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Carpets in a home add a
certain distinct look to the room they are placed in. They are an
investment that must be looked after. Once they are stained or damaged,
the whole room takes on a less esthetically pleasing appearance. Rather
than the carpet being the center of attention, it becomes a major eyesore.
That's why United Kingdom carpet cleaners are so valued. They can take a
rug that has seen better days and have it looking as good as new.
Whilst not all good carpet and upholstery cleaners are members of the
National Carpet Cleaners Association, anyone starting a carpet cleaning
business should seriously consider joining. Members of the NCCA have been
trained and their insurance credentials have been verified as adequate
minimums that a consumer should expect.
Carpet cleaners in the UK do their best to restore carpets to their
original look, but just like any tradesman, mistakes can happen and the
work done by the carpet cleaner may not be acceptable. Perhaps in the
process of cleaning, a third party entered the premises and tripped,
injuring himself. Perhaps the chemicals used to clean the carpet were
faulty, causing the carpet to fade or fall apart. Or perhaps an employee
cleaning the carpet fell ill because of an allergy to certain chemicals
that had gone unnoticed. All of these examples are causes for a person to
file a claim against the carpet cleaner's business or the carpet cleaner.
That's why a carpet cleaner must be protected with insurance. Don't be
'called on the carpet' because you don't have the proper insurance for
your carpet cleaning business. If you check the Internet for Tradesmen
Business Insurance or Insurance for Carpet Cleaners, you'll find many
insurance companies that have information as to the types of cover you
need to protect yourself and your business. When you have a package in
mind, ask the insurance broker to send you a detailed policy and a quote,
so that you can decide what insurance package best suit your needs. The
following types of insurance are highly recommended for any small business
including carpet cleaning.
Public Liability
Insurance
Whilst it is not
mandatory to have Public Liability Insurance in the UK, it is high advised
for carpet cleaning contractors to carry it. It is not that expensive and
provides protection of your assets. The risks of a member of the public
tripping on hoses, furniture, etc., or the chances of damages to a carpet,
floor, curtains or other items that could fall and break is relatively
high in the carpet cleaning business. If a claim is made for damages or
injuries, without insurance, it would be almost impossible for you to
settle a claim that could be awarded for thousands of pounds. Public
Liability Insurance will likely protect you from any claim as a result of
injury to a third party or damages to their property. It will also likely
cover all legal fees involved. The suggested amount of coverage is usually
£2 to 5 million. Since your carpet cleaning business probably takes place
outside of your place of business on many occasions, make sure that the
policy applies to off-work as well as on-site claims.
In addition to Public Liability Insurance, claims can also come about
because of a defective product. Public liability cover can also be
extended to include claims arising out of defective products, often
referred to as Treatment Risk Product Liability insurance. This policy
will likely cover carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, curtain cleaning,
leather cleaning, custom cleaning, commercial carpet cleaning, carpet
repair, Oriental rug cleaning, transportation of curtains and rugs,
storage of curtains and rugs and any application of treatments like
protectors, dust mite treatments, flame retardants, anti-static agents and
insect proofing applications. Unfortunately UK newspapers report many
stories relating to professional errors and negligence, which have created
a less than desirable result for the carpet cleaner and the client
involved. It's important to have coverage like Product Liability that will
probably handle claims such as these as well as legal fees involved. The
amount of necessary cover should be discussed with your insurance agent or
addressed online by filling out information about your carpet cleaning
business.
Professional Indemnity
Insurance
Professional Indemnity
Insurance protects you against human error or negligent practices because
of advice you offered. This advice could create a situation that is
detrimental to the client and the professional hired to perform the
services.
As a carpet cleaner running a business or offering a service, Professional
Indemnity is a wise choice, although not mandatory, it will likely ensure
that your business and you are protected should an unforeseen incident
that could occur because of the advice you gave that results in a
potential claim against you. Remember, any profession or person, who
offers advice or other services could, because of negligence, be sued
whilst providing that service. To find out how much Professional Indemnity
you might need and the premium involved, look for "Professional Indemnity
Insurance" insurance brokers on line.
Employers' Liability
Insurance
If your cleaning company
has employees, it is a legal requirement to have Employers' Liability
Insurance. It provides cover of £10 million or more should an injury or
illness occur to an employee. As an employer, you are responsibility for
the safety and well being of your workers. Should you be found liable
because of an accident or illness, a claim could be filed against you
resulting in thousands of pounds in compensation. In the event of an
employee claim, Employers' Liability will likely cover the claim and legal
expenses involved. Keep in mind, even if an employee is no longer a member
of your staff and falls ill due to a work related issue, he has the right
to file a claim after the fact. Keep detailed records of all of your
employees whether still employed or not.
Additional Supplemental
Insurances Rug Cleaners May Consider
The above insurances, if
not mandatory like Employers' Liability, are strongly advised for carpet
cleaners. By checking insurance companies on the Internet, you will find
that many packages will probably include the above, and by purchasing a
package, you can sometimes save money on your premiums.
In addition to these insurance you might also want to look into insurance
that will cover business contents that might be damaged whilst stored in
your premises, insurance for tools and equipment that might be damaged
whilst away from premises, and Business Interrupted Insurance that will
likely help cover damages should you experience an event that puts you out
of business for a while. Remember, any research you do online should be
followed up with a request for a complete policy that you can examine and
determine if it is best for your carpet cleaning company. |
