Slightly different jury service question

[blakeyuk]

Hi all,
I've just gone outside the "don't come back for 5 years" window, and have been called up for next month. Foolishly, I've not yet joined PCG, and so don't have any insurance. I'm going to play the "financial hardship" card and see what happens...

But... I was thinking, that if you're been called recently, it's now 2 years reprieve that they give you, not 5, I could be up again in 2 years time, as they seem to like me.

So... if I get insurance through PCG and QDOS at the same time, does that mean both policies would pay out?

Blakey

[northernladuk]

You really need an answer for that question?!??

Once one policy has covered the loss there is no loss to claim against the other policy. You would be committing fraud trying to claim it.

[blakeyuk]

You really need an answer for that question?!??

Once one policy has covered the loss there is no loss to claim against the other policy. You would be committing fraud trying to claim it.

Yes, that's why I asked. Thing is, the PCG cover is £300 a day, if I've read correctly, for 10 days. That's below my daily rate. QDOS' cover is up to £500 a day, capped at £5K.

So even if PCG cover the amount they pay, I'm still making a loss. So I'm thinking I could claim against QDOS for the amount over £300 for 10 days (up to my daily rate), then the full whack for any remaining days until I hit their 5K limit.

I don't see anything dishonest in this, as I'm not defrauding anyone, but I'm not sure whether the insurance companies would work like that.

Blakey.

[northernladuk]

Check the wording. Most insurance policies say something along the lines of "insurance cover does not apply where the customer is covered by another insurance policy".

[malvolio]

Yes, that's why I asked. Thing is, the PCG cover is £300 a day, if I've read correctly, for 10 days. That's below my daily rate. QDOS' cover is up to £500 a day, capped at £5K.

So even if PCG cover the amount they pay, I'm still making a loss. So I'm thinking I could claim against QDOS for the amount over £300 for 10 days (up to my daily rate), then the full whack for any remaining days until I hit their 5K limit.

I don't see anything dishonest in this, as I'm not defrauding anyone, but I'm not sure whether the insurance companies would work like that.

Blakey.

Why wouldn't "PCG cover the amount they pay"? The idea is they support their members as fully as they can. QDOS pay out in line with the terms of their insurance.


If your money management is so rubbish, or you think you should be paid regardless, I still don't see why other people should be paying your losses. For one thing, they aren't losses, since you get paid to deliver work for your client and while you're doing jury service you aren't working.


This idea that we are somehow owed income regardless of what we are actually doing seriously pisses me off and goes a long way to explaining why people think we are out for all we can get.

[DirtyDog]

I'm going to play the "financial hardship" card and see what happens...

eek says he has a permanent exclusion from jury duty - maybe ask him how to get out of doing it.

(Some cynics would suggest that the key is in the word "duty" )

[blakeyuk]

[QUOTE=malvolio;1856127]Why wouldn't "PCG cover the amount they pay"? The idea is they support their members as fully as they can. QDOS pay out in line with the terms of their insurance. [QUOTE]

Let me be clearer: Even if they pay £300, I'm still at a loss, not "if they even pay out, cause you know what these dodgy insurance companies are like").

If your money management is so rubbish, or you think you should be paid regardless, I still don't see why other people should be paying your losses. For one thing, they aren't losses, since you get paid to deliver work for your client and while you're doing jury service you aren't working.


This idea that we are somehow owed income regardless of what we are actually doing seriously pisses me off and goes a long way to explaining why people think we are out for all we can get.

I can see your point. But I'm a new contractor, so although I have a warchest which I'm building up, it's not significant enough to cover a 4 month murder trial. 3 days is fine (I've done that before), but after a while it's going to hurt.

It's not about being paid regardless. It's about a professional approach to risk management. You've been around long enough to know that, so I'm assuming either you totally misunderstood me, or I caught you in a bad mood.

Blakey.

[blakeyuk]

Check the wording. Most insurance policies say something along the lines of "insurance cover does not apply where the customer is covered by another insurance policy".

Thanks NLUK. That makes sense. Having never claimed any insurance, ever (and I'm in my 40s, so that's some accomplishment), I'd not really been a position to pay attention to that kind of small print.

That'll nip that idea in the bud, I guess.

Appreciate you taking the time out to help, rather than balling me out for being tulipe at money management :-)

Blakey

[blakeyuk]

eek says he has a permanent exclusion from jury duty - maybe ask him how to get out of doing it.

(Some cynics would suggest that the key is in the word "duty" )

I actually agree - I've no objection in principle to doing jury duty, as I'd expect nothing less if I ever get framed. What I object to a bit is me being called up every year (although I've abstained up till last year due to having attended in 2008), whereas other people (my partner for one) never receive a citation.

Also the timing sucks, as I've mentioned in an earlier post.

Blakey

[DirtyDog]

I can see your point. But I'm a new contractor, so although I have a warchest which I'm building up, it's not significant enough to cover a 4 month murder trial. 3 days is fine (I've done that before), but after a while it's going to hurt.

You explain that at the start of the trial that you have a reason to be excluded from that trial - then return to the jury pool and sit and read your book for a few days until you get picked for the next one.

Or explain it at the very beginning that if you are involved in a long-running case, your business will probably fold and you will end up bankrupt.