How to Check a Company's Ltd & Insurance Status?

timsk

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Hi folks,
Suggestions please . . .
My home has a wooden balcony and exterior wooden cladding - both of which are in dire need of decoration. I've found someone to do the job for a spectacularly good price and the old saying 'if it sounds too good to be true - it probably is' springs to mind. I've considered all the downsides in terms of poor preparation and using poor quality materials and I've got around those objections. The remaining hurdle is insurance. I live on a busy little lane, popular with local children. The thought of a full pot of paint accidentally dropped from the top of a ladder and landing on the swede of little Jonny as he's walking home from school isn't good. Worse still, the decorator falls off his ladder just as little Jonny passes by! Also, I have a number of large windows which would be very costly to replace if the decorator slips with his ladder. He assures me that he's fully insured and, moreover, he claims to be a Limited company which requires him to have insurance. However, he's not produced the actual certificates to prove that he's insured. There's no mention of his company registration number on his website and I've done a search for the company on the Company's House website - but no results were returned. I can live with the possibility of a sub standard job - but not the consequences of a serious accident if - as I fear - he doesn't have insurance. Is there any way that I can find out if he is a Limited Co. and has the necessary insurance that he claims to have? Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
Cheers,
Tim.
 
Hiya Tim,
I can't answer your question, but it might be worth checking with your own insurers to see if such eventualities are included in your existing insurance. There is usually a public liability clause which should cover squelching passing little brats or spearing them with scaffolding poles.
Some policies might have a money back reward if the victim is the proud owner of an ASBO.
Best wishes,
Richard
 
he claims to be a Limited company which requires him to have insurance. However, he's not produced the actual certificates to prove that he's insured.

Having a Limited company does not mean you have to have insurance. If a Ltd co. or a sole trader EMPLOY anybody they require employers liability insurance, but the majority of other business insurance is optional (ignoring solicitors, Dr's etc). Moreover, it is likely that your household insurer will stipulate somewhere in the fine print that any contractor you use must have at least the same level of public liability insurance as they offer to you.

There's no mention of his company registration number on his website and I've done a search for the company on the Company's House website - but no results were returned.

Read this again and think about it.

Tight git ;)
 
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