Definitions Flashcards
Caveat emptor
Buyer beware
Uberrima fides
Utmost good faith
Risk registers
Type of documentation prepared by brokers for underwriters which would include individual exposures and claims experience, site inspection reports and preparation of health and safety reports; essentially a fact-finding tool used when talking to clients
Subjectivities
The term sometimes used to refer to terms and conditions, e.g. cover may be provided subject to a survey
Affinity routes to market
Tesco, M&S commoditising personal lines insurance
Lemonade
An online insurer for home insurance in the USA, promising a quotation within 90 seconds and payment of claims within 3 minutes
Subjectivity
A condition of a quotation that must be met
Rate per cent
The price in pounds for each hundred pounds of exposure (e.g. rate of 1.5% means the insurer charges £1.50 for every £100 of exposure)
Rate per mille
The price in pounds for each thousand pounds of exposure (e.g. 2.5 per mille means the insurer charges £2.50 for every £1,000)
Deposit premium
The initial premium that is charged based on an estimate of an adjustable premium where the exposure measure is unknown at the start of the period of insurance
Cover note
A document issued as evidence that insurance has been granted pending the issue of a policy or policy amendment documents/endorsements, which is temporary and superseded once the policy and certificate are issued
Parole evidence rule
Neither party can rely on any negotiations leading up to the contract, only the contract itself
Contra proferentem
The general rule of interpreting an ambiguous contract term against the party that drew it up gives the insurer a real incentive to be clear in their intentions - this term is applied by the courts
Recital clause
Preamble - the main purpose is to make the proposal form the basis of the contract
Market exclusions
Some general exclusions are common to all general insurance policies
Buy back
When you are charged an additional premium for something which is normally excluded
Suspensive
Insurers liability discharged from date of breach but resumes once remedied
Franchise
A fixed amount or period that acts as a threshold to determine whether claims are payable; once the period is exceeded the claim is payable in full and nothing deducted, whereas if it is not exceeded nothing is payable
Continental scale
For permanent partial disablements (PPD) insurers utilise a pre-set scale of benefits called continental scale to calculate lump sum payments
Theft
Theft Act 1968 definition; dishonestly appropriating the property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it
Flood Re
A reinsurance company owned and managed by insurers, funded by levies on member insurers (£180m), individual levies based on insurer’s share of home insurance market, with costs passed on to policyholders based on their risk of flood and to ensure affordability the individual cost is based on council tax bandings so that properties at significant risk of flood can still benefit from access to affordable flood cover without punitive excesses and/or barriers to indemnity
Riot
The Public Order Act 1986 defines a riot as a group of 12 or more people, gathered for and carrying out a common purpose with intent and force if necessary, in such a way as to alarm a person of reasonable firmness and courage. Separate scheme in place for Northern Ireland.
Gap terrorism/’lone wolf’ cover
Where a terrorist type incident occurs but does not meet the definitions of terrorism under an insurer’s policy
Types of exclusions under an all risks commercial policy
- Absolute exclusions: war, pollution, contamination, consequential loss
- Gradually operating exclusions: corrosion/rust, wind/rain damage to property in the open
- Aspects of cover which can be written into the policy: money, glass, subsidence
- Property or risks more appropriate to another class of business: motor vehicles, aircraft
Negotiability of money
How easily it can be converted to cash
Escort warranty
Depending upon the amount of money being carried, a specified number of able-bodied persons may need to be present
Uninsured working expenses
Those costs which vary in direct proportion to the level of turnover (raw materials etc)
Contributory negligence
Reduction in damages to reflect a claimant’s own negligence