COVID 19 Coronavirus response and FAQs

Fiveways Insurance Consultants is committed to the safety of all of our customers as well as our staff members. Following the latest Government advice, we will be taking measures to ensure that we act responsibly to reduce the risk to everybody.

We have issued some information below, and you can find some Frequently Asked Questions on this page.
 

From Tuesday 5th January, both our Newport and Stafford offices are closed in line with guidelines following the most recent National lockdown.

You can continue to contact us by phone or email where one of the team will be able to assist. All staff will have secure access to the system and can continue to service your insurance requirements. We are committed to continuing to provide our usual quality service but we would ask that you bear with us whilst we all work from home.

We remain committed to servicing your insurance needs and responding to any queries or concerns that you have about your policy cover and insurance requirements. If you have any queries on any existing or new policy, please contact us in the usual manner by phone or email.

We can provide virtual meetings through Microsoft Teams or Zoom. Please contact us to find out more or if you would like to arrange a virtual review.  

God bless, and please keep safe.

Please click the links for some helpful guidance packs and infographics. Frequently asked questions can be found below.

Coronavirus Information and Guidance pack

Financial Resources for Businesses

Returning to work guidance for employers

FAQs

General

How can we contact you?

You can continue to contact us through the usual channels by phone or email.

NEWPORT OFFICE:                                                                   STAFFORD OFFICE:

T: 01952 812380                                                                       T: 01785 251790

E: enquiries@fivewaysinsurance.co.uk                                E: stafford@fivewaysinsurance.co.uk

How will Fiveways continue to look after my insurances?

Whilst our advisers continue to work from home, they will have full access to the office systems, telephone, email as well as full access to the insurers. All our advisers will continue to service your insurance needs, provide New Quotations, carry our Renewal Reviews and administer all renewals and changes to your policies. Please continue to contact us through the usual channels:

NEWPORT OFFICE:                                                                   STAFFORD OFFICE:

T: 01952 812380                                                                       T: 01785 251790

E: enquiries@fivewaysinsurance.co.uk                                E: stafford@fivewaysinsurance.co.uk

Motor

My vehicle MOT is due to be renewed?

The Government agreed to postpone MOT Testing for 6 months and so your current MOT will remain valid for 6 months beyond it’s original test date up to and including 31st July 2020. If your MOT is due before 1st August 2020 it will automatically be extended to a date 6 months forward of its original expiry date. If your MOT is due on 1st August 2020 onwards, you will need to arrange for the MOT to be carried out prior to the current expiry date. Please ensure you keep up to date on when your MOT expiry date is if it has changed.
During the new national lockdown in England, there has been no agreement to extend MOT expiry dates so please ensure you continue to get your car tested and it has a valid MOT certificate.

Insurers have agreed to temporarily waive the requirement for the vehicle to have a valid MOT certificate until it reaches it’s new expiry date. Remember that the requirement to ensure that your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition still applies. Vehicle repair and servicing garages, as well as Tyre Fitters remain open to carry out essential repairs to ensure your vehicle remains is a roadworthy condition.

I am not doing as many miles at the moment during the lockdown. What options are available?

Please contact our office to update your mileage expectations. In some cases, we are able to reduce the mileage on your policy and increase it back up at a later stage once the restrictions are lifted.

I am not using my vehicle at all at the moment. Can I cancel my policy?

The vehicle must remain insured at all times unless you have formally applied to the DVLA to SORN your vehicle. If the vehicle is SORN, please contact us and provide evidence of the SORN confirmation. We can arrange for your cover to be reduced to Accidental Damage Fire & Theft or if you really do not want any cover, we can cancel the policy altogether.

I am volunteering to deliver food / medical supplies to the Vulnerable.

Insurers have agreed that your policy cover will not be affected by using the vehicle for such purposes, although they still need to be advised. Please contact us to discuss your individual circumstances.

My policy only includes Commuting to and from one permanent place of work but I am now having to work from other offices/shops/factories.

Insurers have confirmed that they will extend your policy cover without charge for the period of the restrictions, but they do need to be advised and note your policy accordingly. Please contact us to discuss your individual circumstances.

I have come out of retirement to work in the Health Service.

Insurers have agreed to extend your policy cover to provide the necessary business use without charge, but they do need to be advised and note your policy accordingly. Please contact us to discuss your individual circumstances.

Home

I am now working from home. Do I need to tell my insurers

Insurers have agreed to extend your Home Insurance policy to cover Clerical work from home without charge but they do need to be advised. Please contact us to discuss your individual circumstances.

My second home / holiday home is unoccupied and I am not able to visit to check on it.

Most policies include a requirement to check on your unoccupied property once every 7 or 14 days. During the current movement restrictions, most Insurers have agreed to suspend that condition. The period of the suspension and other terms vary between insurers and all require to be advised. Please contact us to discuss your individual circumstances.

My tenants have moved out of my let property and left it unoccupied.

Most policies include a requirement to check on your unoccupied property once every 7 or 14 days. During the current movement restrictions, most Insurers have agreed to suspend that condition. The period of the suspension and other terms vary between insurers and all require to be advised. Please contact us to discuss your individual circumstances.

Business

My business has temporarily closed and all staff are working from home.

Most Insurers allow for Home Working and will extend the cover on computer equipment whilst temporarily removed. You do need to advise your insurers and so we would ask that you contact us to discuss your individual circumstances.

My business premises is now unoccupied whilst everyone works from home.

Most policies include a requirement to check on your unoccupied property once every 7 or 14 days. During the current movement restrictions, most Insurers have agreed to suspend that condition. The period of the suspension and other terms vary between insurers and all require to be advised. Please contact us to discuss your individual circumstances.

My business has suffered significant loss of income as a result of the Coronavirus. Will my policy pay out for loss of income?

Many policies provide ‘Business Interruption’ cover but generally Business Interruption claims can only be made following physical damage to your premises. Some policies have extensions to the Business Interruption section of cover which might cover losses as a result of Government action to close your premises or as a result of a Disease but generally the Disease cover is restricted to a specified list of notifiable diseases. Coronavirus COVID -19 is not one of the specified notifiable diseases because until recently the Government hadn’t classified it as a notifiable disease. For most policyholders, the unfortunate fact is that cover is not available for loss of income resulting from COVID-19. Please see our Business Interruption Cover Blog explaining the situation.