Chapter 2 Basis insurance principles and terminology Flashcards
What are the essentials of a valid contract
Offer and acceptance
Consideration
What is usually the consideration in insurance
The premium
Does a conditional acceptance form a valid contract
No it is not an acceptance it is a counter offer
If I post an acceptance when is it deemed that I have accepted an offer
When acceptance is posted
What duty do consumers have under the Consumer Insurance Disclosure & Representations Act 2012
Duty to take reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation
What did the Insurance Act 2015 introduce?
Duty to make fair presentation of a risk for a non-consumer contract replacing utmost good faith
Who does the duty of good faith apply too?
Both insured and insurer
What must the insurer disclose as an act of good faith?
Only taking on risks which the insurer is registered to accept
Ensuring statements are true and not misleading
Entitlement to discounts etc.
What is the duty of disclosure?
In all insurance negotiations there is a duty to disclose material circumstances, particularly at the proposal stage.
When is the duty of disclosure revived?
At each renewal date unless it is a continuing one.
If there is an alteration to the policy
Who does the Consumer Insurance Disclosure Representations Act 2012 apply to?
Consumers not commercial customers
What defines a consumer under the act?
Someone who takes out insurance wholly unrelated to the individuals trade.
Who does the Insurance Act 2015 apply to?
Non-consumer i.e. commercial customers
What must the insured disclose under the insurance act?
Material circumstances the insured knows or ought to know
Disclosure in a manner which could be reasonably clear and accessible to insurers
Facts substantially correct, representations of belief made in good faith
Who does the onus shift to under the Insurance Act?
It has shifted from the insured to the insurer, which is assumed to know information that would be expected of it.
What policies generally have a continuing requirement of duty of disclosure?
Commercial property
Motor insurances
Public liability insurances.
Does the duty of disclosure revive on alteration of a policy?
Yes if there is a need for an endorsement to the policy.
What happens if the consumer does not provide material circumstance or a question asked by the insurer does not follow it up?
The Insurer has waived its right to the information and cannot claim there has been a breach of duty of disclosure.
What is meant by the term Ab Initio?
From the beginning
What are some examples of physical hazards?
Construction, nature of use, heating, electrical systems
What are some examples of moral hazards?
Criminal convictions, lack of good management, excessive, willful carelessness
What does the Insurance Act 2015 state about material circumstances?
A circumstance or representation is material if it would influence the judgement of a prudent insurer in determining whether to take the risk and if so on what terms
What facts do no require disclosure?
Facts of law, Facts of public knowledge Facts that lessen the risk Facts where the insurer has waived its right Facts a survey should reveal Facts that the insurer does not know.
What facts do not require disclosure in non-consumer policies?
Facts that diminish the risk Facts the insurer knows, Facts the insurer ought to know, Facts the insurer is presumed to know Facts that the insurer has waived its rights. Facts of law Facts a survey should have revealed
What did the Legal Aid, Sentencing and punishment of offenders act 2012 (LASPO) change?
The rehabilitation periods now contains a buffer period after the custodial sentence.
What is the rehabilitation period fora custodial sentence of more than 4 years?
Never spent
Buffer period for a non-custodial sentence such as fines or community orders?
1 year
Are any claims payable if a policy is Ab Initio?
No claims will be payable
What happens if the consumer proposer purposefully or recklessly answers questions wrong?
The insurer is entitled to avoid the policy ab initio.
What does the insurer have to do if they were misrepresented information but would have taken the policy on at a higher premium?
They are able to reduce the claim proportionately, meaning the insurer would only have to pay a certain percentage of the claim rather than the full amount.
What is the calculation for reducing proportionality?
Loss multiplied by premium actually charged / higher premium
What are the rules of disclosure in regards to compulsory motor insurance?
The insurer must pay compensation for injury and property damage for the third party, then claim back the amount from the insured.
What is the definition of the principle of contribution?
“ The right of an insurer who has paid under a policy to call upon others similarly but not necessarily equally liable to the same insured to contribute to the payment”
If a policyholder had two life policies would contribution apply?
No, as life policies are benefit policies