[jase]

Originally Posted by David L

...I understand the insurance market, basically, and how liability is shared across the premiums.. far enough with something like car insurance, where there are many many people covering the risk, but I don't accept that is appropriate for something more specialised..

Unfortunately, you are approaching an insurance company offering a specialsed policy, it isn't a Special / One off Risk, the insurance company will therefore work on the same basis as car/home etc.

Originally Posted by David L

..that's the job of an underwriter, to asses the risk.. This is clearly not happening as the company concerned do not make any assesment of claims history.. They should, in fact, do more to reward those with a good claims history..

I hauled loads of gear 50,000 miles (twice around the world) on 50 odd flights last year without incident or claim.. my reward, a 63% premium increase for the same risk..

Rubbish.. That's not acceptable..

I totally agree, claim history Should be taken into account. Personal Liability rates do seem to be on the increase due to the litigeous society in which we now live. It is up to the Underwriter to look at the risk, however, he may be presented with a pool account to asses and sets his rates accordingly. All I can say is a 63% hike is something which you should query and demand an explanation for.

Originally Posted by David L

..By the way.. Home insurance will not cover you properly, in my opinion, if it's revealed that your working for some sort of reward, especially if you are trackside.. You'd be pushing your luck with travel policies as well.. Try explaining why you, your 500mm and D2X got ran over by a fire truck racing around the track access road at Paul Ricard or someplace..

Hubble, Home Insurance will not cover you At All while you are using your equipment for reward. Is your equipment listed on your home policy? I doubt it. If you suffer a Total Loss what are you going to tell your insurer? It fell off the bed? You'll find yourself not covered. And the 'it'll never happen to me' approach will only last so long.

Also David raises another point - travel insurance, you'll find being a photographer trackside is deemed a 'hazardous pursuit' and unless specifically covered on your policy as Trackside Photographer, you Will Not be covered, even if you tell them what you are going to be doing and they say it isn't covered and you go ahead and travel on the policy and have an incident, you may find out they'll refuse any coverage.