FAQ:
What
is Trade Credit Insurance?
By Credit Insurance you can cover the losses occurred
in your business. If you want to protect your assets
in the company then you should opt for trade credit
insurance. It covers credit losses caused by insolvency
(bankruptcy), slow payment and, in the case of international
transactions, it can also cover political risks.
Is
trade credit insurance a new term?
No, trade credit insurance has been sold in the USA
for over 100 years. All the carriers that issue these
policies are well-established companies that carry
at least an "A" rating by A.M. Best.
What
will credit insurance do for my business?
Credit Insurance plays an important role in enhancing
a company’s financing relationship. Besides
it assists companies in several ways such as it protects
against the infrequent, but highly severe, catastrophic
credit loss. Insured receivables, especially international
receivables, make much stronger collateral than non-insured
receivables. Most importantly it enables a business
to expand both its sales as well as profits. In many
cases the additional profits generated by the policy
more than pays the premium.
Do
I have to cover all of my accounts?
It is not mandatory but depends on what you would
like to accomplish, you can insure only your domestic
sales, only your export sales or both. You can also
carve out an exclusive segment of your receivable
portfolio.
Can
I extend as much credit as I want to these insured
buyers?
There is a specific credit limits depending on your
requirements as well as the financial strength of
the customer. The accounts will be continually monitored
for any change in their financial condition.
Will
my customers be notified?
Unless you feel better to let them know it is not
necessarily notify your customer. Credit insurance
is very much transparent to your customers. You can
continue to do invoicing and collections.
How long does the process take?
The application may take 45 minutes to complete and
then we can provide a non-binding indication (quotation)
from several insurance carriers within a 2-3 week
time frame. We will provide an executive two-page
summary that will outline premium, deductible, co-insurance,
and policy features as well as attach all the formal
indications.
Does it cost more to use a broker?
No. Credit insurance policies are typically Inland
Marine controlled contracts. This means that whether
you go direct and try to figure this out on your own
or go through a qualified broker the rates are the
same. The value a broker provides is with the evaluation,
quotation and implementation of the program. We structure
the contract in your best interests - not the carrier's.
Also, we assist in mandatory reporting requirements
and a pre-claims review prior to claim submission.
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