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... and service contractors. ... Pollution/ Environmental ...

... Jones & Werner, an independent agency in Fairlawn, Ohio, in presenting a program titled "Best Practices for Certificates." During this session, it became quite evident that the handling of certificates was an issue front and center in agents' minds. According to industry statistics, the handling –or improper handling –of certificates of insurance accounts for 2% to 4% of E&O claims. Although this isn't a huge percentage, it's higher than it should be. As you probably know, ... they list the primary and all excess policies? I could not locate any specific legal precedent while researching this issue. It makes sense to list only those &# 160coverages applicable to the request for the cert. For example, when sending a certificate to a general contractor, you would probably need to list only the Workers Compensation, Liability and Umbrella coverages, not property. I d also suggest that an agent include all applicable policies (primary and excess) unless the request for the cert asks only for limit/coverage verification ... to a certain limit. When an agent issues a certificate but the excess policy excludes certain coverage (example: pollution), should the agent list the excess policy? If the certificate request is to show proof of Pollution coverage, the agent should not indicate on the cert any policies that exclude this coverage. Listing the policies although the coverage was excluded (even with a notation) might confuse the certificate holder. If you need to issue a cancellation notice (some carriers are putting this on the agent's shoulders), should ...

...ludes certain coverage (example: pollution), should the agent list the excess ...de you with certified copies of all Liability insurance policies in force for ...

... profitable target markets. Of course, there are risks. Because niche markets are highly specialized, changes in market conditions, legislation or regulations can erase them quickly. And agents entering new niche markets must spend time learning specialized rules as well as the workings of the industry they are writing. Perhaps most important, there must be genuine need for insurance in the target market. Still, with a little homework, agents can identify potential niche markets, find interested carriers, launch their own programs-and kiss competition good-bye. Open Doors For ... Insurance Agency of Gatesville, opportunity did more than just knock. It walked in the front door and asked for an application. In about 1980, a controller from a construction firm office up the street walked in and asked if we had a contractor surety questionnaire, ' recalls John Ward, one of two principals in the family-owned business. The contractor had messed up the form provided by an out-of-town agent and needed a clean version to fill out. I said I could provide the same service for him locally, ' says Ward ... , before Art Glatfelter went to bat for them. VFIS writes all lines of business except workers' compensation' for volunteer fire departments and emergency service organizations. Available coverages include injury-to-firemen liability, accident and sickness, vehicle agreed value for engines, errors and omissions liability, pollution liability, medical malpractice, bonding and others. VFIS currently insures more than 500 Texas volunteer fire departments and emergency service organizations, Regnier says, primarily in Houston , Dallas and San Antonio/Austin regions. The average premium is about $9 ,000, ...

...on surety bonds-guarantees that contractors will complete construction project...rage because they involve no public liability, Everhart notes. Avoiding ar...