Easier caution with Marsh online service

Marsh’s Legal & Protection team has worked with the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland) to launch an online system (www.arrangebonds.com) to make the process for guardians to buy bonds of caution much easier, quicker, and more efficient.

Quotes are generated immediately and can be accepted at the click of a mouse, to ensure the caution starts and policy documents are available immediately. However, anyone preferring to use the traditional postal method can still do so, with forms easily available on the site. 

Regardless of which method people choose, they will be supported by the same team from Marsh who have long experience of dealing with bonds of caution and understanding what is required by the OPG.

Renewed relationship

The move to offer bonds of caution online comes after the OPG and Marsh agreed to extend the arrangement that affords both lay and professional guardians easy access to affordable cover.

Both parties worked with Aviva to improve the scheme, work that delivered a range of benefits for guardians. 

For instance, any bonds of caution secured in Scotland – whether new or renewed – since 1 April 2018 attract lower rates. Both lay and professional guardians have seen premiums fall by 45%*.

Higher limits

Perhaps more significantly for professional guardians, we can now agree up to 400% of professional guardians’ aggregate PI limit, double the previous 200%.

That is because previously, the aggregate value of a professional practice’s bonds of caution could not exceed 200% of its PI limit. Now, under the renewed arrangement the total bond value can, on referral, reach three or four times a firm’s PI limit. 

As a result, firms offering professional guardianship services could grow their books of business significantly, rather than being forced to hand off business once aggregate bonds of caution levels reach 200%.

Jeremy Goodacre from Marsh said: “We’re delighted to have launched this online quote and buy service, and to have been able to improve the scheme significantly. Reduced rates, higher limits and easier administration should be good news for guardians.”