What you should do when the insurance surveyor visits
An insurance company may decide it wishes to survey your premises. This is to assess the risk of a fire or break-in or other risk covered by the insurance - and, if appropriate, to propose ways of reducing the risk.
1. Make sure you get an urgent appointment
If any element of your cover – e.g. theft – has been withheld or restricted until after the survey, make sure the surveyor contacts you urgently to fix up an appointment. Remind the broker or insurer if you haven’t heard anything within a few days.
2. Ask for proof of identify
Check that the insurance surveyor is the right person. You don't want to share your secrets with the wrong person! Ask for a business card so that you can call him/her if you have any queries.
3. Don't try to cover anything up
It’s best not to do anything special to prepare for the visit – so the insurers can see how your business operates on a daily basis and, if appropriate, give you some tips for making improvements.
4. Ask the surveyor for his/her opinion
Before the surveyor leaves, ask for his/her opinion. Find out what – if any – risk improvements he/she believes are necessary. Make sure you understand exactly what the surveyor has in mind.
5. Ask how the work can be done as cheaply as possible
If you think any risk improvements are likely to be particularly expensive, ask the surveyor for advice on how the cost could be reduced. For example, are there any alternative measures that would be cheaper but just as effective? Ask if the surveyor can recommend a supplier to help you.
6. Get confirmation in writing
Ask when you will get confirmation in writing of any risk improvements. This is always useful to make sure you have properly understood what is required.
7. Make sure you're given enough time to do the work
Ask how long you will have to carry out the work. Make sure you are allowed a reasonable period – this can often be negotiated, especially if you will be dependent on suppliers or installers. Make sure too that you are fully insured throughout this period.
8. Don't attempt the impossible . . .
Sometimes, when you get down to actually carrying out the work, you find that a risk improvement is impossible to implement, or at least extremely difficult. If so, explain this to the broker or insurer. Ask the insurer to lift their requirement for the risk improvement to be implemented.