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Public liability insurance
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Gerry, I’m not disputing the fact that PL is a necessary evil in the society we live in today. And you’ve highlighted the fact that different photographers or photographic types of work will require different levels of PL. Again I accept and agree with that. But if you extend that to it’s logical conclusion, there may be some photographers out there that have no need for PL because of the type of work they do, but now because of this new requirement they are faced with an unnecessary cost if they wish to become a member of a body purporting to represent the interests of its members. The alternative is that they simply don’t bother becoming members of the IPPA because. Either way, the photographer loses out. So much for the IPPA working for the interests of professional photographers in Ireland. I realise they may have been caught between a rock and a hard place but I think they could have come up with a more elegant solution than they have.
Ultimately, I think it’s bad for the industry as it will simply encourage more “cowboys”, who are more than willing to take a risk. They may not get the jobs where the client requires one to have PL, but in all honesty, I doubt that would have much of an impact on their revenue, whereas their actions could have a significant impact on the revenue of bona-fide professionals. I think the IPPA really need to rethink this one! They really do need to be coming up with more creative ways of promoting the industry in Ireland rather than stifling it with bizarre rules such as this one.
There’s a whole discussion (arguement!) on this on http://www.irishphotographers.ie
I’ve just gone with 2.5m PL…thats what FBD insurance said was more than adequate for wedding photographers. But call them if I need more for county council work.
Thorston,
you are making the very same argument that I kept shouting about at the AGM we had. I thought, (even still think), that way. However, we all need some level of PL and when I went pricing, I found that the bigest cost of PL is the 1st. million. After that each million gets cheaper ……. and the difference between having PL of, say, 3 million and 7 million is probably not even ?200 and probably the difference between 7m and 15m is likely to be less than ?50. Reason is …… if you have a claim, its probably not likely to exceed 1 million, so the extra cover is not too expensive as the likelyhood of a claim of that level is so remote. I know its taking a sledge to a nut at the moment but I have been asked recently in a few churches about PL. One insisted that I was not to enter the Gallery area if I did not have PL cover …….(in case I let my lovely new camera fall over the balcony and kill someone in the crowd ! LOL). Now having said that I was never asked to produce it.The fact that it is a requirement to become an IPPA members was a decission taken by the majority of members at a vote so I’ve no choice but to accept that or get out, but the total benefits available from membership still outweigh the extra cost of the PL which is not really that high to members.
Speaking for myself I have the following;
6.5 million PL anywhere in the world and my own studio (the studio is the most expensive bit).
13m Employers Liability.
2.6m Product Liability.
30K replacement cover of studio equipment.
12K replacement cover for camera equipment travelling or left in car.
Loss/theft of money from studio or in transit up to ?3800 during working hours and ?1270 from studio or home at night.
Personal Injury (Robery) ?6350
Loss of Trading Profit up to ?130,000 due to a reduction in turnover and increase costs of working due to loss or damage to studio equipment or photographic equipment or property covered in the policy including accountants fees in certifying the clain.All at a cost of ?1104.00 (which is tax deductable and a write-off …… so at worst its costing the business ?828.00 in real terms but probably more like ?650 to ?700). I would argue that any Professional Photographer worth their salt at all, can afford that cost without even noticing it.
Thorston, I will admit that at first, I was the one that was digging my heels in and saying “its not on, its not affordable” but now I’m really glad I have it. I do agree and have sympathy for new members starting up and it being a cost on them but its worth it for peace of mind alone.
I do hope I’m not sounding self-righteous here. I went around for more years than I care to remember without a stitch of insurance of any kind and a few times I inquired about it was told by various brookers I would not get it or the cost was way out.
I do feel it will be re-visited by the IPPA again and that 6.5m may be reduced, but that is not the worst part of the cost.
Gerry, thanks for taking the time to shed some more light on this issue. It does put a different perspective on it. I suppose with any organization, it would be ideal if we could just pick and choose those aspects that are beneficial to us without being forced to have to take those which are not of interest as well. But we don’t live in an ideal world and compromises are the order of the day.
Cheers,
Thorston,
being totally honest, when I heard the new ideas first, I was very unhappy also. I did know I needed some kind of insurance but nothing like that level. then When the real costs were worked out it was not so bad at all and I certainly was getting more than I thought was coming. All these millions were frightening me …..(cost wise LOL) but when the true costs were explained like the 1st million being the expensive one as that is where most of your claims, if any, will fall within, then it did not seem too bad.Actually the same applies to professional indemnity which I have always considered more important to have.
GCP wrote:
…when the true costs were explained…
Hmm… I guess it depends on who was doing the explaining! I know that sales people are very good at “explaining” :wink: :wink: :wink:
(Sorry, couldn’t resist that!)
LOL….so right there Thorston ………… and its amazing how good they are.
On that subject, I have a supplier that usually comes around every 6 weeks or so. He comes into the studio, sits down
and we have a great friendly chat about anything and everything. Then he usually gets up to leave (unless he has new products to show) and I alway feel I cant let him go without buying something. On the other hand I also have a few and if I know they are on the way, I shut shop and take off someplace – anyplace!
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