Public liability insurance for computer repairs

In case your repairs business or products cause an injury or property damage.

What’s typically covered by public liability insurance?

Claims against your business for:

• damage to someone’s property, caused by your repairs business
• an injury or illness caused by your business activities
• accidental damage or injuries caused by your employees

For example:

• a customer trips over a cable while collecting their computer from your premises, breaking their knee
• you drop a customer’s laptop on the pavement while speaking to a delivery driver, damaging it beyond repair

Read more about public liability insurance

Employers’ liability insurance

In case anyone gets ill or injured while working for you.

What’s typically covered by employers’ liability insurance?

Claims against your business for:

• an injury or illness that happens as a result of working for you (including temps and casual workers)

**Employers’ liability insurance is required by law if you have people working for you. Without it, you could be fined up to £2,500 a day for each employee.**

For example:

• an employee pulls a muscle in their back while moving heavy computer equipment for you
• your office manager traps their hand in a door you’ve been meaning to fix

Professional indemnity insurance for computer repairs

In case there’s a claim for loss-causing errors or issues with your work.

What’s typically covered by professional indemnity insurance?

Claims against your computer repair business for professional negligence or a loss-causing breach of contract. This can include:

• advice which turns out to be incorrect
• mistakes in your work that cost others money to fix

For example:

• you repair your client’s computer and recommend a software installation which contributes to a data leak, causing your client a financial loss
• an employee forgets to re-install virus protection on a client’s computer and they get hacked, causing a financial loss

Read more about professional indemnity insurance

Business and office equipment insurance

In case something happens to the equipment you rely on.

What’s typically covered by business and office equipment insurance?

• accidental damage to the equipment you use to run the business
• theft, flood, and fire damage

For example:

• someone breaks into your business premises and steals multiple pieces of equipment, including three new laptops
• a flood over the weekend damages your equipment beyond repair

Read more about business and office equipment insurance

Portable equipment insurance

In case something happens to your equipment while you’re off-site.

What’s typically covered by tools insurance?

• loss, damage, or theft of your portable equipment such as your laptop, tablet, or phone

For example:

• someone knocks your laptop onto the floor while you’re buying lunch, damaging it beyond repair
• your tablet and headphones are stolen from your bag while you’re travelling to a client’s premises

Read more about business and office equipment insurance

Legal expenses insurance

In case you face legal costs in connection with your repair business.

What’s typically covered by legal expenses insurance?

• legal costs attributed to your computer repair business
• property damage, nuisance, or trespass – specifically, the associated legal claims and compensation payouts
• tax and compliance disputes and investigations you need help with
• access to expert advice – including a tax advice phone line, confidential 24/7 legal phone line, and crisis support to help you protect your professional reputation

For example:

• you agree a deadline with your client but fall behind, triggering a delay in two new employee start dates – they take legal action and you need to pay associated costs
• an employee raises a claim against you for unfair dismissal, and you need to recover court costs

Read more about legal expenses insurance

Personal accident insurance

In case anyone you’ve covered is accidentally injured, at work or elsewhere.

What’s typically covered by personal accident insurance?

• accidental injury or death at or outside of work, for anyone covered on the policy
• lost income, medical costs, and hospitalisation benefit

For example:

• you injure your back while playing tennis at the weekend, and can’t work at full capacity for five weeks
• an apprentice you’ve hired drops some machinery onto their foot while trying to move it from a shelf, causing a fracture

Read more about personal accident insurance

Which type of workers do I need insurance for?

Employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement if you employ people.

If you have people working for you, including bona fide subcontractors (BFSC), labour-only subcontractors (LOSC), part-timers, or full-time staff, employers’ liability insurance is required by law.

Read on for our simplified guide to the difference between labour-only subcontractors and bona fide subcontractors.

Does computer repair insurance cover my work correctly?

Make sure you’re picking the right cover to protect you properly. It’s important to know that if you have another trade or job, you’ll need additional cover. For example, do you need to consider it insurance or it business insurance?

Do I need cover for other types of work?

If you provide these services alongside building work, make sure you’re covered:

• Electrical contractors insurance
• CCTV installer insurance
• Insurance for web publishers
• Software developers’ insurance
• It security – consultancy
• Private tutor insurance
• Handyman insurance
• Cafe insurance

Other types of insurance

• Limited company insurance
• Self-employed insurance
• Freelance insurance
• Consultant insurance
• Contractors insurance
• Sole trader insurance

Which public liability cover limit should I choose?

Think about the maximum possible loss your business could face in the event of a claim, and make sure you take legal fees and damages into consideration. You can choose from three levels of coverage – £1 million, £2 million, or up to £5 million.