BECTU PLI opinion

[Haideez]

Hi Guys,

 

I've recently gone freelance and have all the joys ahead of me such as obtaining my UTR and getting my PLI sorted out. I have been reading extensively through this forum the past couple of days and would like to say thanks for all the useful advice and informed varied opinions that people have posted on here.

 

I have read a lot of the posts about PLI on this site and I've also read the epic 10 page 'BECTU Insurance cover issues' thread on here that was started back in March. Apologies in advance for raising this question again as I know it has caused a lot of frustration in the past. I just wanted to ask a follow up question - as many of you might know BECTU seem to have updated their Custody and Control clause from 1 May this year in response to the concerns that were raised by their existing policy. This states that "The BECTU PLI policy specifically INCLUDES cover for property/equipment in your custody or control. The limit on the cover is £25,000 for any one claim and £100,000 for all claims in any one period (ie one year) of insurance." and it seems you can raise this cover amount presumably by paying a higher premium.

 

My question is, does this allay the concerns that some of you had about wanting to take out their PLI now that they've added this clause? For what I do it seems adequate, I would be working mainly as an AV technician specialising in sound, working with small to medium sized PA's on similar sized conferences and events. So not much exposure to situations where I might be dropping large line arrays onto Steinway's as the horror hypothetical that was raised by someone in the previous thread :P.

 

More importantly, I'd like to know if there are still any major companies servicing the London area who won't use the services of a self employed sub contractor if all they have is BECTU's PLI, despite this update?

 

Many thanks.

[Pete McCrea]

I would double check the exact wording of that.

 

The understanding I have come too through discussion with various people is that if you join BECTU and take up their insurance, you join the group of people covered under that policy. You and all the other members of Bectu. The policy applies to the members of BECTU as one entity.

 

So if you drop a pair of Barco HDX projectors, you will have wiped out the entire BECTU policy for all members for the year.

 

As I said this is the understanding I have come to through a discussion with several parties. I would strongly urge people to take appropriate advice on things like insurance. Also bear in mind that things cost, and that generally with insurance you get what you pay for.

 

I'm more than happy to be corrected if this is incorrect.

[Jivemaster]

On talking to BECTU office I got mixed messages about their insurance, some right some wrong and some just don't know, Once the trust is gone ... Anyway as they now only cover pyro fired "in SFX grading levels" there is no chance of getting pyro done under BECTU insurance so I've dropped it.

[Haideez]

Thanks for your replies, Pete I gave the Aon Entertainment and Media team a call who cover this policy and that limit does apply to you personally and not the entire pool of BECTU members for the year which is reassuring.