These wages may be split into different categories by the insurer as different types of employees attract different rates in view of the level of risk to which they are exposed. At the start of the insurance year the premium is based on the rates applied to estimated wages. At the end of the year the actual rages are declared and any adjustment carried out. The declaration will state that it must be returned whether the policy is renewed re not. This is because the declaration applies to the past year of insurance, not the future year.
G
TRANSACTING INSURANCE AT LLOYD’S
The procedures and practices within the Lloyd’d market are quite different from those of any other insurer. They are built on years of tradition, as we will see, and still rely to a large extent on personal contact between those wishing to place insurance and those willing to carry the risk.
G1 THE ROOM
Lloyd’s is housed in a modern purpost built building in the certre of the City of London Underwriters and their staff sit at ‘boxes’ each with a number and the Lloyd’s brokers negotiate their contracts there. The room at Lloyd’s is the only place in the country where there is a recognized insurance market in the accepted sense of the word as described earlier in this chapter.
G2 TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS
It was mentioned previously, and shown in the diagram of the insurance market, that only Lloyd’s brokers may place insurance at Lloyd’s, the Lloyd’s broker will prepare a ‘slip’. Risks may also be placed electronically by the broker.
G2A The slip
This is a sheet of paper containing details of the risk to be insured. It will show:
- Name of insured;
- Property to be insured;
- Period of cover required;
- Sums insured or limits of liability;
- Inception date of cover
- Special conditions to be incorporated;
- Perils or type of cover required;
- Expected premium.
G2B Underwriting
The broker will take the slip to an underwriter who specializes in this class of business with a view to him accepting the lead or first proportion of the risk. Discussions on other aspects of the risk such as claims experience, will take place and the underwriter may feel obliged to amend some of the terms on the slip before he can accept, e.g., the rate of premium or the conditions. Once agreement on terms has been reached the underwriter will stamp and initial the slip for his syndicate’s proportion which he wishes to accept. This proportion may be very low, say 5%, and the broker will proceed to other underwriters until 100% is underwritten. If the broker establishes a good ‘lead’, other underwriters will accept the terms of the leading underwriter, otherwise the broker has to again on the new terms.