Is there anything that I can do to prevent my premium from increasing? There are many actions with little or no cost that can be done. Tip 44 – Are you paying legal costs which could be covered by your insurance? Insurance is often thought about as something which you don’t consider until there is an incident or accident which will lead to a claim. It is bought each year as your policy renews and the paperwork can be filed away until the next renewal if you are lucky enough not to have a claim in the year. However, some policies have added benefits which are worth remembering. Your legal expenses policy, for example, gives you access to a commercial legal advice helpline. This allows you to call a solicitor and get advice without the prospect of facing a legal bill at the end of it. A client recently relayed her dismay of getting a bill for €125 plus vat having called her own solicitor with a straightforward query on her lease. Had she utilised the legal advice line available to her she would have received the same advice without the bill. This advice line is available for any commercial queries which may arise in the day to day running of your business, from dealing with staff issues to having a dispute over a contract entered into with a supplier or customer. Getting the right advice at an early stage can help point you in the right direction in dealing with the matter and avoid it escalating. There should be no reason why the fear of the potential cost of seeking legal advice should deter you from picking up the phone and asking the question, as you have this benefit available to you under your insurance policy. Thanks to Paddy from DAS Legal Expenses! Always remember – call us to discuss any/every incident. We will advise and guide you.