Shops and Restaurants Insurance

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We understand the financial impact that Covid-19 is having on individuals and businesses across the country. A question you may be asking is:

‘As a result of Covid-19 what happens if I can’t afford to pay for my policy?’

Most of our Commercial and Retail Insurance policies are arranged via insurance brokers/MGAs, so in the first instance please contact your broker/MGA to discuss your needs and what assistance may be available.

If you have a direct debit under a Regulated Credit Agreement with New India Assurance and need our assistance please contact us on 01473 233626 between 9 am to 5pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays).

COVID-19 update – Business Interruption (Income) FCA Test Case : Information

Background

On 1 May 2020, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced that it intended to obtain a court declaration to ensure clarity on whether certain non-damage business interruption insurance policies provide cover for losses arising as a result of COVID-19.

Although ‘The New India Assurance Co. Ltd.’ (New India) was not a party to the Test Case, this announcement may affect policyholders insured under some business interruption policies that New India provide cover for. New India fully supports the Test Case process along with the clarity and certainty it brings for affected policyholders as well as Insurers.

This page provides information about the Test Case and what it means for New India’s policyholders.

Timeline of the FCA Test Case Judgement:

1. On 15 September 2020 the High Court shared its judgment on the Test Case.
2. On 2 October 2020, a hearing took place during which the court heard the parties’ arguments on the appropriate declarations to make and granted approval to the FCA, six of the insurers and one of the intervenors certificates for a “leapfrog” appeal to the UK Supreme Court.
3. On 20 October 2020, the FCA made the final declarations and the relevant parties’ applications to appeal to the Supreme Court available on its website.
4. On 2 November 2020, the Supreme Court granted permission to appeal to all those who had applied for it. The scope of the appeals covered some, but not all of the questions addressed by the High Court judgment, leaving some parts of the High Court judgment unchallenged.
5. On 11 November 2020, the FCA published the written cases for the appeals and the written cases responding to those appeals on its website.
6. On 15 January 2021 the Supreme Court handed down its judgment on the appeal.  The judgment can be found here. There are no further avenues of appeal from the Supreme Court so all rights of appeal have now been concluded in respect of the Test Case.

New India is carefully considering the Supreme Court judgment, and its impact on claims and complaints under relevant Business Interruption policies where New India provides cover and which we have identified as potentially affected by the outcome of the Test Case.

The FCA has published a list of insurers and policies capable of responding to the Covid-19 Pandemic following the test case, as a result of the Supreme Court judgment. Please note that, as the FCA points out:

• “Inclusion in this list does not mean that the outcome on any particular claim for the below policy wordings will be affected. Each policy wording and policyholder’s circumstances will need to be considered on a case by case basis”.
• “Where a policy is not included on this list, this may be for a number of reasons including but not limited to the policy wording being of a type not tested in the Test Case (e.g., containing an exhaustive list of diseases only or where the policy contains a relevant exclusion clause which was not tested)”. 

The FCA will also periodically publish data on the number of claims settled and pending across the UK market, where the decision to accept claims was affected by the test case.

What does the Test Case mean for New India’s policyholders?

Although New India was not a party to the Test Case, the outcome of the Test Case will provide guidance on the interpretation and review of claims made under certain business interruption policies that New India provides insurance cover for.

What is New India doing next?

We are carefully considering the Supreme Court judgment, and any impact that this may have on claims and complaints under our Policies. Our policy Holders have been informed about final judgement of the test case and the possible impact it may have on their Claims. Loss adjusters have been advised to contact the Policy holders and their representatives on priority for submission of requisite documents for evaluation of coverage and liability, if any.

1. New India has written to policyholders who have made claims or complaints for non-damage business interruption losses related to the coronavirus pandemic under relevant business interruption policies to inform them whether or not their claim or complaint may be affected by the Test Case, and the implications of the same.
2. After the Supreme Court judgement, New India has revisited all claims, including those we have declined, and complaints relating to COVID-19 and decisions made on affected policies to ensure they are handled in line with the Supreme Court’s judgement. If the position on your claim or complaint has changed from the previous intimation, we will write to you.
3. All policy holders with relevant claims have been advised to submit all necessary claim related documents as soon as possible. If you have any queries, please contact our Commercial Claims Office. Policyholders will appreciate that your claim not only depends on the interpretation of the wordings, but also on circumstances of the claim and compliance with policy terms and conditions.

Updated: 14^th May 2021

Our standard policy includes cover for;

• Contents and Stock including cigarettes, tobacco, wines and spirits
• Seasonal Stock Increase of 25% for November and December and for 30 days preceding Easter Day
• Accidental Damage to underground pipes, services and cables
• Replacement of locks at the property following theft of keys up to £500
• Loss of metered water up to £5,000
• Breakage of fixed glass, sanitaryware and signs
• Loss of Income and Additional Expenditure – standard limit of £600,000 with 24 months maximum Indemnity Period, with option to increase.
• Extensions include loss of income due to Denial of Access, Accidental Failure of public utilities, Notifiable Diseases, Defective Sanitation, Vermin or Pests and Murder or Suicide.
• Book debts where accounts records are destroyed
• Loss of Money whilst on the premises or in transit, including damage to any safe on the premises arising from theft
• Cover for bodily injury sustained directly as a result of assault or violence in connection with theft
• Public and Products Liability £2,000,000
• Employers Liability £10,000,000

Further options available to include cover for;

• Damage to Buildings including Debris Removal costs and Architects and Surveyors Fees
• Costs and expenses incurred in locating the source of any damage caused by Escape of Water or Oil up to £5,000
• Deterioration of frozen and chilled Stock following breakdown of refrigeration equipment up to £5,000
• Reduction in the value of the business following loss of licence up to £100,000
• All Risks cover on specified items of Business Equipment
• Loss or damage to Goods in Transit (including whilst loading and unloading) up to £10,000
• Loss of money or other property following dishonesty of employees up to £10,000
• Legal Costs and Expenses relating to Employment Disputes, Employment Compensation Awards, Tax Protection, Property Disputes, Tenancy Protection, Compliance and Regulation, Directors Protection, Statutory Licence Protection and Contract & Debt Recovery.

Suitable Risks;

• Retail Shops, including;
  • Grocer / Convenience Store / Supermarket
  • Newsagent / Confectioners
  • Off Licence
  • Clothing / Footwear Retail
  • Bakers / Butchers / Delicatessen
  • Bookmakers
  • Card and Gift Retail
  • DIY / Hardware Retail
  • Electrical Goods Retail
  • Florist
  • Opticians
  • Stationers / Office Equipment Retail
  • Café / Tea Room/ Sandwich Bar
  • Restaurant
  • Cooked Food Takeaway

Positive Features;

• Low claims frequency
• Trading history and experience
• Superior security features
• Overnight occupancy
• Low flood risk
• Low Subsidence risk

Unacceptable Features;

• Non-Standard Construction
• Unoccupied risks
• Unspent Criminal Convictions
• Previous Liquidation / Bankruptcy / CVA

Unacceptable Trades;

• Sale of second hand goods
• Hairdressers / Beauty Salons
• Launderette / Dry Cleaners
• Jewellers
• Garden Centres
• Cycle Dealers
• Market Halls / Kiosks
• Pawnbrokers
• Petrol Stations
• Tattooist / Body Piercing Studios