Contractor Insurance Help

**Lance** · 17 October 2016, 10:42

Originally posted by zovilo View Post

Morning,

I am about to take up my first contracting role for a UK company.

They provide consultation and development of software to a client in the USA. I will be travelling to the USA for meeting and fact finding exercises, with this in mind what insurance will I need?

I have had some quotes which seem reasonable, however, I am unsure if I should be declaring work in USA? This seems to be more than doubling the cost. I believe any development work will be done in the UK and I will just be attending meetings in the USA.

In the past I have worked abroad (for meetings mostly) and used the travel insurance that came with my bank account (LlloydsTSB at the time).
To be clear though, when I claimed I never told them it was business.
I'm pretty sure that travel insurance is what it says, so I suggest you read the T&Cs of your insurance to make sure that business is not excluded.

As for professional insurance. One assumes that you're a UK LTD and on that basis your PI, PL and EL insurance is still valid. The fact that you're just doing meetings in the USA should mean you're OK.

Of course you may want to talk to the insurance company but that will almost certainly increase your costs.

**Darren at Fox-Bartfield** · 17 October 2016, 10:42

Insurance

At the risk of sounding like NLUK, have you spoke to your insurance broker?

From what you're saying, your client is based in the UK and all work being carried out for that client is in the UK? Perhaps a quick chat with the broker would clarify where they stand.

**northernladuk** · 17 October 2016, 10:49

Originally posted by Darren at DynamoAccounts View Post

At the risk of sounding like NLUK, .

And what's wrong with that hey?

**zovilo** · 17 October 2016, 11:01

I have spoken to them, but I get the impression they are trying to sell me something I don't need.

I was thinking the same, that I will be be able to use the business insurance.

Thanks so much

**SueEllen** · 17 October 2016, 14:30

Originally posted by zovilo View Post

I have spoken to them, but I get the impression they are trying to sell me something I don't need.

I was thinking the same, that I will be be able to use the business insurance.

Thanks so much

Check the small print.

All my insurances specifically exclude outside Europe because I stated I didn't need it.

**WordIsBond** · 17 October 2016, 16:21

Originally posted by Darren at DynamoAccounts View Post

At the risk of sounding like NLUK, have you spoke to your insurance broker?

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

And what's wrong with that hey?

Probably doesn't like your accent.

OP, if you actually travel to the U.S. for meetings with your client's client, it may be that under U.S. law you could have liability if something goes wrong, and they could sue you as well as your client. US tort law is a snake pit. It might cost an extra £100 or so per year to have US liability cover, but I'd want it if I were you. Presumably your client will have deeper pockets and so would be their preferred target, but if they can go after you as well, you want protection.

**Fred Bloggs** · 18 October 2016, 00:11

1 Regular travel insurance, in my experience, always excludes business travel, that means meetings too. Buying short term business travel cover is pretty cheap and the client may well refund it any way if asked.

2 If you do work for a US client, your UK professional insurances are 99% likely to exclude it. You need to ask the insurer how much the additional premium for US cover will be. I wouldn't do it without that cover in place.

**Lance** · 18 October 2016, 08:54

Originally posted by Fred Bloggs View Post

1 Regular travel insurance always excludes business travel, that means meetings too.

Citation please. Always is a LOT of policies.

Some travel insurance explicitly excludes any sort of business, and that could mean answering the phone to an agent/client.
The small print is the key as has been stated earlier.

**Fred Bloggs** · 18 October 2016, 09:02

Originally posted by Lance View Post

Citation please. Always is a LOT of policies.

Some travel insurance explicitly excludes any sort of business, and that could mean answering the phone to an agent/client.
The small print is the key as has been stated earlier.

Better now?

Contractor Insurance Help