Why do some applications for building and contents insurance need to be referred to underwriters?

A. There are many reasons why applications for insurance are referred to underwriters for further assessment. The most common reasons are: Home office: This is an important question and must be asked correctly; otherwise it may impact the customer, particularly if it’s not asked at all. If the residence to be insured is being used for a home office, the customer needs to assess whether our policy is suitable to their needs. Criminal history: This is an important question and must be asked correctly; otherwise it may impact the customer, particularly if it’s not asked at all. A potential customer who has been convicted of fraud in the past is likely to be refused cover. It is important that we minimise the number of fraudulent claims so our honest customers are not impacted. Even if the claim is not fraud related, certain crimes may create a high risk situation. The insurer must be aware of this, as it will affect their ability to accurately assess the risk of the property being ...  more