Fast tracking of smaller School Contents Claims (i.e. claims less than £1000)

Historically there has been a problem with many outstanding smaller school contents claims, i.e. the claim having been reported but remaining open pending receipt of the details and/or the invoices for the replacement items. It is not uncommon for such a claim to be outstanding for 6 months or more when such a claim need only be outstanding for approx 4 weeks.

Outstanding claims are unhelpful both for the schools and for Risk & Insurance. The administration cost of carrying an undue number of outstanding claims causes issues for Risk and Insurance. However, the bigger problem is that the school isn’t able to replace vital equipment quickly enough and/or the delay in re-imbursement of funds. There is also an issue in the payment delay suppliers face and the burden caused by the increase in the schools administration.

In recognition of this problem and to minimise the life spans of smaller school contents claims for the future, we will actively look at settling claims on a cash payment basis at the time of reporting or shortly thereafter.

In order to facilitate such fast tracking it will be necessary for the person at the school nominated to deal with the claim to research replacement cost of the items lost or damaged at the time of reporting the claim. Although this may sound onerous, most of these claims are only for a small amount of items and are mostly replaced by ESPO or another regular supplier where replacement cost is available from a catalogue. If we can have accurate replacement cost information in this way a cash payment can be agreed and the agreed sum can be transferred to the School’s budget straightaway. This will enable the school to discharge the invoice for the replacement item once this comes to hand without further recourse to Risk & Insurance. In this way many claims can be dealt with and settled within days of notification.

Naturally this process will not apply to claims involving damage to the building or glazing which can only be dealt with satisfactorily on presentation of the invoice for the completed works.

However, it will work well for accidental damage claims, theft claims and water damage claims involving contents items. For example if a claim for a dropped laptop is telephoned through with prices from your normal suppliers or, better still, ICT Solutions, then a payment can be agreed and the settlement, less the excess, can be journalled to you to hold against presentation of the invoice.

When you telephone smaller new claims through to us, my colleagues Edward Chambers and Jonathan Noble will be looking to close the claim in this way. Ideally we hope to do this at the time of notification if the claim is telephoned through with the back up information, or within the next few days, by asking that the back up detail is supplied straightaway.

New arrangements for the reporting and handling of School’s Property Claims.

Following the departure of Jane O’Leary as Claims Manager this post has been filled for the time being by Ian Ferguson.

Although Ian will have overall responsibility for Property Claims, the day to day running and response to serious incidents will de dealt with and managed by Steve Rayner.

However, claims should be reported to Edward Chambers or Jonathan Noble as before and the majority of the claims handling will be with Edward and Jonathan.

The contact numbers are as follows; -

Ian Ferguson 01603 222122
Steve Rayner 01603 224372
Jonathan Noble 01603 223180
Edward Chambers 01603 222839