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Original poster

Why do people in the uk think insurance covers everything?

66 replies

bernieaa · 27/07/2023 23:03

I find that uk people think business are bound by hefty insurance and so are trades people.

Eg - I've seen it written that if a trades person such as a bathroom fitter breaks an item in the fitting, they should "claim on their insurance". They don't have insurance to cover such damage.

Or I'm pregnant woman wouldn't be allowed to use the hotel spa due to "limitations of insurance". If this was the case than people should be notified at the door and asked to sign in etc stating they aren't pregnant etc. i accept to protect the business against claims from pregnant women who potentially suffered ill health etc, but that's not a term of insurance.

Germany has got the reputation of insuring everything and being overly insured. I think people confuse laws and regulations with "insurance".

OP posts:
GallaBru · 27/07/2023 23:13

Someone’s it’s easier for a business to blame insurance than go into great detail of why they have chosen such a policy.

Original poster
bernieaa · 27/07/2023 23:14

GallaBru · 27/07/2023 23:13

Someone’s it’s easier for a business to blame insurance than go into great detail of why they have chosen such a policy.

People generally believe there is insurance....

OP posts:
Original poster
bernieaa · 27/07/2023 23:15

Another instance is someone on a forum asking for advice to change a cooker hood. Apparently this has to be done by an electrician and get "signed of" for insurance issues.

If your home insurance was so bothered they would be asking for electrical certificates when you buy houses and every 5 years. They don't.

OP posts:
Mumofsend · 27/07/2023 23:19

bernieaa · 27/07/2023 23:15

Another instance is someone on a forum asking for advice to change a cooker hood. Apparently this has to be done by an electrician and get "signed of" for insurance issues.

If your home insurance was so bothered they would be asking for electrical certificates when you buy houses and every 5 years. They don't.

I disagree there. They have no need to ask for routine certificates but if you need to claim, ie due to an electrical fire and you can't evidence you've followed your responsibilities in terms of installing/matinence they won't pay out. Most people only find this out when it's too late.

notaladyinred · 27/07/2023 23:23

Our bathroom fitter replaced our bath via his insurance when he damaged it (dropped a heavy tool on it when tiling).

Elphame · 27/07/2023 23:24

If your home insurance was so bothered they would be asking for electrical certificates when you buy houses and every 5 years. They don't.

They don't explicitly but in practice your insurer may well do.

My holiday let insurance requires that the property is kept safe and well maintained. With regard to the electrical installation the only effective way to do this is to have a EICR every 5 years.

Reigndee · 27/07/2023 23:27

pretty sure every spa I've been to I've had to sign a disclaimer saying I have no health conditions like heart problems, blood pressure or pregnancy ?

passthesugar · 27/07/2023 23:32

A lot of builders and tradespeople do have insurance.

Spas won't provide certain services to pregnant women on safety grounds (higher risk) and it's conceivable that those kinds of liabilities are excluded under their policies.

I don't know about home insurance and extractors...

But generally people and businesses are - rightly - paranoid about uninsured liabilities and therefore exercise caution. I'm not sure I understand what your beef is exactly.

therealpumpkinbumpkin · 27/07/2023 23:33

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the request of the user.

Original poster
bernieaa · 27/07/2023 23:35

passthesugar · 27/07/2023 23:32

A lot of builders and tradespeople do have insurance.

Spas won't provide certain services to pregnant women on safety grounds (higher risk) and it's conceivable that those kinds of liabilities are excluded under their policies.

I don't know about home insurance and extractors...

But generally people and businesses are - rightly - paranoid about uninsured liabilities and therefore exercise caution. I'm not sure I understand what your beef is exactly.

The trades person doesn't have insurance for what I described

OP posts:
Original poster
bernieaa · 27/07/2023 23:36

Reigndee · 27/07/2023 23:27

pretty sure every spa I've been to I've had to sign a disclaimer saying I have no health conditions like heart problems, blood pressure or pregnancy ?

Apologies hotel spa as in the hot tub and swimming pool at the spa.

OP posts:
UsingChangeofName · 27/07/2023 23:40

Why do people in the uk think insurance covers everything?

Why do some posters on MN assume a whole country full of 67 million people, all think alike ? Hmm

AlltheFs · 27/07/2023 23:40

We have had to supply electrical safety certificates every time we have bought and sold houses, and my rental also needs up to date certification.

As our house is thatched and we have to supply certification to get and renew our house insurance!

But I do agree that the public is a bit batshit about it generally.

Reigndee · 27/07/2023 23:43

Ah yeah but they'd still have a disclaimer somewhere saying if pregnant not to use sauna or hot tub

Original poster
bernieaa · 27/07/2023 23:46

Reigndee · 27/07/2023 23:43

Ah yeah but they'd still have a disclaimer somewhere saying if pregnant not to use sauna or hot tub

Which makes sense - but they don't police it?

OP posts:
Original poster
bernieaa · 27/07/2023 23:46

AlltheFs · 27/07/2023 23:40

We have had to supply electrical safety certificates every time we have bought and sold houses, and my rental also needs up to date certification.

As our house is thatched and we have to supply certification to get and renew our house insurance!

But I do agree that the public is a bit batshit about it generally.

It's not a legal requirement to provide an eicr to buy/sell a house; only to rent.

OP posts:
DrinkFeckArseBrick · 27/07/2023 23:49

Insurance policies are usually quite simple. They will pay your liabilities towards injury or damage for example as long as you've not acted illegally or recklessly. that's it basically. But to prove you've acted reasonably and complied with legislation you then have to do things like risk assessments, health and safety policy etc. Insurance policies don't specifically say to do risk assessments, but if you have done a risk assessment or have written safe systems of work etc etc it's much easier to defend a claim for compensation against you (which is true whether it's insured or not). And it's then the companies own risk assessments that lead them to a policy of not treating pregnant women for example. But that's too long winded to explain so people just say 'Insurance'

I once bought a small side table from next. I asked the sales person if they'd help me nip out to the car with it as it was an awkward shape not heavy. He said he couldn't as they weren't insured. It made me laugh as little shop package policies don't have a 'helping customers load their car' or any other relevant exclusion and even if they did, I'm pretty sure that the multi million pound global company next could negotiate an insurance contract without this in. It would be in their own risk assessments and training but not excluded in any way by Insurance.

But it does make me laugh on here when people say 'claim on the insurance' for things that would never be covered eg where a builder causes minor damage that will clearly be way below their excess or a travel policy where one of the group has basically changed their minds

Reigndee · 27/07/2023 23:52

No it would be unethical to force everyone to take a pregnancy test but the lifeguard or staff would step in if a 12 yr old was in the sauna or heavily pregnant person. And if someone tried to claim against the resort if their baby developed a Neural Tube Defect after using the sauna in early pregnancy. The hotel definitely would have liability insurance with disclaimers against people with certain conditions and ages using certain equipment

Original poster
bernieaa · 27/07/2023 23:56

Reigndee · 27/07/2023 23:52

No it would be unethical to force everyone to take a pregnancy test but the lifeguard or staff would step in if a 12 yr old was in the sauna or heavily pregnant person. And if someone tried to claim against the resort if their baby developed a Neural Tube Defect after using the sauna in early pregnancy. The hotel definitely would have liability insurance with disclaimers against people with certain conditions and ages using certain equipment

There is no insurance which covers them for that!

There are risks assessment which show the company has managed risks and it will state a 12 year old isn't allowed in the hot tub.

OP posts:
Original poster
bernieaa · 27/07/2023 23:58

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 27/07/2023 23:49

Insurance policies are usually quite simple. They will pay your liabilities towards injury or damage for example as long as you've not acted illegally or recklessly. that's it basically. But to prove you've acted reasonably and complied with legislation you then have to do things like risk assessments, health and safety policy etc. Insurance policies don't specifically say to do risk assessments, but if you have done a risk assessment or have written safe systems of work etc etc it's much easier to defend a claim for compensation against you (which is true whether it's insured or not). And it's then the companies own risk assessments that lead them to a policy of not treating pregnant women for example. But that's too long winded to explain so people just say 'Insurance'

I once bought a small side table from next. I asked the sales person if they'd help me nip out to the car with it as it was an awkward shape not heavy. He said he couldn't as they weren't insured. It made me laugh as little shop package policies don't have a 'helping customers load their car' or any other relevant exclusion and even if they did, I'm pretty sure that the multi million pound global company next could negotiate an insurance contract without this in. It would be in their own risk assessments and training but not excluded in any way by Insurance.

But it does make me laugh on here when people say 'claim on the insurance' for things that would never be covered eg where a builder causes minor damage that will clearly be way below their excess or a travel policy where one of the group has basically changed their minds

Curry puts items in peoples boots....

OP posts:
Original poster
bernieaa · 28/07/2023 00:01

Reigndee · 27/07/2023 23:52

No it would be unethical to force everyone to take a pregnancy test but the lifeguard or staff would step in if a 12 yr old was in the sauna or heavily pregnant person. And if someone tried to claim against the resort if their baby developed a Neural Tube Defect after using the sauna in early pregnancy. The hotel definitely would have liability insurance with disclaimers against people with certain conditions and ages using certain equipment

Explain unethical? You mean uncomfortable?

Pregnancy tests would be considered medical records and as such they are protected by greater GDPR rules. So a business wouldn't be justified in asking people to take a test. Therefore people can self report.

Hot tubs and the like can be used in the second trimester. Women have hot baths.

Also no one is moderating the 15 min rule either.

OP posts:
HeddaGarbled · 28/07/2023 00:04

Why do people in the uk think insurance covers everything?

Why do some posters on MN assume a whole country full of 67 million people, all think alike

Yes, what an odd OP. Is ‘not everyone being knowledgable about insurance policies’ a specifically U.K. failing?

AlltheFs · 28/07/2023 00:05

bernieaa · 27/07/2023 23:46

It's not a legal requirement to provide an eicr to buy/sell a house; only to rent.

Show quote history

It might not be a legal requirement but the lender required it so we had to have it, both as sellers and buyers.

Reigndee · 28/07/2023 00:21

I'm disagreeing with your op because nearly all hotels spas will not allow pregnant people to use saunas and hot tubs, or at least have a disclaimer saying use at own risk, speak to DR etc. And this WILL be due to insurance liabilities and limiting risk

Barleysugar86 · 28/07/2023 00:40

Insurance person here... I think your post is a little confused OP.

Businesses will have legal liability cover and warranties to use equipment in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, which in the case of hot tubs no doubt exclude their use by pregnant women. They are paraphrasing when they say their insurance won't cover them but they aren't really wrong.

Any tradesman's insurance can definitely cover accidental damage, although he'd be silly to use it for a small amount, particularly if it was only just over the excess. (the thing I really want to teach people- don't touch that freezer contents cover on your house insurance. The £30 you may get back over your excess will not cover the increase in your premiums for the next five years. Resist the temptation!)

Main thing I find people struggle with is the wear and tear thing. Yes it's sad if your roof is leaking and needs replacing but of course your house insurance can't cover it unless something particularly freaky and unexpected occured (and storm winds is a high barrier to clear). All roofs will wear out and need replacing over time if left alone, it's pretty much certain. And you can't insure something you know will happen.