Business and Commercial Insurance FAQs
“Independent intermediaries offering unbiased advice and the intelligent solution to your business insurance requirements”
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- What type of policy do I need to protect my business?
-
Our impartial representatives will discuss your individual needs in
order to advise you as to the best policy to meet those needs. All
policies are based on a
commercial combined package
but can be tailored to each business.
- Is Christie Insurance regulated and if so, by which body?
-
We are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority
(FSA). For further information please refer to our
Regulatory Statement.
- How can I be confident that I am paying the most competitive premium?
-
As an
independent intermediary,
Christie Insurance is not tied to any particular insurance company,
so we will obtain a variety of comparative quotations from the
market and put forward the best option to meet your individual
needs in terms of both comprehensive cover and a competitive
premium.
- How do I incept a policy should I wish to proceed?
-
Most of our insurer partners will accept a verbal confirmation that
you wish to proceed with the quotation but, on occasion, we are
asked to obtain a
written instruction from
you.
We will then advise the relevant insurer of your instructions, send a proposal form for completion and an invoice for payment, both of which will need to be returned within 14 days as a condition of your policy.
- How can I pay for my insurance?
-
We accept the following payment methods:
- Cheque
- Credit card
- Direct debit
We offer a range of direct debit options, over 10 or 12 monthly instalments, to give you the flexibility to split your payments. Some insurance companies will provide the option of interest-free instalments, depending on the package. Please do not send cash by post.
- What does Christie Insurance earn for arranging the policy?
-
Christie Insurance is an
independent intermediary,
so we are paid a commission by the insurance company as a
percentage of each premium paid. We will also charge an additional
minimal fee for servicing your policy, and this will be disclosed
to you when you take out the policy.
- How much do I insure my building for?
-
You need to insure your building to its replacement value including
all costs. If you are unsure, we would recommend you undertake a
formal valuation. We would be happy to put you in touch with one of
our colleagues at
Christie + Co, who
will be able to assist.
- Do I need to buy my Liability insurances separately?
-
No. All of our policies are designed to provide you with a complete package and can be tailored to your requirements. Employers’ Liability and Public Liability will be included as standard.
- What do I need to do in the event of a claim?
-
Some insurance companies will deal with claims directly but we
would recommend that you contact us in the first instance, to
advise us of any incident which you believe may lead to a
claim. If you need to undertake repairs as a matter of emergency to
prevent further damage (such as repairing a burst pipe or restoring
a storm-damaged roof), then please ensure that you obtain a formal
invoice from the contractors in order to forward a copy to the
insurers for approval.
- Do I need to notify you of all of the changes to my business?
-
If you take on any extra employees or increase the amount of stock
you store on the premises, for example, you should inform us
immediately as this is a material fact which your insurance company
will need to take into account. Similarly, should these figures be
reduced, we will need to adjust the cover accordingly. Any
increases may be subject to an additional premium.
- What is a ‘minimum standard of security’?
-
This varies depending on the insurer. Commonly, you will be
required to fit key-operated locks to all windows, and the locks on
all final exit doors will need to be fitted with British Standards
approved locking systems. Some insurers will require a specific
model of alarm which you will need to check at the time of
inception. If you are in doubt about any of these conditions,
please ask us. If you do not comply with these requirements, you
may invalidate your policy.
- What happens when my insurance is due for renewal?
-
Christie Insurance is
authorised and regulated by the
FSA and, as such, will notify you in good time before your
insurance is due for renewal. We will provide you with the renewal
terms offered by your existing insurer and advise you of any
alternative quotations we have been able to obtain, to ensure that
the premium remains competitive and the cover, comprehensive.
