Unsure? Insure!

By Ashley Baxter

After so many years helping freelancers stay in business, I’m no stranger to the kinds of problems you face. But freelancing doesn’t mean having to face these problems alone. A lot of the time there i... more

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FAQs about Unsure? Insure!:

How many episodes does Unsure? Insure! have?

The podcast currently has 52 episodes available.

Unsure? Insure! episodes:

April 20, 2020COVID-19 and your mental health
With Jack
Maintaining our mental health
WFH daily
AnyForty Instagram
AnyForty YouTube
...more
5min
April 13, 2020Client ghosted me and now wants their website delivered in 3 days
With Jack
To ensure projects run smoothly, make sure there's a realistic schedule so there's no conflict with missed deadlines
Detail each step of the project and what's to be expected by both parties
Let the client know what deliverables you need and when you need them by
Don't start work until a deposit has been paid
In this situation, the freelancer started work without the deposit or deliverables and had trouble reaching the client
It's important not to ignore red flags such as clients avoiding contracts or being difficult to get a hold of. This doesn't get the relationship off on the best start
If your client threatens you with legal action, notify your insurer as soon as possible if you have professional indemnity insurance. Professional indemnity insurance will cover your damages and expenses if a claim is made against you
In this situation, the client wasn't asking for damages or compensation but it's still important to notify the insurer
Instead there's the matter of work having been done without payment, so there is the option to use the fast track contract dispute service that’s provided with your legal expenses insurance
Make use of the legal advice helpline that you get access to as part of your legal expenses insurance. Seek advice on client and payment disputes at no cost
...more
10min
April 06, 2020Legal expenses insurance teardown
With Jack
Contract and debt recovery clause: If a client isn’t paying you, a solicitor will formally chase your overdue invoice for you
Loss of earnings clause: This would cover your loss of earnings due to your absence from work if attending jury service where those costs can’t be claimed back from the court
Tax protection event: This clause provides expert tax advice and assistance in relation to disputes with HMRC
Legal advice helpline: Access to a 24/7 legal advice helpline is included. This is for general queries arising from any business related matter including debt recovery and contract disputes, tax enquiries and general legal matters relating to EU law
...more
6min
March 30, 2020How insurance helped this filmmaker when client footage was lost
With Jack
If your equipment is damaged your contents insurance will kick into action
Natural wear and tear is not covered, so make sure you’re not relying on old equipment and have multiple back-ups
When the recovery wasn’t successful and client footage was lost, the client wanted compensation to protect their reputation and recoup the costs they’d lost
Your professional indemnity insurance could be triggered if a client seeks compensation from you
If the filmmaker didn't have insurance, he would have paid out just under £9000
...more
5min
March 23, 2020COVID-19 and your business insurance
With Jack
The two common questions we've been receiving are;
If I fall ill or have to self-isolate, will my insurance cover my loss of earnings?
If work is cancelled due to Coronavirus, will my insurance ensure I’m not out of pocket?
In terms of loss of income due to illness, please research income protection insurance
Professional indemnity insurance does not cover loss of earnings from cancelled work. This product would help you to defend yourself if a client threatened you or tried to recover damages from you in relation to your professional services
The ABI's guide on insurance and COVID-19
Make sure you have standard terms in your contract which would allow for cancellation due to illness or sickness. That would include self-isolation / quarantine
Having a network of fellow freelancers you can depend on if you fall ill is also a popular choice
Make sure you have a cancellation clause in your contract that outlines payment terms
Business interruption insurance isn't a product we offer on our website, but it would cover loss of earnings if your premises or equipment got damaged due to an insured peril such as fire or flood. The ABI has said that standard business insurance policies are designed and priced to cover standard risks and are therefore unlikely to provide cover for the effects of a global pandemic
If you have legal expenses insurance you have access to a confidential counselling assistance helpline. If you’re feeling anxious and stressed, it might be worth giving them a call and talking to a qualified counsellor
...more
8min
March 16, 2020Costly misconceptions freelancers have about insurance
With Jack
You may have been driving for 10 years and have never had an accident, yet you wouldn’t start any journey without wearing your seat belt. That's how you need to think of insurance
Insurance steps into action when your duties come into question
Contracts and insurance aren’t binary. It shouldn’t be one or the other. You should have a contract. And you should have insurance
Freelancers have many responsibilities ranging from meeting deadlines to ensuring clients are happy with your work. Being insured protects you in case these responsibilities aren't met
...more
8min
March 09, 2020Professional indemnity insurance teardown
With Jack
Your professional indemnity policy will pay the legal fees associated with defending yourself
You'll also be covered for claims of copyright infringement
Best practices to avoid unintentional copyright infringement
The mitigation costs clause means the insurer will pay you the amount owed to you by your client if they believe this will avoid a claim for a greater amount
The insurer will pay damages to a client seeking compensation in the event of a mistake or error in your work
Breach of contract covers you if your client pursues you for damages due to an agreement in the contract not being met
...more
8min
March 02, 2020Best practices to avoid copyright infringement
With Jack
Pixabay and Unsplash are just two royalty free resources to get assets from
If you're a designer, avoid using licensed work in your designs
Create a document that outlines your process for using third-party content, and keep proof of purchase when buying licenses
Your professional indemnity insurance covers unintentional copyright infringement, so contact your insurer if you're accused of infringement
...more
11min
February 24, 2020Refunding clients
With Jack
The legal advice helpline that’s included in your legal expenses insurance can provide advice on dealing with client disputes like this
Avoid the temptation to work for free or offer a discount. Clients take advantage of this and the situation can break down further
Refer back to your contract and scope of work to show you've satisfied all conditions therefore a refund isn't warranted
Professional indemnity insurance won't cover refunds, but it can give you the confidence to stand up to clients. “I’m sorry you're not happy, but I delivered the work that was agreed.” If the client pursues further action by making a threat or claiming damages, your professional indemnity insurance would then be triggered
...more
9min
February 17, 2020Red flag client threatening to claim damages
With Jack
Things like poor payment terms, no project scope or contracts contribute to projects going wrong
Use Bonsai for free contract templates or the templates included with your legal expenses insurance
Listen to episode 7, 'Client wants me to finish our project and is asking for damages', for more detail on project scopes
Don't be afraid to negotiate payment terms that work for you
If your client is looking to recover damages this would trigger your professional indemnity policy
The insurer's legal experts will negotiate with your client on whatever damages it is they’re asking for, and the cost of the legal experts as well as the agreed damages would be covered by your insurance
Document all client communication
Send your client a letter of claim for an outstanding invoice as a last resort, or use the late payment chasing service included in your legal expenses insurance
Trust your instinct if a client is showing red flags before you begin working together
...more
15min

FAQs about Unsure? Insure!:

How many episodes does Unsure? Insure! have?

The podcast currently has 52 episodes available.