No public liability on bouncy castle....what would you do?

[LowFatMilkshake]

For DD's 2nd b'day I hired a set of soft play and a ball pool from a company who left me very impressed.

2 years later I have gone back for a bouncy castle and soft play with ball pool for DD's 4th birthday, the company website looked the same so I booked the stuff. But when I got the confirmation it said that they no longer hav public liablity insurance.

I investigate a lot of liability claims as part of my job, and I am worried that responsibility for any accidents will now fall at my feet, and TBH I dont wnat the responsibility or the hassle.

I dont want to cancel the compnay as I am not sure I would get anything else and the prices are good (same as before when they had insurance).

I was going to put a note on DD's invites saying that there is no liability insurance for the play equipment so any parents wishing to stay and supervise their children would be welcome - because I wont accept liability, but I'm not sure if that's the way to go.

I can't speak to all the parents on a 1-1 basis as I dont know them all. So I would be interested on what anyone out there thinks?

Thanks

[contentiouscat]

Cant you speak to a broker and get a one day insurance for it - DH has it for business and it doesnt cost that much for the year.

[chopster]

Hmm, that could be a problem. You are stil going to have a fair bit of responsibility even with the disclaimer. I'm not sure I would want to risk it. Are they not required to have insurance by law?

[LowFatMilkshake]

Apparently not!

I think I am going to go the way of a broker. It's such a PITA though as it just means more cost.

DH is already tapping his fingers because we've got DS's Christening coming up soon as well.

[chopster]

mm, good luck getting it sorted.

[goingfor3]

I really don't see the problem. It wouldn't even occur to most parent to sue you if thier child got hurt.

[SoupDragon]

Don't you have public liability insurance as part of your house insurance?

[LowFatMilkshake]

I have to check with my home insurance because if the child gets hurt on someone elses equipment.

Most people would'nt sue but I want to be sure just in case.

[Ladymuck]

I would have thought that you would be covered by your home insurane?

[islandofsodor]

My Dad has a bouncy castle we use for my dd's parties. The children also go swimming in his pool.

As far as I am concerned we are private individuals and inviting dd's friends round for a party does not need insurance.

Dd plays on a neighbours trampoline, if she hurts herself on it am I going to sue? Surely it would be laughed out of court unless there was clear negligence.

It is not the same as holding a public event/providing a service to members of the public.

[islandofsodor]

A child did break their arm one year at dd's party, not on the bouncy castle, just running along the patio she fell awkwardly.

[Twiglett]

cancel them

cost me £45 for a properly insured bouncy castle for a day

[PrettyCandles]

I'm not 100% sure about this, but I believe the company has to have insurance in order to trade, and as they are responsible for setting up and taking down, their insurance covers anything to do with that. As a private person, with only personal invitees coming to your party, you don't I think have to have PLI - it should be covered by your home insurance, which covers injuries to visitors to your house.

That is assuming that the party is at your house. If it's somewhere else then that's a whole different issue.