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PRO

Why it may pay to read your Van's insurance small print

In the process of renewing a van policy this week with our insurance broker doing a whole of market appraisal to get best value.

Looked like we found one, but on reading eligibility conditions, this one stood out and set alarm bells ringing :

The vehicle you would like to insure must::

 - not be used in connection with the treatment, recycling or disposal of domestic or industrial waste including effluent and scrap metal

and apparently chaps that means green waste, landscaping waste et al...

and would invalidate insurance if a claim was made and Van had waste in it....

We're asking via our brokers for that to be further clarified in writing, but shows how careful you have to be now with insurance company's enforcing more and more restrictions...

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  • PRO

    Also had this little gem :

    Any inflammable, toxic, corrosive, explosive or other dangerous substances, which are not governed by the Dangerous goods Act are securely fastened with belts, straps, cages or other fixed, secure containers to the vehicle during transit.

    - but this has become standard over last few years so aware of it and we have our fuel cans secured in modified shelves. Also often discussed on LJN ;)

    • Gary have you got a modified shelf for the jerry can ?

    • PRO

      Any photos of these shelves Gary?

  • PRO

    Would be interesting to know whether that means the van is solely for use for waste disposal ?  Surely most vans are going to be used by trades that will end up carrying some kind of waste generated by the work they do ?

  • I cannot see how having a shelf like that will make any difference when having an accident. 

    Would it not be better to stipulate to have a metal gerry can than plastic cans in the van? I use small metal gerry cans that are tough and are secured with extra pins etc. Plastic cans can be easily pierced.

    A broker specialising in van insurance should know which policies are OK for us gardeners. Thats what they get paid for. If my insurance would not pay out I would go after both insurer and broker as they knew what and who they are insuring and taking the money.

    • PRO

      It simply satisfies the insurance requirement which mean the cans do not go flying around or get squashed by machinery in the event of an accident. 

      Majority of metal cans are illegal unless UN approved. Plastic cans need to BS approved and are tested for UK/EU

      Most do not check the T&C's of insurance policies and perpetuate inaccuraces and then complain when they can't claim

      All I can do is what I am advised to do. If you you believe you know better or have solutions, then it is your remit to implement. You would not get very far with that stance on insurance. You effectively sign-off and underwrite the policy, its terms and conditions when you accept it.

      What's the saying - ignorance is no defence in law ?

      • The metal can I have meets UN law as its the same only smaller which our forces use as it has a double locking system.

        No one can be an expert in everything. I can read the t&c but may not understand the meaning of them. If I have to double and triple check everything myself then there is no need for a broker. 

        As I have worked for an Ombudsman service and dealt with claims myself I would still say that I would stand an excellent chance of fighting this. The insurer also has to treat customers fairly and state that the policy is not suitable for my business. That is why they ask all those questions as to what the van is used for and type of business. They have underwriters that review the policy.  If i have to do it all myself then i would want a really cheap policy and not loaded with all those admin costs for the "service" of getting me the right policy. 

        However it is good to check, but in the end the insurer will want to have as little weight against them as possible and lots of wriggle room to get out of paying anything at all.

        I dont carry pesticides as I dont have tickets for that and I am a "organic" gardener. LOL. I just have the metal can. And we all have tools that have fuel containers attached. I bet you in a serious crash my can will be OK, but the fuel tank of the van could be damaged and leaking.

        To be honest I am more worried of being involved in an accident with an uninsured driver or one who takes off never to be seen again. This happened to two friends of mine and both had to foot their own repair bills, lost no claims and premiums went up. One bastard drove off and disappeared, the other drove off, got followed but disputed events, his word against theirs. Even though damages on cars clearly show who ran into whom. But no witnesses.

        • PRO

          Then that's good and all's well in your world :)

          I suspect many buy insurance online and do NOT do due diligence and that was the point of the thread.

          Whether a metal or plastic can, they still need to be restrained. There are legal limits and insurance related limits as to the amount of fuel that can be carried in a vehicle.

          If you're experienced enough and know all the in's and out's then I am sure you will be covered.

          • Definitely agree on that Gary. I despair on the new Financial Regulations. 

            All it has done put the onus on the consumer to be diligent. I know the banks and insurers turn around and say, you completed the forms yourself online, ticked the boxes you read t&c's, so its your fault. But Ombudsman services can see the flaw in this as we are not experts in insurance or finances.

            We are being fleeced and left out to dry, hence me only using fully qualified and accredited brokers.

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