We are a Lloyd’s Service Company and in matters of claims act on behalf of Watkins Syndicate.
At GJW Direct our philosophy is simple. We pay genuine claims fast and fairly. What’s more our Staffed Claims Helpline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year so we’re always there when you need us to offer a sympathetic and swift response and give sound, practical advice.
How to contact us
Please notify us as soon as possible of any occurrence which might give rise to a claim.
Telephone
0151 473 8000
Monday to Friday 9am to 5.30pm
24 Hour Staffed Emergency Claims Helpline Telephone Number – 0151 473 8099
Facsimile
0151 473 8063
Email
claims@gjwltd.co.uk
Claim Form
Download and print a Claim Form
Procedure
Repair of Boat
When you contact us about a claim we will send you a claim form for completion and will at the same time provide specific advice and if necessary appoint an impartial surveyor. You may download the claim form from our web site and send it to us electronically. Ideally we would welcome the opportunity of speaking with you at the outset.
The surveyor will ascertain cause, nature and extent of damage and we will consider your claim on his advice together with comments and information provided by you. If the incident does not give rise to an insured claim or only part of the cost of repair or reinstatement is covered we will provide a full explanation in writing.
On provision of written repair estimates we will inform you whether we have any objection to repairs proceeding and we will advise you as to any reservation we might have as to cost of repairs.
Instructions to repairers must be given by you and you are responsible for payment of all repair bills. To assist you, we will make direct payment to repairers if you are fully satisfied with the repairs and tell us you want us to pay the repairers direct.
We do not have approved repairers but will authorise you to proceed with a particular repair yard on the basis of estimates being fair and reasonable in amount. Under the policy we have the right to decide where repairs are to be undertaken although it would be unusual for us to veto any particular repairer. Our philosophy is one of accommodating as far as possible your own choice of repairer.
You should not incur any expenditure other than for the purpose of averting or minimising loss without our prior consent.
You should notify the Police as soon as possible of any theft, malicious damage or other crime involving the insured property.
If your vessel is a total loss or if it is not capable of being repaired within the sum insured we will, subject to policy terms and conditions, pay the full sum insured with the exception of commercial and fishing boats and Jet Skis/Personal Watercraft where payment is made on the basis of market value.
Third party claims
You must not without our prior written consent admit liability, make any offer to settle or compromise any claim against you. Any correspondence from a third party claimant should be passed to us unanswered and we will respond appropriately.
Salvage services
In the event of you requiring assistance from salvors it is imperative that you do not put life at risk by any delay in accepting salvage services. If possible, however provide salvors with our details, give us as a matter of urgency your own detailed version of events and we will deal with any salvage remuneration on your behalf.
A potential salvor may be prepared to assist on a fixed price basis and in the event of not being able to obtain specific guidance from us you should deal with the matter as a prudent uninsured, ie only agree a price which you would be reasonably prepared to meet yourself in the event of having no benefit of insurance cover. At all times safety of life is of paramount importance.