Members Services;
Insurance
A small business is
sensitive to the slightest loss. As owner of a small business, you have
an important responsibility to yourself, your family and those with whom
you deal to protect yourself and your business against the consequences
of such problems.
There is always an
element of risk involved in any activity. Even lying in bed can prove
hazardous. It is unreasonable and prohibitively expensive to try to
insure against every possible contingency. Insurance should therefore be
carefully chosen. Some insurance is compulsory. Workers compensation and
motor vehicle third party fall into this category. Other types of
insurance, while not mandatory are highly advisable. Fire, theft, public
liability, comprehensive motor vehicle, loss of profit, sickness,
superannuation are all worth investigating. Policy wordings are
confusing but it is important to scrutinise the document carefully. The
most important sections relate to excesses and exclusions. These list
the circumstances and conditions for which cover does not apply.
Goods in your Care,
Custody & Control. Damage to other peoples goods whilst in your physical
and legal control is a standard benefit in the ALMA policy. The majority
of insurers exclude this unless an additional premium is paid.
Height
restrictions. Some policies apply strict restrictions providing you with
no cover at all.
Professional
Advice. Your cover needs to be specifically extended if you charge fees
for advice. It is a standard inclusion in the ALMA policy.
A lawn contractor
cannot afford to be without public liability cover. Inadequate cover
puts both you and your client at risk should a third person be seriously
injured. The risk of damage to property or of bodily injury caused by
objects thrown up by rotating equipment is too great to risk. ALMA
requires all members to have public liability cover and considering
recent court awards ($6.4m, $8.6m ) for bodily injury incidents, the
Association recommends $10 million cover.
Theft of equipment
has become an epidemic and appears to be highly organised (Power
Equipment Journal, December 1997; October 1999). We recommend that you
identify mowers, brushcutters, blowers and all your other equipment with
your driver licence number and secure your equipment with chains and
padlocks if you don’t have a lockable trailer. The ALMA general property
policy requires equipment to be secured for a claim to be made. The same
policy will also insure your mobile phone against “all risks” at a much
cheaper rate than those offered by various phone companies.
The business
activities you are about to pursue are physically demanding, with a risk
of personal injury. It is highly advisable to arrange insurance against
personal accident and sickness and for the loss of income while you are
incapacitated.
Your income is your
most valuable asset. You need income to pay your car insurance, mortgage
repayments, etc. Personal Accident & Sickness insurance and Income
Protection insurance is tax-deductible and provides an income if you
cannot work for an extended period. Your clients to continue to be
regularly serviced through the voluntary ALMA Sickness Scheme, so that
you still have a round when you are back on your feet. Your customer
payments go to the replacement contractor while they are doing your
work.
Over the last
twelve months we have continued to improve the ALMA policies to ensure
we are providing the most comprehensive cover with the most competitive
rates. Our Liability policy has been further improved to include a tree
lopping height limit of 10 metres. As a collective group policy, the
ALMA scheme continues to be well insulated from the increases (10% to
20%) currently being experienced in the General Insurance market.
·
Monthly Premium Instalment
option.
·
A new option for Personal
Accident and Illness cover at a lower premium.
·
ALMA Scheme Household and
Private Motor Vehicle insurance may be included with your instalments.
·
ALMA Insurance Cards with
Public Liability information for your own portable Certificate of
Currency.
Insurance of all
types, including your personal household and motor vehicle, can be
arranged through our Brokers at very competitive rates. For a
no-obligation quote, phone Geoff Lawrie or Judy Granger at 1300 130 642.
ALMA INSURANCE SCHEME
Policy benefits, coverage and special features
PUBLIC & PRODUCTS LIABILITY
Covering the Members Legal Liability to pay
compensation in respect of bodily injury or damage to property arising
out of an accident or occurring in connection with the business
operations of Members or their products. Includes occupations such as
Lawnmowing, Garden maintenance, Rubbish removal, Tree lopping, Stump
removal, Landscaping, Slashing, Window cleaning and related activities.
Special features
·
Optional monthly premium instalments
·
Professional indemnity inclusion covering members for
advice not given for a fee
·
Tree pruning up to 10m included automatically
·
Tree lopping beyond 10m - extension available at
extremely competitive price
·
Property of others in Members care, custody and control
included up to $50,000
·
Low excess, $250
·
$750 excess for claims arising as a result of tree
lopping or from damage to underground services as a result of stump
removal
·
Product liability·
GENERAL PROPERTY
Covering tools of trade and equipment against
such risks as fire, burglary, theft, accidental or malicious damage
including whilst in transit anywhere in Australia but excluding whilst
in use.
Special features
·
Includes specified
mobile phones or pagers.
·
Theft
(many other policies exclude theft)
·
Low excess
PERSONAL ACCIDENT / ILLNESS
Covering personal
accident and sickness offering Capital Benefits to $70000 and Weekly
Benefits to$700 per week
Special features of our Superior Cover Option
·
Two year (104 week)
benefit period
·
24 hour
cover
(many other policies only offer cover during working hours)
·
Initial acceptance available for Members up to:
·
Age 60 years (Illness)
·
Age 65 years (Accident)
(both subject to satisfactory declaration)
·
7 day excess on all
accident claims
·
Sickness claims payable
if sick more than 7 consecutive days
·
Optional Standard cover at lower premium
INCOME PROTECTION POLICY
·
A new and important insurance introduced especially for
ALMA members
·
A policy to cover Loss of Income with benefits payable to
age 65
·
Non-cancellable policy - you remain insured even if you
change your occupation
MOTOR VEHICLE
Covering business
and Private vehicles of Members as required.
Material
Damage
Third Party
Property Damage
Special features
·
Including accessories,
signwriting and equipment forming part of the vehicle
·
Third Party Property
Damage limit $30,000,000
·
Low $300 excess on
vehicles $100 excess on trailer cover
·
Compulsory Third Party
Gap Cover included
·
Automatic cover for
replacement motor vehicles up to $100,000
·
Hiring charge following
theft up to $2000 or 30 days
·
Young driver premiums
not penalised (unless excessive claims)
·
Free Windscreen Cover
for All Comprehensively insured vehicle up to 8T carrying capacity
·
OPTIONAL COVER – Hire
cover following Accident
LPG conversions
in accordance with relevant statutory standards
Insurance of all types, including
your personal household and motor vehicle, can be arranged through our
Brokers at very competitive rates
For a no-obligation quote, phone Geoff Lawrie or Judy
Granger at 1300 130 642.
All prices
quoted are subject to ALMA membership.
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