Ageas - Unreasonable demands for information

[Jayney69]

We have Commercial insurance with Ageas, and we had a claim made against us last year, which we contested. However, when we tried to get Ageas to fight our corner (as were) they asked for sub-contractor invoices, etc, dating back 8 years. We believed this to be unreasonable and told them so.

We part settled the claim out of goodwill, and the claimant and their insurance company are happy. However, Ageas STILL persist in asking for huge amounts of information not relevant to the (now defunct) claim, saying they are not yet in a position "whether to accept/agree the claim". We've told them we will be reporting them to the Ombudsman, but frankly are completely at a loss at where to go now.

[unclebulgaria67]

We have Commercial insurance with Ageas, and we had a claim made against us last year, which we contested. However, when we tried to get Ageas to fight our corner (as were) they asked for sub-contractor invoices, etc, dating back 8 years. We believed this to be unreasonable and told them so.

We part settled the claim out of goodwill, and the claimant and their insurance company are happy. However, Ageas STILL persist in asking for huge amounts of information not relevant to the (now defunct) claim, saying they are not yet in a position "whether to accept/agree the claim". We've told them we will be reporting them to the Ombudsman, but frankly are completely at a loss at where to go now.

 

Presume that they think they need to understand how your business is operating, as it may be different to what they have noted on their records. Sometimes when a claim is made, it gets referred to an underwriter and if they believe that the Insurance is not currently on the correct basis, then they will ask for such information. It may or may not affect the claim. Not saying that there has been previous non disclosure about the risk you wanted insuring, but that the Insurers think there is an issue they wish to look at.

 

It is normally good advice to comply with Insurers request as best as you can, to show that you have nothing to hide.

[dacouc]

You've not given very detailed information so I'll make an educated guess.

 

I assume you're a smallish company and have a Public and Employers Liability Policy.

 

Aegis are probably asking for the information to satisfy themselves that the subcontractor is a labour only subcontractor eg they work under your direction and you provide materials which in most cases they would be liable for rather than the subcontractor being a bona fide subcontractor who would normally work under their own direction and provide their own materials (These definitions are general rule of thumb and not definitive.

 

A Bona Fide subcontractor would normally carry their own liability insurance which would pay out on claims

 

Aegis as would any Insurer will want to make sure it's a claim that's covered under the policy.

 

Have you discussed the matter with your Insurance Broker?

 

What trade are you in and what trade is the subcontractor?