switched on or hot.

(ii) must be extinguished immediately after use.



(c) Cylinders

(i) must not be changed while the equipment is hot.

(ii) not in use must be kept at least 15 metres from the burner.



(d) Paraffin or petrol powered equipment

(i) must be filled/refilled in the open.

(ii) must not be filled/refilled while hot.



(e) Asphalt, bitumen, tar or pitch

(i) must only be heated in the open

and

(ii) in a container designed for that purpose, placed on a non-combustible surface at ground level.



(3) After finishing work

(a) Hot waste materials and welding rods must be removed and safely disposed of.

(b) A final fire safety check must be carried out between 30 and 60 minutes after work has finished and immediate steps taken to extinguish smouldering or flames detected.

Q: What does the Contracts Works section cover?

A: As a contractor working on site, you may find contract conditions make you responsible for the works, materials and plant, including hired-in plant, while on site. Contract works covers loss or damage to temporary or permanent works whilst undergoing construction.



Cover includes damage to partially completed works. There is automatic cover to include materials that will be used in a contract whilst adjacent to, or on, the contract site or in transit. This also includes cover for any plant, scaffolding, site huts or temporary buildings that are owned or hired by you.



There is no cover under this section for damage to existing structures.



You can choose a limit of either £50,000 or £100,000 in value depending on the nature of your contracts.



There is a policy excess applicable – £250 (£500 theft & malicious damage)

Q: Who can be covered for Personal Accident and what is the cover?

A: Accidents do happen and so cover operates on a 24 hour basis – it is NOT restricted to work activities and includes injuries sustained in your or your employees own time.



It provides protection for Death, Loss of sight/hearing/speech/limbs, Permanent Total Disablement from pursuing ANY occupation, Temporary Total Disablement preventing pursuit of NORMAL occupation and Temporary Partial Disablement preventing pursuit of PART of their NORMAL occupation. Cover also allows for a provision of up to 15% of the weekly benefit (temporary benefits), if payable, for medical expenses.



This section can only provide cover for any Proprietor/Partner/Director or permanent staff only, under the age of 75. There is no cover for Bona-Fide or Labour Only Sub-contractors or Temporary staff.



You can choose the number of units you require, up to 10 where each unit provides you with £5,000 Death, Loss of sight/hearing/speech/limbs or Permanent Total Disablement, £50 per week Temporary Total Disablement, £25 per week Temporary Partial Disablement.



Weekly benefits (temporary disablements) are only payable after 14 consecutive days.

Q: When will I receive the policy documents?

A: Once you have accepted the quotation and paid the premium, a screen will appear to tell you that your policy documents will be available to download from the eTradesman web site for you to access, view and print off at anytime.



Please note that no matter which option you choose, if you have Employers Liability cover you have a duty to retain Employer's Liability Certificates. The Employer’s Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Regulations 1998 came into force on 1st January 1999. For the first time the Regulations impose a duty on all employers to retain a copy of each certificate for a period of 40 years beginning on the date on which the insurance to which the certificate relates commences or is renewed. You must retain a copy of all Employer’s Liability Certificates which were current from 1st January 1999 and any that are issued after this date.

Q: Are there any significant or unusual exceptions and limitations?

A:

Q: I cannot find my policy documents online?

A: First please log on to your account using your email address and policy number.



When you have logged into your account you will be presented with a page called “Your Details”, next to the heading “Your Details” there are two tabs, one called “Policies” the other called “Quotes”.



Click on the tab named “Policies”. Scroll to the bottom of that page and you will see your eTradesman insurance policy. Click on the link “View Policy”.



Once you have selected that link you will be presented with a new screen and will have a selection of options, you must then click on the “Event History” link.



When you have clicked on the “Event History” you will be presented with another new screen, there will be a link that says “Show documentation for creation”, once you have selected that link a pop-up box will appear and that will list the documents available such as the Policy Schedule, Employers Liability Certificate, Statement of Fact and Statement of Demands and Needs.



Next to each document there will be a link that says “view”. Click “view” and the documents will appear and you can print the documents.



You can access the policy wording and policy summary from a link on the homepage, the link is called “Policy Wording”, when you click on that you will have the option to select either the policy wording or policy summary for your viewing.

Q: Can I Pay Monthly? Can I pay by Direct Debit?

A: On our Standard Annual policy, payment can either be made in full by card, or by monthly direct debit (if you are over 18). To set up a policy with direct debit instalments, you will be required to pay a deposit from a card and input your bank account details to enable us to set up your Direct Debit payments.



Our direct debit facility is financed by Conister Trust Ltd and administered by Panacea Finance Ltd. There will be a total of ten payments (one deposit paid to eTradesman via card + nine monthly direct debit payments) for twelve months of cover.

Q: Can I pay my Direct Debit early?

A: If you wish to early settle your finance at any point you can telephone 0870 751 8137, Conister Trust Ltd c/o Panacea Finance Ltd and pay in full. To make any amendments to your policy, including an early settlement, you will need to call 4 clear working days before your next payment date.

Q: Do I get a refund of the administration fee if I cancel with the 14 day period?

A: The administration fee is related to the set up cost of the direct debit and is collected within the deposit at the time you elect to pay by direct debit. Therefore no refund will be available if you cancel at any time after accepting the terms & conditions online.

Q: I have paid six months of my Direct Debit so I don’t owe you anymore.

A: The monthly premium is not directly linked to the cost of Insurance. Your Insurance Company will have a time on risk factor when compiling cancellation rates. Therefore the amount of premium paid may not equal the amount of Insurance Cover used. Before you cancel a Direct Debit this must be taken into account.

Q: Do I get any interest back if I cancel my loan?

A: If you cancel your loan the outstanding balance of the loan is returned to the Insurance broker, as per the Consumer Credit Act any installments not paid are not liable to have interest attached. Therefore any remaining balance will be returned to the broker excluding interest.

Q: Can I change my payment date?

A: We are able to offer payment dates from the 1st to the 28th of the month. If you wish to change your payment date please call Conister Trust Ltd c/o Panacea Finance at least 4 working days before your payment is due. Please note we cannot move a payment in to the next month.

Q: What do I do if I change bank account numbers or address?

A: If you change any details relating to your direct debit you will need to go online and make the changes to the relevant eGroup web site, using your reference number. You are welcome to call your finance Company to make the changes but please be aware that your Insurance may be invalid if you do not advise your Insurance Broker. If you are changing bank details we will need 14 clear working days to send the new details to the bank. If you are unable to call us 14 days before your payment date we may need to move your payment date or take payment by credit or debit card to allow the new details to be set up. If you are changing your address you will also need to inform your broker.

Q: You haven’t applied for the Direct Debit on the correct day.

A: We will process the direct debit on the date provided at inception of your credit agreement or any alternative date you have requested, it is the banks responsibility to take the payment from your account at the correct time but we do advise that the payment may be taken with 3 days of the payment date. Should your preferred payment date be outside of the banks opening hours it will be processed on the first working day after the date.

Q: My internet statement says it has been paid but you are saying it hasn’t.

A: Your bank statement will always show a direct debit as being processed when a request is made. If the payment is rejected it will show the payment being returned to the account lower down the statement.

Q: You never sent me a mandate.

A: We operate an Audis instruction which is a paper less application to the bank. It is used by the majority of banks and companies who provide a loan facility. We understand that you may have to have two signatories or you may be a charity in which case we can supply a paper Direct Debit mandate for you to take to your bank. We will send you a copy of our terms and conditions which will have a copy of the direct debit guarantee as upheld by all banks.

Q: Can I Pay Monthly? Can I pay by Direct Debit?

A: On our Standard Annual policy, payment can either be made in full by card, or by monthly direct debit (if you are over 18). To set up a policy with direct debit installments, you will be required to pay a deposit from a card and input your bank account details to enable us to set up your Direct Debit payments.

Our direct debit facility is financed by Conister Trust Ltd and administered by Panacea Finance Ltd. There will be a total of ten payments (one deposit paid to eTradesman via card + nine monthly direct debit payments) for twelve months of cover.