Reporting Claims

Should you wish to make a claim or you feel that a claim may possibly be made against you please report the claim as soon as you are able as all insurers require full details of your claim within a reasonable period, many within 30 days of the claim occurring.

It is imperative that these claim conditions be reviewed both at inception of the policy and immediately upon becoming aware of any circumstance which might give rise to a claim under the policy.

A general guide to claim reporting is included within the specific areas on this site, but this should not be construed as a replacement for the conditions in the various policy wordings.

All non motor correspondence should be sent to:
The Claims Department
CLA Insurance Services
Woodlands
Manton Lane
Bedford
MK41 7LW
Fax: 01234 408676

Click here for Emergency Claims Contacts

Property Damage and Business Interruption Claims

Please report all incidents involving theft or malicious damage to the Police making a note of the Officer's name, station and the crime Reference number.
If any emergency repairs have to be carried out, please keep all relevant invoices.
Obtain estimates for replacement or repairs. If any item is beyond economic repair please obtain a letter from the supplier.
Do not dispose of any salvage without permission of the insurers.
Please call us immediately in the event of a large claim to enable us to ensure insurers can appoint an expert if they so wish. For all other claims please pass details to us by telephone, fax, email or post as you prefer.

Household Claims

Please report all incidents involving theft or malicious damage to the Police making a note of the Officer's name, station and the crime Reference number as your insurers will require this.
Make the property safe and secure.
Report the claim to us as soon as you are able to comply with the reporting clause on your policy.
A replacement estimate is required from both property repairs and replacement of goods. If you have the original purchase receipt or a recent valuation these can prove invaluable.
If you have any photos of the damage these can be sent to us by SMS, email or post.
If any emergency repairs have to be carried out, please keep all relevant invoices.
Obtain estimates for replacement or repairs. If any item is beyond economic repair please obtain a letter from the supplier.
Do not dispose of any salvage without permission of the insurers.

Please call us immediately in the event of a large claim to enable us to ensure insurers can appoint an expert if they so wish. For all other claims please pass details to us by telephone, fax, email or post as you prefer.

Livestock Claims

Please report all incidents involving theft or worrying to the Police making a note of the Officer's name, station and the crime Reference number as your insurers will require this.
In the event of a death a vets report will be required. Please contact us for a report form as insurers prefer their own forms to be completed. They may also request the post mortem report, any pedigree certificate, an extract from the movement book and carcass disposal invoice if applicable.

Motor

In the event of an accident stop and obtain names, addresses and insurance details of all other parties involved, including vehicle registration number(s) and make and type of vehicle(s).
Give your policy details to any person who has any reasonable grounds to request them and obtain names and addresses of any witnesses.
Do not admit liability.
Make a note of the accident date, time and any other relevant factors, including a sketch of the scene of the accident and description of the damage.
Do take photographs of damage and vehicle positions on your mobile phone if possible. In the event of disputes insurers find these images invaluable.
Inform the police within 24 hours in the case of injury and your leasing company if your vehicle is subject to a leasing agreement.

All motor claims are dealt with direct by Insurers so please report to them quoting your policy number.

Their claims team will guide you through the appropriate questions and arrange for your vehicle repairs to be carried out if appropriate. They will also allocate a claim reference to your case. Our trained claims advisors will of course be happy to help in the event of any problems or queries.

Travel Claims

Emergency Assistance and Curtailment

Should you need emergency treatment whilst away or it is necessary to curtail you trip you must contact your Insures Emergency Travel assistance service provider. The number is within your policy documentation. We would suggest you program this number into your mobile before travelling.

Personal Effects

Baggage and money losses must be reported to the local police and a written report obtained within 24 hours. If you were unable to do this for any reason, insurers require a full explanation why this was the case to enable them to consider the claim further.
Purchase receipts, photographs of the items or evidence of ownership is helpful.
If your baggage is damage by the airline, a property irregularity report should be obtained and all baggage tags retained.

Cancellation

A letter or medical certificate should be obtained from your doctor or consultant saying why you are unable to travel

Medical expenses

Receipts for any treatment or medication required whilst you were away shall be required.

Liability

Do not admit liability.
Always record incidents in your Company's Accident Book if applicable
Do not enter in to any correspondence with the claimant or his representative. Please forward all correspondence to unanswered to us.

In all cases you must advise RKHIS immediately of any incident or loss should you feel an insurance claim is likely to enable your Insurers to comply with the Civil Procedure Rules. These will include:

All formal claims - usually a letter from the claimant's solicitor.
Any incidents resulting in a serious injury - i.e. requiring emergency hospital treatment.
Any incidents that result in an employee being absent from work for three or more days.
Any incidents that require the completion of a RIDDOR report.
Any other incidents that you feel may result in a claim. For example where an employee has intimated that they might claim, or where an employee has subsequently been made redundant or left the company.

If you are not sure of an incident should be reported, please contact us and we will be happy to advise you.

Please provide details of the incident giving rise to the claim/potential claim and the nature and extent of any injuries suffered. A copy of the accident book entry and/or correspondence from the claimant's solicitor should be sufficient for an initial notification. You can pass details to us by telephone, fax, email or post as you prefer.

Legal Assistance

Please call your Insurer to report an event immediately you are aware of it on the advice line listed in your policy.

Generally Insurers appoint their own solicitors to represent you if needed and do not usually pay for any legal advice you have obtained without their express permission or prior to their notification so it is imperative they receive the earliest notification possible and their guidance is sought.

Do not admit liability.
Do not enter in to any correspondence with the claimant or his representative.