Business Cover

Also see Full Policy Wording

And FSA Key Facts Summary for BC

And CPLC Wording

or printable version of this summary

Business Care is only available to businesses with a turnover of £1,000,000 or less. If your turnover is greater or you require wider cover, Composite can still assist. "Commercial Business Care" offers wider levels of cover and indemnities.

  • Commercial legal advice
  • Employment representation
  • Prosecution Defence (including employees)
  • Debt recovery (optional)
  • Business motoring (including employees)
  • Personal injury
  • Contract disputes (optional)
  • Tax, PAYE audit and VAT investigations
  • Employment Awards (optional)
  • Up to £65,000 legal fees limit

Underwritten by
Groupama
and administered by
Composite Legal Expenses Limited
Suffolk House
Trade Street
Cardiff CF10 5DT

Your business problems
Disputes and offences are problems your business will frequently face. These can be solved by negotiation or representation. Your business requires the support of professionals given the complex legal problems it faces today.

The solution
We have designed an economic service with a 24 hour helpline supported by legal expenses and assistance insurance which will take away your legal business worries. Our 24 hour helpline manned by lawyers and other professional advisers will give you confidential guidance and counselling. Where there is insurance in force you wont even have to pay the bill.

Legal advice and protection
Full Commercial Legal Helpline Service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year telephone Legal Helpline Service to deal with any of the business legal problems. Lawyers and other professional advisers will give advice. This service may be used as often as required.

Employment representation
The costs of your defence in respect of actions brought by employees in disputes such as unfair and wrongful dismissal, equal pay, redundancy payments and pension rights. The Legal Advice Line must be strictly complied with and will vet all matters which may give rise to a claim. There is no cover for the first 90 days of the first period of insurance.

Prosecution defence for employers
The costs of defending a prosecution for an offence relating to your normal business activities. You are also covered for appeals against the service of Improvement and Prohibition notices under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. There is no cover for fines or penalties you are ordered to pay by a criminal court or any prosecution alleging dishonesty or intentional violence. Motoring prosecutions are not covered.

Prosecution defence for employees
The costs of defending your employees, directors or partners for prosecutions relating to your normal business activities. There is no cover for fines or penalties they are ordered to pay by a criminal court or any prosecution alleging dishonesty or intentional violence. Motoring prosecutions are not covered.

Debt recovery
The costs of pursuing business debts including their enforcement in respect of the provision of goods and services, professional fees and dishonoured cheques. The monies excluding interest must exceed the sum of £250. You will be responsible for the first £150 of legal costs and expenses.

Business motoring
We will pursue the recovery of uninsured losses with legal fees cover of up to £65,000 per incident following road accidents. Wherever possible in non fault accidents we will provide replacement cars on a credit hire basis and also a credit repair service to assist the cash flow needs of your business. The cover, again with legal fees cover of up to £65,000 per incident, includes the pursuit of damages and compensation for personal injuries to employees and authorised passengers following a road accident.


Cover is provided for up to 4 vehicles per business and will be restricted to up to 4 named directors, partners or employees.

Personal injury protection

Legal expenses cover is included for employees, directors or partners for;

Personal injury due to negligence of a third party £65,000 limit

Any claims falling within the Small Claims Court Limits will receive full legal advice and assistance from the telephone Legal Helpline Service which will include the payment of any unrecovered issue fee but the appointment of a solicitor is at our discretion. We may also attempt negotiation followed by alternative dispute resolution before a solicitor is appointed.

Pro-active assistance and start-up legal fees
There is support and assistance provided for a number of legal problems your business faces. You will be responsible for the first £250 of legal costs and expenses in respect of any contractual dispute. All claims must be reported immediately to The Legal Helpline Service who will investigate the circumstances of the legal problem, give legal advice, commence negotiation and where appropriate arrange alternative dispute resolution. After these costs have been met any balance up to the limit of indemnity may be applied as a contribution to solicitors costs.

Property legal protection
Support is provided in respect of the pursuit of legal rights of your premises. It enables your business to pursue claims arising from negligent acts and omissions of others and to pursue liability for wrongful acts under the rule of Rylands v Fletcher (1868).

Contract disputes
The business is supported in respect of disputes over the quality of goods or services sold or supplied, including enforcement. There must be a minimum amount in dispute of £1,000. You will be responsible for the first £250.00 of legal costs and expenses. There is no support provided during the first 90 days of the first period of insurance.

Tax, PAYE audit and VAT investigations
We will pay Professional Fees incurred with our consent as a result of:

  • Comprehensive Enquiries
  • In-Depth Investigations
  • VAT Disputes
  • PAYE Disputes
  • NIC Disputes

which start and are notified during the period of insurance. Any claim which occurs during the first 60 days of the first period of insurance will be excluded.

Employment Awards (Optional)
Providing the Employment Legal Helpline has been strictly complied with and the advice given by the Legal Helpline followed if your business is taken to an Industrial Tribunal or other judicial forum we will pay the Industrial Tribunal compensation award in the event of failure in your Employment Representation. As with Employment Representation a waiting period of 90 days is applicable.

First Period of Insurance
Excluded periods of cover may be waived where similar cover was held immediately before purchasing this insurance.
For Building and Allied Trades, Software Manufacturers, Entertainment Profession, Professional Sportsmen and certain other trades there are amendments in the contract cover and the premium levels are adjusted accordingly.