Anyone got any tips on the best place to go for public liability insurance for celebrants?
Am just starting out...

thanks,
Ronda

Hi Ronda,

Are you aware ACCN has group policy Insurance for our Members? The policies are slightly cheaper than an individual policy but has the down side of having one renewal date - 31st August every year. Therefore, if you joined now, it would still need to be renewed 31st August 2010.

More information on Insurance see:
* the Celebrant Insurance http://www.accn.com.au/celebrant-insurance where you can read the detailed policies.
and
* in the Shop http://www.accn.com.au/accn-shop/catego ... -insurance
where you can purchase.

Also note - very important: ACCN Insurance only starts when we receive the HARD signed application form via post to ACC PO Box 8122 West Wodonga 3690

Regards,

Ginny (and her teddy - re picture)

Thanks so much Ginny..very prompt and helpful. will follow up at Shop.
regards
Ronda
NSW
ronda.celebrant@gmail.com

Hi Ronda

Apologies for the late response.

Basically Celebrant insurance is of 3 types:

1. Professional Indemnity
- basically covers us for mistakes in our celebrancy work
(tip: check whether cover is for marriage ceremonies only or all ceremonies)

2. Public Liability
- basically covers damage to other people's person or property that a celebrant may cause in the course of their celebrancy work.

This is the aspect some venues require for you to have, and usually wedding expos or trade shows.

3. Personal Accident
- basically provides some income support due to time off celebrancy work due to an accident whilst doing celebrancy work.

This insurance is offered as:

1. Individual Celebrant Insurance
- here the cover is just for the individual celebrant who takes the policy.
It is much more expensive because the whole fees meet by only one person.

But because only one person risks claims each year, it is higher protection for the person who takes the policy.

Insurance cover starts from when the policy is taken and runs for a full year.

OR

2. Group Celebrant Insurance
- here the cover is for all the celebrants who join the one policy.

It is less expensive because the policy fee is shared by the group taking out the policy.

It is a 'higher' risk policy in that the combined claims can be no more that the maximum limit in any one year.

The ACCN offers group insurance to our financial ACCN members, because to our knowledge there has been no claims against professional indemnity or public liability under the group policies we know about. Of course there may be some we don't know, and that does not mean there may be no claim in the future.

Also I have been a celebrant for over 20 years and part of some large networks, and not heard via the grapevine of this happening either.

On the basis of that knowledge, the ACCN decided to offer our members Group Insurance as we are also mindful of the limited level of celebrancy work done many celebrants.

Ultimately each person needs to decide what type of policy is best for them.

Also there are a couple of celebrant associations that do offer group insurance too - either combined PI and PL or separate PI and PL.

And there are association membership fees to consider, if you are only joining for the insurance.

The ACCN standard membership fee is currently $ 49.50 pa (Aug 2010) from when you join.

ACCN GROUP POLICY Fees

The other thing to know is that Group policies run from a specific starting date.

And because the cover is retrospective, there is NO pro-rata. You pay the FULL fee, even if you are joining half way through the time.

In the ACCN case, it is 4pm 31st August each year.

So if you have done one or two ceremonies before you take the insurance, they will be covered.

I hope that explains the insurance situation.

Of course, as always, read the FINE print and be clear what you are covered for and what you are not.

Kind regards
Rona

Rona Goold
ACCN Director

Rona, thank you for the very detailed advice re insurance. Will now ponder the choices
regards
Ronda Phillips
NSW

Ronda313 wrote:Rona, thank you for the very detailed advice re insurance. Will now ponder the choices
regards
Ronda Phillips
NSW

Nice piece of information!

Hi I am in need of insurance can you please send me details of insurance and how to sign up , I have written to a few but to date still have not joined, I knowthe importance of this now.

Hi June

A year's ACCN membership can be purchased for $49.50 for $ 79.50 (starts from month you join)

http://www.accn.com.au/join-accn/catego ... membership

Insurance can be purchased at :

http://www.accn.com.au/accn-shop/catego ... insurancez

BEST PRACTICE:

It is best to Register and then go to the ACCN Celebrant Shop and Order on line.

You do NOT have to pay online to order. You can choose to select other Payment Options

Payment Options for Direct Deposit, Cheque/ Money Order or Credit Card by Phone can be found on our Terms & Conditions page (link on the bottom of every web-page):

http://www.accn.com.au/terms-and-conditions/

ALTERNATIVELY you may email us at accn@accn.com.au and tells us what you want. We can confirm prices.

Then choose payment options as above.

KInd regards
Rona

I have also used the following group for insurance and have found them to be most helpful:

http://www.insurancehouse.com.au/occupa ... brant.html

Hope this gives an alternative to compare!

Simon G

STOP PRESS:
The ACCN is negotiating a new Insurance package with OAMPS Insurance brokers. Basically the underwriters and policies will be the same.

However there will be some marked changes:

* Policy will commence 1st July
* Excess will be $500, not $1000, for PI / PL
* Two rates for PI & PL - one for 6 months to 1 year; the another for less that six months
* Cover adjustments and different administration to result in lower fees
* Current ACCN policy holders will be able to change to the new Policy at 1st September with lower fee - adjusted for the time period covered under the current policy.
* Contact us if you are interested in knowing more

If you need insurance cover now, please contact us immediately so we may discuss your best options.

Finer points are still being negotiated. Then available these will be posted here.

Cheers
Rona