[rjswindowcleaning]

Just wonder if i was the only window cleaner that is disillusioned with the fed
surely they should be taking on the insurance companies and getting good deal for window cleaners
Now in light of the report that window cleaning is the most dangerous job they should be promoting how safe it can be
My firm uses poles and we spend 90% of the time on the ground (tell me how Dangerous that is ) but my insurances are going to go though the roof

[rjswindowcleaning]

Well i must be the only window cleaner that is dislusioned with the fed as no one replyed 
Oh well must be wrong best i get out practising me fastest window cleaning so i can get something out of the fed 

[RLloyd]

Hi, no your not the only one with these feelings for the fed, i to had trouble with insurance and the didn't seem to want to help.Cancelled my membership.

[harks]

just like any other fed they want to make money out of you.shop around.

[Geordieboy]

I quite agree. I can't understand why the Fed did a deal for Public Liability and not Employers Liability. It seems insurance companies are dictating what policies they will cover and organisations like the Fed are going along with it. the Fed so refuse to promote any insurance company that doesn't cater for ALL members

[Philip Hanson]

In fairness of the Fed, rising insurance costs are affecting most industries right now for reasons bigger than just a high accident rate etc.

September 11th and other terrorist incidents and risks have and are making insurance more expensive globally.

There's not much really that the Federation can do about that

As insurance is calculated using statistics, the only thing the Federation could do is to try and help us to work safer, and indeed they have recently stepped up there efforts here.  A ladder video and compulsory IOSH training are just two examples.  They have to represent all the members whether they use WFP or ladders etc.

Until last uear, you could obtain PL and EL through the federation's broker, and the fact that you can no longer get EL is a shame, but I doubt its because of a lack of effort by the federation.

Also, the PL cover they have negotiated is rather expensive compared to some quotes, BUT it is not comparable, the Fed's broker policy covers for much more than others, like loosing keys, so the Fed have done the right thing there in going for quality over cheapness.

Remember too that the federation has only 2150 members, if only half of them get their policy through the fed that isnt that much buying power, there's a limit to what you can negotiate with a group policy of only a thousand or so.

Its a complex area, and its my guess that you will eventually get policies for window cleaners who dont work at height at all.

-Philip

[tam]

Hi guys, Tam here,    thought I would put my tuppence worth in here.    The "Fed" acts for all our members, not just the ones that want PL. Getting EL  for w/cleaners whether your are using ladders, w/fed poles or cleaning basement windows   is getting harder every year.
We at the "Fed" have tried every avenue for our members but like you lot out there, we are banging our heads against a brick wall.  :
The statistics show that we are a high risk job, so pay high premiums.    Myself, last year on EL £800 rise, this year £600 rise.    You cannot fight the insurance companies, you have just got to pay up.  : 
Look at car insurance, if you raised the driving test to 21 years old insurance premiums would probally drop dramaticlly,  maybe, but, to blame the "Fed" for all this is out of order, as it is all you lot out there that are non members that are rocking the boat. Tam.