Insurance (PLI & Hire Kit)

[djw1981]

Ok, I know a little about PLI - like its purpose. My issue is more who needs it and who can get it.

 

Up to now most work I have done has been working with other people in charge, and they / the event / the company have had their own PLI which, I was told covered me, and if they weren't sure, they did any hanging etc since they were then responsible.

 

However, as a Uni student (Medic not theatre) I am doing most of "the tech" for the Medics panto this winter, and as such will be hiring a load of kit. This is the first time I will be hiring kit as "me" though, and using stands etc. The venue has its own insurance (it is a students union), but since we are hiring the venue from them, this does not include PLI. The main issue will be speakers and lights on stands.

 

 

Can I as an individual get PLI for a week, or do I have to buy a full year policy? I have done a search for details of the brokers mentioned on here - are they familiar with tech stuff at all, or just insurance?

 

Also kit insurance, If I am hiring kit do I need to insure it, or does this depend on hire company, since some may include theft insurance but damage is covered by the hirer?

 

I don't want to spend more than I have to but since a court case could end my career (the GMC looks very dimly on personal accident court cases), and I want to make sure I am covered. The set up will be safe as I can make it with barriers around stands, no trailing wires etc, but I would like the insurance for my peace of mind!

 

Tio expand this out a little, how old does one have to be to get PLI, I am 24 now so tthink I should be ok, but can some of our 14-16 year old friends on here who 'run' companies get PLI? Or would a parent have to get it for them? Do I need to prove financial status, training, experience etc, or just fill in a form and send in my cash.

Can anyone help?

[gingertom]

The PSA used to have a very good online reference area with a good guide to insurance etc, as did BECTU. It's a while since I have used either site, but it may still all be there.

 

My insurance is through Arthur Doodson (not plugging!), who sell specialist insurances. Their site is relatively informative, and the phone staff are very helpful. I have had a few queries, both pre-policy holding, and as a holder.

 

Sorry it's not a very concise answer, but I hope it may be of some use.

 

Tom

[gareth]

BECTU use a broker called AON to provide PLI for their members - their policies are quite good, and rates for BECTU members are good (not sure about those for non-members).

[bruce]

re kit insurance - any equipment that I've ever hired - ranging from lighting/sound equipment to a cement mixer - has had a clause in the hire agreement saying that the hirer is responsible for any loss or damage, and that insurance must be arranged by the hirer. Note also that if equipment is lost/stolen/damaged, then you are generally liable not only for the full replacement cost (not the market value) but also in some cases for the "hire cost" for the time it takes to replace/repair the kit!

 

for example, the following is from the Stage Electrics T&Cs, but is fairly typical

2.8.1. The Customer agrees to pay Stage Electrics Partnership Ltd. the full retail cost of any Equipment lost stolen or damage beyond economic repair (without deduction for usage wear tear or age)

 

2.8.2. The Customer shall insure the goods against the above liability

 

(snip)

 

The only variation to this that I've ever come across has been places like HSS (tool hire) who have similar terms, but will often offer insurance - either against accidental damage or loss/theft/damage - as an "extra".

 

Im not sure how things would work in your own institution, but in my own case, as a member of staff at a University at the opposite end of the city, I know that if I hire equipment of any kind for use within the University, I need to write to the finance people within the university, itemising the equipment, value and location, and it gets temporarily added to our existing policy. There is usually no additional cost. I know you're not staff, and you're in the Student Union building, not the main University, but there may be a similar arrangement.

 

Similarly, I often lend some of my own equipment to my kids' school for their end-of-year productions. I don't make any charge - it's a "loan" rather than hire - but I do require them to confirm to me that the equipment will be insured against loss and/or damage. They usually just have to write to their insurers; in general no additional charges are levied.

[RustyBrooks]

The best bet for insurence is http://www.arthurdoodson.co.uk/ very friendly, should be able to talk through your needs and they have the best COVER by far... and they're good value to, AON , and bectu are pretty pricy (well was when I got some quotes) and cover isn't as comprehensive.

[djw1981]

Bruce, thanks for the idea. I will contact the Student Union, since they often have bands etc and even 'public' events in their gothic building (ok, enough clues as to which one it is). they may be able to add the kit to their global insurance policy.

 

However, whenever asked any difficult questyions, like where there is any power, they look very blank....worrying for me, since on the last event we did in there, we found ourselves with2 powered speaks and a small desk sharuing a ring wioth the kitchesn, so come 9pm we lost power when they turned the kitchen equipment for the start of Friday Club Night - amd that is despite telling me in writing we had sole use of that r1ng.

 

The PLI is something else though, and I think we will need that seperately since I am neither an employee (volunteer or otherwise) of the University or Union.

[StevieR]

Might be worth trying to ask for an 'Event' insurance policy, one that is used by a lot of event organisers. This should cover damage and/or loss to equipment plus PLI for the event staff.

 

Steve

[Pete McCrea]

As a hire company we were told by our insurance broker that to re-sell insurance (i.e. adding 10% to a hire cost to cover the insurance,) we needed to be regulated by the Financial Standards Agency (FSA). As we never really did do that, we sort of ignored it. I'm not sure exactly the ins and outs, but if your a hire company and do this, then you might be on dodgy territory.

[Stuart91]

I'm not sure exactly the ins and outs, but if your a hire company and do this, then you might be on dodgy territory.

 

One suggestion from an insurance broker friend of mine was to do something similar to this. Offer customers "cover" for a percentage of the hire cost. This money either goes towards the cost of an "all risks" policy for the kit, or alternately you keep all the money in a pot and use it replace anything that does get lost/broken.

 

I think the way round the financial regulation above lies in how you word it. Rather than extending an insurance policy to your customers, all you are doing is waiving a clause in the contract of hire for a small cost. (Check with a properly qualified adviser before actually doing this though. Your home may be at risk if you do not keep up repayments etc. etc. etc. )

[bruce]

Resurrecting an old thread with a slightly different query...

 

I have got roped into an event in a few weeks in a local school, for which we are hiring a fair amount of kit from several suppliers - probably about 8-10k replacement value.

 

The school needs to arrange insurance for this hired kit. Obviously they just need loss/damage cover; they already have PLI and employers liability. So a typical "event policy" isn't appropriate.

 

The last time we did this, insurance wasn't a problem - I spoke to the finance guy at the school, he made a couple of calls (to the council, I believe), and said "sorted, we're covered".

 

This time, it's proving more problematic.

 

Questions: Do we know of any brokers who will provide short term (eg 1 week) cover for hired equipment? What sort of costs are we talking about? Do places like Doodsons do this?

 

Is it normal for schools to have automatic cover for hired kit, or is it normal to have to get extra?

[Nicktaylor]

I would have thought the school insurance would have cover to that level. Different if you were having loads of movers etc as a freebie for instance when the replacement value would be a lot higher!