Reply to: car insurance - what employment status?

[css_jay99]

Employment Status makes no difference to Churchill/Directline/RBS quotes.

When you buy online they put your terms down as SD&P + business commuting. Nothing on their online process gives you a business... option


I was insured with DirectLine for 4 years thinking i was only SD&P but it turned out i have business commuting as well


css_jay99

[BolshieBastard]

Where did I say an employment contract proves you are a company director?

You didnt. I mentioned it as an example.

If you read what I post, a search on companies house proves you are a company director.....

We are in a position where we can have one or a number of employment titles, ie self employed, co director, business analyst etc. You clearly fail to recognise when you have a contract to work with a client, it doesnt say your 'job title' etc is co director, its says BA etc.

With regards to the bit in bold, is that not what I am reccomending anyway?

Get your head out of your arse. Do you really think the insurance co is going to look past your actual employment status if that gives them the amunition they require to not pay out?

Which is why I said contact the ins co.

Does your Ltd employ you as a programmer? No.
Are you a director of your Ltd Co? Yes.

Actually co director is a position. My co employs me as a test analyst!

I suggest you've got bad breath because you're talking out of your arse.

[diesel]

quite a few replies!
With some companies it made no difference to the quote ....but i dont want to give them my wrong details. Seems like from the replies one can argue this on 2 ways either employee or director. Way i see i am both for my LTD. Will probably state that i am Co director but working as a professional.

[centurian]

Exactly the same as me, and probably 90 % of contractors running their own Ltd company in the UK.

However,
if you are involved in an accident and
if the insurance company decide to do some digging and
if you cannot satisfy the inspector 100% that you are employed exactly as you have told them then
they will try to wiggle out of any payments and they will argue that your insurance contract is null and void.
This could lead to a prosecution of driving without insurance, however I have no first hand knowledge of this ever happening, just anecdotal.

Abso-effing-lutely - If an insurance co finds there is any discrepancy between what you said when you took out your insurance and the situation when you make a claim, they will declare your insurance null and void and refuse any payout.

Whether they will bother checking is another matter and in all probability, you would get away with it. But if they do manage to find out, you won't get a penny.

Just because we are used to arguing semantics with HMRC over IR35 doesn't mean we can do the same with insurance companies. They won't care what CUK, your accountant or your dog thinks. If get get a sniff of the word "director" anywhere and you haven't declared it, they will just turn around and say "we won't pay out, now f-off".

[blacjac]

Does your Ltd employ you as a programmer? No.

Mine does. I get a small salary and a payslip from My LtdCo.

I'm one of those too getting lots and lots* of lovely dividends.

Exactly the same as me, and probably 90 % of contractors running their own Ltd company in the UK.

However,
if you are involved in an accident and
if the insurance company decide to do some digging and
if you cannot satisfy the inspector 100% that you are employed exactly as you have told them then
they will try to wiggle out of any payments and they will argue that your insurance contract is null and void.
This could lead to a prosecution of driving without insurance, however I have no first hand knowledge of this ever happening, just anecdotal.


Like I have said, for the extra couple of quid per year, is it really worth all the hassle of trying to argue your corner against an insurance company? Who no doubt would deem your incuded legal cover null and void as well so you'd have to pay yourself.

[blacjac]

hmmm. are you 100% certain of that...because I have strong feeling it's not the case.

I am 100% certain that my accountant and my solicitor told me that if I have an employment contract then I am subject to the national minimum wage.

I suppose they could be wrong but I have no reason to suspect that...

[Olly]

You could, but then you would be subject to the national minimum wage

hmmm. are you 100% certain of that...because I have strong feeling it's not the case.

[Numpty]

Does your Ltd employ you as a programmer? No.

Mine does. I get a small salary and a payslip from My LtdCo.

Are you a director of your Ltd Co? Yes.

I'm one of those too getting lots and lots* of lovely dividends.




* where 'lots and lots' = barely enough to live on but we get by.

[blacjac]

Utter rubbish. I dont know many IT Contractors who have contracts of employment calling them directors. What's on the contract with the agent, IT Director or BA, Test Analyst, Programmer etc?

If in any doubt regarding car insurance, all you have to do is phone them and tell them.

Where did I say an employment contract proves you are a company director?

If you read what I post, a search on companies house proves you are a company director.....


With regards to the bit in bold, is that not what I am reccomending anyway?

Get your head out of your arse. Do you really think the insurance co is going to look past your actual employment status if that gives them the amunition they require to not pay out?

Does your Ltd employ you as a programmer? No.
Are you a director of your Ltd Co? Yes.

[BolshieBastard]

Car insurance companies are a little bit like HMRC, they will bend you over any opportunity they can.

If you have an accident and the insurance company get a sniff that you may have been econimical with the truth they will refuse to pay out and it will be down to you to prove them wrong....


Whilst you no doubt do program computers as part of your work, do you have an employment contract that says you are a programmer?

However a quick search of companies house will quickly prove you are a company director......


The gamble I suppose is that would the insurance company bother to check?
Probably depends how much they stand to loose.....

Utter rubbish. I dont know many IT Contractors who have contracts of employment calling them directors. What's on the contract with the agent, IT Director or BA, Test Analyst, Programmer etc?

If in any doubt regarding car insurance, all you have to do is phone them and tell them.

[centurian]

If you have an accident and the insurance company get a sniff that you may have been econimical with the truth they will refuse to pay out and it will be down to you to prove them wrong....

Even if that ommission has no bearing on the claim itself...

For instance, if someone in your house has a minor conviction for dropping litter (even a lodger), your house insurance is pretty much useless.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009...nance-criminal

However, insurers generally don't ask about convictions when you sign up or renew - only when you want to claim...

[blacjac]

You could, but then you would be subject to the national minimum wage and would still be a company director as well.......


As I said earlier, it depends on what the insurance company check in the event of an accident...


For me the difference between being a company director and a programmer (my last permie job) was only a couple of quid anyway...

[Olly]

hmm... but i could sign an employment contract couldn't i?

[blacjac]

Car insurance companies are a little bit like HMRC, they will bend you over any opportunity they can.

If you have an accident and the insurance company get a sniff that you may have been econimical with the truth they will refuse to pay out and it will be down to you to prove them wrong....


Whilst you no doubt do program computers as part of your work, do you have an employment contract that says you are a programmer?

However a quick search of companies house will quickly prove you are a company director......


The gamble I suppose is that would the insurance company bother to check?
Probably depends how much they stand to loose.....

[Olly]

really? I always tell them I'm employed as a computer programmer.