Who do you get your insurance from?

[Danoi99]

Hi there,

 

I was asked to provide proof of some shooting insurance by the farmer who lets me shoot on his land. At the time, my CPSA membership had run out and I opted to get insurance elsewhere.

 

I ended up buying insurance from The Country Cover Club for about £30.

 

This is their blurb:

 

• £10million Public Liability Claims Cover
• £10million Public Liability Defence Cover
• £10,000 Personal Accident Cover
• £50,000 Legal Prosecution Expenses Cover
• 24-Hour Revocation of Licence and Legal Advice Helpline
• Specialist No-win, No-fee Lawyer

Other Benefits:

• Online store discounts at participating vendors
• Supplier and venue privileges
• Quarterly e-Newsletter featuring news and members' only deals
• and MUCH MORE...

It covers you for Clay Shooting, Hunting, Fishing, Archery, Vermin Control, Dogs, Ferrets, Hawking, Re-enactment and more..

I'm due to renew this soon but would like to know where others are getting their insurance from. Do you think this is a good deal??

 

 

[mikejt]

That seems ok, most insurances I've looked at have similar cover, I joined a wildfowling club which includes a full basc membership (including insurance similar to what you mentioned)

 

I pay £150 ish a year and get access to a lot of land for wildfowling and the basc membership.

 

I've heard of quite a few people who are with the Scottish gamekeepers.

[DNT]

One of the most important points to consider, is the policy one of last resort. Several companies offer this type of policy. In essence this means that should you need to claim you will need to evidence that no other policy you have including family and business policies cannot deal with the issue. Only then will this type of policy kick in. Also I think it is important to look at the rest of the package of a membership like BASC which we at KWCA consider the best all round available.

[Scully]

Sounds ok to me. I'm with the NGO. Your package sounds better than mine (and cheaper) but I'm happy where I'm at. It's up to the individual to choose which organisation best serves their needs, and of course, the proof of the pudding is what happens when you need them. Being insured is the main point.

[Rst1990]

I'm with basc, I joined them as the cover that they gave me covered all areas that I needed. I didn't shop around like most people, every rfd I go in there is always a mention of basc whether it's flyers or a sticker on the door they seem to be one of the biggest shooting insurance company's going.

[clayman]

One of the most important points to consider, is the policy one of last resort. Several companies offer this type of policy. In essence this means that should you need to claim you will need to evidence that no other policy you have including family and business policies cannot deal with the issue. Only then will this type of policy kick in. Also I think it is important to look at the rest of the package of a membership like BASC which we at KWCA consider the best all round available.

Lead and Follow policy structures are insurance industry standard, most large risks are underwitten on this basis and it makes the insurance no less valid. A Country Sports policy will cover many specialist circumstances, but in the event of a general claim loss adjusters will investigate the claimant's insurance profile, as a particular claim may, for instance, also be covered under the claimants household or some other policy. Once a lead policy is established, their loss adjustor's determine the claim and any follow policies that have a partial, or top up liability cover the resulting excess. If there are no other underwriters involved, the specialist claimed on policy defaults to lead policy and pays in full.

The insured is fully protected under FSA regulations and by the Insurance Ombudsman's scheme, so that all valid claims are dealt with fully and completely. There is nothing detrimental in Lead and Follow or Excess Layered policy types, they are completely normal and an insurance industry way of spreading risk and liability to hold premiums down.

[David BASC]

I agree with Scully, that its very much an individual choice as to which shooting organisation fits your needs the best, and price is not everything.

 

With my insurance hat on, having just over 19 years experience of handling insurance claims in the shooting industry, may I offer the following observations:

 

Many lower cost policies have exclusions. Most relevant, and most common being a clause that means if you have any other policy in place that could cover your liability, then its up to you to check all other policies to see which one will take the claim. Its not unusual in my experience to see such claims landing on your home insurance. If this clause applies and you do have other insurances in play it begs the questions as to whether it was worth paying for the cheap shooting cover in the first place.

 

Custardy and control exclusion- this prevents a claim being made if for example you borrow someone else's gun and damage it while you are using it, there is no cover for this damage.

 

Excess - some lower cost policies include an excess, typically around £250 for all property damage claims, this is the bit you have to pay before the policy will respond. Small property damage claims are the most common insurance claim in shooting.

 

But ultimately its up to you where you spend your money, but please if insurance is your big motivator make sure you read the details of the insurance policy first and if in doubt check it out.

 

David

[clayman]

The important reason for carrying specialist shooting cover, is that the general cover areas of a H-H policy, may have excesses, and caps, as well as geographical limitations. Cover levels away from the insured H-H address are usually severely limited by comparison with the Shooting Sports industry standard of £10m P/L.

The reason its wise to carry specialist cover, is that this is comprehensive and designed for purpose, so the limits and scope of cover will be higher and wider.

If a shooter relies on general insurance, or even third party insurance, ( ie a ground's), they may find their circumstances lie outside any possible cover, and they have an unexpected burden to pay as personal liability.

[David BASC]

Possibly so, as not all house policies are the same and it is unwise to rely only on say a house policy to cover your shooting risk, but in my experience typically in the case of caps for example, the other policy will still have pay up to their limit, leaving the other policy to only cover what, if anything, is left.

 

The caps on liability under home policies for liability is often well over the average cost of a shooting related claim, which is about £10,000.

 

So the basic caveat remains, not least of all because insurance clauses can be a tad confusing if you are not in the industry as it were, if there is any doubt at all call the underwriters involved and ask the specific question, e.g., if I make a shooting related claim while say rough shooting, and I have another policy in place, will your insurance still cover me, or do I have to make a claim on the other policy...best to find out before you part with your cash in my view.