Builder insurance
- Thread starter DiyNutJob
- Start date
Ask for a copy of their liability insurance then call the insurers and check its validity.
No insurer is gonna tell Joe Blogs if one of their clients has insurance or not.
Other than asking to see a copy of their insurance I'm not sure what else the OP can do. Though he is a nut.
He appears able to show proofs (unverified) of Employer's Liability, Public/ Products Liability, and Contract Works and Tools policy. Contractors All Risk policy is absent. Is that a serious deficiency?
The Contractors All Risk policy works retrospectively. I imagine that's expensive and why he hasn't got it.
The Contractors All Risk policy works retrospectively. I imagine that's expensive and why he hasn't got it.
Insurance is there to benefit the builder, not you.
You can't make a claim on his insurance
You can't make a claim on his insurance
You can make claim against him. If he has insurance, you might stand a tiny chance of getting something. If he has no insurance, you get nothing as he declares bankruptcy. His insurance will find ways to deny his claim. In that case he goes bankrupt and you still get nothing.
Have you checked whether he has all his inoculations?
Any heart defects?
Asthma, allergies, medication?
Criminal record?
Star sign?
Eye colour?
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It depends. If it's a smallish job it really would be a bit overkill to ask every tradesperson for proof of insurance. However, if the job is big enough to warrant doing it on a formal form of contract, and personally I would probably set that at around £40-50K plus, the principal terms will include scope, design responsibility, price, programme, payment schedule, and a method for changes plus things like proof of insurances.
Of course, all sizes of jobs need Ts & Cs, but this can often just be the contractors own - do read them!. Avoid like the plague any builder with just a basic price scribbled on a bit of paper, even if uber cheap. You'll end up carrying all the risks yourself.
Of course, all sizes of jobs need Ts & Cs, but this can often just be the contractors own - do read them!. Avoid like the plague any builder with just a basic price scribbled on a bit of paper, even if uber cheap. You'll end up carrying all the risks yourself.
The better insurance is that he is sole trader, i.e. not a limited company, so you can sue him rather than a company that can be dissolved relatively quickly. True he might be mortgaged to the hilt but better than nothing. But do any builders not work through a limited company these days? You have to work on judgement, trust and a contract that only requires payment for work satisfactorily completed.
Blup
Blup
Joking aside I would be suspicious of a builder that didnt have a bad back, arthritic knee and dodgy shoulders.
Blup
I have not. But those are irrelevant.
I presume you are feeling sympathy pains for a fellow builder. My bet is you don't have the insurances he's got. Although what he has is inadequate, if he's butter fingered.
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Add to that a panicky demeanour when pressed. Today, he too scared to come see me and sending his lieutenant.
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Doesn't want the job (or the client) more like.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Client from hell. AVOID!
Did not offer him a job. He made me think his insurance is a bit iffy.
Not really. I only step on hard if people f*ck up or showing signs of it. Otherwise, I give people a 100% free hand. I am the kind of customer you would dream of in fantasies.
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