Frequently Asked Questions

We believe that our clients deserve high levels of service, professional advice and access to excellent insurance products. We provide this, in a personal, friendly and effortless way making your insurance arrangements straight forward. Through our membership of the Plain English Campaign we aim to provide you with a jargon-free experience, strengthening our commitment to making your insurance matters “simple and secure”.

We have over 25 years experience in both high net worth private client and commercial insurance broking. Our personnel are all highly trained and experienced. SmithGreenfield Services Plc is regulated by the Financial Services Authority and are members of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association

We have agencies with carefully selected leading providers such as RSA, Hiscox, Chubb, Oak Underwriting, Synergy, Chartis as well as specialist providers such as Plum Underwriting.

No. We receive a commission from the insurer with whom we place your cover and SmithGreenfield will not charge you any additional fees.

Yes. Your Private Client Advisor is there to help you with any questions you have about your cover and other products that SmithGreenfield are able to offer. You will have a direct dial telephone number and email address to contact your Private Client Advisor.

Buildings cover is provided for loss or damage to the structure of your home. This would include its fixtures and fittings (like kitchens and bathrooms) and any outbuildings, swimming pools, drives, paths, garages etc.

Contents cover is provided for loss or damage to things like carpets, curtains, clothing, furniture, electrical items, linen, pedal cycles and all other personal property and possessions.

Generally the products we sell have separate sections for jewellery and watches, fine art, antique furniture, silverware, guns, furs, musical instruments etc and we will ask you for a separate sums insured for these categories.

There is no single article limit applicable to contents however items of jewellery, fine art etc. over a certain value will need to be listed individually. We will advise you of this and let you know if it will be a requirement to have an up to date valuation established.

We can put you in touch with a recommended valuer who can assist in this respect.

Yes – the products we sell provide you with worldwide “all risks” cover on all of your contents and personal possessions.

This is the amount that you pay in the event of a claim. Higher excesses attract a premium discount.

Loss or damage caused by subsidence, landslip or heave is usually fixed at £1,000 unless you are advised otherwise.

This figure should represent the total value of your contents if you had to replace them in their entirety at today’s prices on a new-for-old basis. Our useful contents calculator  can help you arrive at this figure.

If you would prefer to have a professional valuation established we can put you in touch with a carefully selected valuer.

This is when an item is replaced with a new one without any reduction being made for wear and tear to the original item.

Often this figure is provided by a surveyor when your purchase your home. This figure should represent the rebuilding or reinstatement cost and not the market value.

Alternatively you can register to use the BCIS rebuilding cost calculator at  http://calculator.bcis.co.uk/ . BCIS is the Building Cost Information Service of the RCIS (Royal Chartered Institute of Surveyors).

We would strongly recommend that a professional rebuilding cost is established. This is all the more important if your home is unique, unusual, has special features, is of non-standard construction or is a listed building.

Some of our Insurer partners provide a rebuilding cost valuation as part of an appraisal service and we will let you know if this is the case. We can also put you in touch with a valuer who can carry out this service for you.

The definition of standard construction is a home built of brick or stone and roofed with slates or tiles.

Your insurer will increase your buildings and contents each year in line with an appropriate index.

Insurers do not as a rule index-link items such a jewellery or fine art and we would recommend that these values are reviewed regularly as they often fluctuate.

Yes. Your insurers will need to know about this and the information they will require will depend on the cost of the works.

Often a different sort of cover is required for the existing structure and the works and this can be provided by us on a special policy for the duration of the works.

This is a tax on general insurance premiums. All premiums quoted by us with include IPT at the current rate of 6% (20% in respect of travel insurance).

Yes. This payment method is available on all of our products either through our own finance provider or directly with the insurance company. Depending on the product, this payment method may be on an interest free basis. Where there is a charge we will let you know about this.

Generally it won’t as depending on the level of cover that you require it may be a requirement to fit an intruder alarm or safe. This will be made clear to you by us.

In respect of intruder alarms, our insurers will require the system to be NSI/SSAIB approved and annually maintained under contract.

A list of NSI approved companies in your area can be found at  www.nsi.org.uk/

You will be contacted by your Private Client Advisor at least 21 days prior to the renewal of your policy with our recommendation for the forthcoming period of insurance. We will highlight any changes in cover and any recommendations in respect of alternative insurers.

It is your responsibility to let us know of any material changes to your personal circumstances, your home or sums insured prior to the renewal date.

We would be delighted to assist in arranging cover for the following:

• Motor Insurance (including high value vehicles and classic cars)
• Yachts
• Aviation
• Buy To Let Properties
• Commercial Insurance (D&O, PI, Office, Property)

Please contact your Private Client Advisor and they will put you in touch with the appropriate team.

Please contact us by emailing info@smithgreenfield.co.uk or contact us by telephone on 0844 873 3919.

Our offices are open Monday-Friday from 0830 to 1730.