Is it worth risking the security of your organisation by saving a few pounds on your insurance premiums?

As an owner or manager of an organisation it can be extremely difficult to procure the best insurance cover for your organisation. This is where a broker will use their specialist knowledge and place your insurance with a company that offers the most appropriate balance of cover and cost. Before the insurance cover is placed you should always seek to ensure that you or your broker is dealing with a ‘rated’ insurance company.

Whilst some ‘unrated’ insurers may be able to offer cover at competitively low prices, they do not offer the policyholder the comfort that the insurance company’s financial resilience has been reviewed by a ratings agency such as Standard & Poor (S&P), Moody’s, Fitch Ratings or A.M. Best.

Whilst it might seem easy to make a decision based on cost alone, choosing an unrated insurer could end up being far more expensive. Consider some of the following:

• Typically unrated insurers are not held to the same solvency test requirements as UK-based rated insurers.

• Unrated insurers are often providing cover in higher risk sectors further exposing their ability to meet financial responsibilities

• They may be difficult to contact when there is an issue or concern

• Clients may have to wait a significant amount of time in order for their claims to be paid

• If an unrated insurer does find itself in financial difficulty your business may have to fund significant claims from its own resources

Zach Gray is the Commercial Director at D E Ford Insurance Brokers, providing bespoke insurance for businesses and charitable organisations.