I would like to draw other broker's attention to Event Insurance Services, which we have dealt with over the past four or five years and have always found its service levels to be fairly acceptable.
The case I am referring to is a jubilee event liability policy that was to be covered from 2 June to 4 June. We received the proposal form on the 25 May and it was sent to Event. When we rang on the 31 May we were told that it had not been received and would we fax it. We tried faxing the proposal form to Event Insurance all day on the 31 May, but there was no answer.
After ringing Event Insurance at 3pm I was told that if it had the proposal form that morning then cover could have been effected. When I told the operator that we had been trying to do this, she then referred the matter to her "MD". She then informed me that they had reached capacity on the scheme and hadn't been accepting business since 30 May.
We were left in a very embarrassing position with the client, who had to go elsewhere for his cover, and luckily he found it, but I doubt very much that he will use us again, and to be honest I don't blame him.
The question I ask is where is the information stating that the product has reached capacity (or that there is a deadline on cover)? Is it on its website, www.event-insurance.co.uk? No. Is there anything printed on the jubilee event proposal forms saying that the deadline for proposals is 30 May? No.
Only the other day I rang Event Insurance regarding liability cover for a bouncy castle, only to be told that it lost its facility in March. Yet it is still being advertised on its website and, no doubt, brokers still have stocks of stationary. I haven't seen anything in the press stating that the product has been withdrawn.
Maybe it should communicate with its brokers more to avoid embarrassment caused to the broker when proposals are sent and cover can't be given.
I personally will never use Event Insurance again.
Phil Warman
Livingstones Warman Insurance
Yeovil
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