Expert Business Interruption Insurance Claim Management

We Maximise Your Business Interruption Settlement. You Get Back to Business Faster.

Has unexpected property damage disrupted your business operations, leaving you uncertain about your income, staff retention, and cash flow?

Dealing with insurers can be complicated, stressful, and time-consuming. You need a partner who understands your situation, ensures your claims process runs smoothly, and secures the maximum compensation you’re entitled to.

At PCLA, we work solely for you—not your insurer.

Over 240 clients have rated PCLA 5 stars on Google

Why Business Interruption Insurance Claims Are Northern Ireland's Most Complex

When disaster strikes your business, the financial impact extends far beyond the immediate property damage. Yet navigating a business interruption (BI) claim can feel like entering a maze of technical jargon, complex calculations, and potential pitfalls that could cost you thousands.

The harsh reality facing UK businesses today:

The Underinsurance Crisis

Over 40% of UK businesses are underinsured on their business insurance policies, triggering devastating average clauses that can halve your settlement. Many business owners discover too late that their £150,000 sum insured should have been £300,000 – leaving them to bear the shortfall when they can least afford it.

The Calculation Complexity

BI policies involve intricate calculations around insurable gross profit, uninsured working expenses, and rate of gross profit that most businesses don’t understand. Using accounting gross profit instead of insurable gross profit – a common mistake – can lead to severe underinsurance and reduced claim payments.

The Adjuster Disadvantage

Insurance companies appoint loss adjusters who understand these complexities inside out. They know exactly how to interpret policy wordings, apply average clauses, and challenge your calculations. You need equal expertise on your side to ensure you receive every penny you’re entitled to.

Policy Extension Pitfalls

Supplier failures, denial of access, and utility interruptions often go unclaimed due to complex policy wordings. These extensions could add tens of thousands to your settlement – but only if you know they exist and how to trigger them.

🚨 43% of UK BI policies are underinsured by an average of 53%. Call to find out if you’re affected.

Don't Let Insurance Companies Minimise Your Business Interruption Claim

After fire, flood, storm damage, or supplier failure disrupts your business, the last thing you need is fighting with insurers over complex calculations and policy interpretations. Yet that’s exactly what happens to UK businesses every day—they’re offered settlements that don’t reflect their true losses, or they’re told their claim is reduced due to “underinsurance” they didn’t even know existed.

You’re not just dealing with property damage. You’re facing:

Lost income whilst premises are unusable;
Fixed costs continuing despite reduced turnover;
Complex policy wordings around “insurable gross profit” and “average clauses”;
Cashflow pressure threatening your business survival;
Insurance adjusters working for the insurer, not you.

The reality is stark: over 40% of UK business interruption policies are underinsured, triggering devastating average clause reductions that can halve your settlement. Without expert representation, you could receive significantly less than your full entitlement.

Your Complete Business Interruption Claims Management Service

Our specialist Business Interruption (BI) claims team handles the complexities of your claim from start to finish. We negotiate directly with your insurer to secure a settlement that fully compensates your insured losses, allowing you to concentrate on restoring your business operations.

With PCLA, you gain expert representation that ensures:

Every eligible loss and expense is comprehensively identified and claimed.
Your business receives swift interim payments to support immediate cash flow.
The stressful burden of managing your claim is entirely removed from your shoulders.

Policy Analysis & Coverage Review

We decipher complex BI policy wordings, including material damage provisos and policy extensions. Our team identifies coverage you might not even know you have, from supplier extensions to denial of access provisions that could significantly increase your settlement.

Financial Loss Calculation

Using forensic accounting techniques, we quantify your lost gross profit, increased cost of working, and savings during the indemnity period. We ensure your Rate of Gross Profit calculation is accurate and that every eligible expense is captured.

Underinsurance Protection

We immediately assess your sum insured adequacy to prevent average clause application. If underinsurance is discovered, we work to minimise its impact and ensure you understand exactly how it affects your settlement.

Extension Claims Management

We maximise recovery under supplier, customer, denial of access, and utility failure extensions. These often-overlooked provisions can add substantial value to your claim when properly activated.

Expert Negotiation

Our chartered loss assessors negotiate directly with insurers and their adjusters, securing interim payments to protect your cash flow and fighting for the maximum final settlement.

Proven Results Across UK Commercial Sectors

Retail Sector – Major Flood Incident

A prominent UK retailer faced a 3-month closure due to severe flood damage. PCLA intervened, meticulously calculating insurable gross profit and negotiating with the insurer. The result? A 40% higher claim settlement, including substantial interim payments to open a temporary store quickly.

Client Feedback:
“PCLA’s expert handling of our claim was invaluable. They saved our business by uncovering costs we hadn’t considered and ensuring every eligible expense was covered. We could not have navigated this process without their professionalism and expertise.”

"The fire damage to our boutique was devastating enough, but discovering we were underinsured was terrifying. PCLA fought the average clause application and still secured £55,000 for our claim. They even helped us claim for our temporary market stall operation."

Retail Owner, High Street Fashion

"When our key supplier's factory burned down, we thought we had no cover. PCLA identified our 'unspecified suppliers extension' and claimed £77,000 for lost sales. Their knowledge of policy extensions was invaluable."

Online Electronics Retailer

Why Choose PCLA? The Technical Expertise That Maximises Your Settlement

When your business faces interruption, the difference between a fair settlement and a devastating shortfall often comes down to one critical factor: technical expertise. Business interruption claims are among the most complex in commercial insurance, requiring specialist knowledge that most businesses simply don’t possess.

At PCLA, we don’t just handle your claim – we become your technical advocate, ensuring every penny of your entitlement is identified, calculated, and recovered.

The Critical Calculations Others Miss

Insurable Gross Profit vs Accounting Profit – Getting It Right From Day One

Most businesses make a fundamental error that can cost them thousands: using accounting gross profit instead of the policy-defined insurable gross profit. This single mistake is the leading cause of underinsurance in the UK.

We understand the crucial distinction. Insurable gross profit is calculated as turnover plus closing stock minus opening stock and uninsured working expenses – not simply turnover minus cost of goods sold. This knowledge alone has saved our clients from devastating underinsurance that could have reduced their settlements by 20-50%.

Average Clause Protection – Your Shield Against Underinsurance Penalties

The average clause is the hidden destroyer of business interruption claims. When your sum insured falls short of your actual insurable gross profit, every aspect of your claim is proportionately reduced.

We act as your early warning system. Our immediate adequacy assessments identify potential underinsurance issues before they devastate your settlement. We’ve seen businesses lose half their rightful claim because they didn’t understand this critical provision – we ensure you’re protected.

Policy Extension Mastery – Unlocking Hidden Value

Standard business interruption cover only responds to damage at your own premises. But modern businesses face risks from far beyond their four walls.

We maximise recovery under complex extensions others overlook:

Suppliers and Customers Extensions – When key business partners suffer damage
Denial of Access Coverage – Both damage and non-damage scenarios;
Public Utilities Failure – When essential services are interrupted;
Notifiable Diseases Provisions – Closure orders and contamination issues.

These extensions can add tens of thousands to your settlement when properly triggered and substantiated.

Indemnity Period Optimisation – Covering Your Complete Recovery

Your Maximum Indemnity Period must encompass more than just physical reinstatement. True business recovery includes rebuilding customer relationships, restoring supply chains, and regaining market position.

We ensure your coverage reflects reality. Many businesses select inadequate indemnity periods, leaving them without support before they’ve fully recovered. Our expertise prevents this costly oversight.

ICOW & AICOW Claims Excellence – Every Mitigation Cost Recovered

Increased Costs of Working can be substantial, but they must meet strict economic tests. We understand exactly how to apply these tests and when Additional Increased Costs of Working provisions can provide greater flexibility.

We recover every reasonable mitigation expense – from temporary premises and emergency equipment to overtime payments and expedited repairs – ensuring all costs that help reduce your overall loss are properly claimed.

Fully Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

PCLA is a trusted, FCA-regulated loss assessor committed to transparent, compliant, and client-focused claims management.

We provide business interruption insurance claim management, assess your losses, and handle negotiations with your insurer. We help you recover lost income and keep your business moving—contact us for professional support with your claim process.

We Have Sector-Specific Expertise That Delivers Results

Manufacturing Precision

Complex machinery replacement, supplier dependencies, extended recovery periods – we understand the operational intricacies that drive long interruption periods and substantial ICOW claims.

Retail Reality

Seasonal variations, stock considerations, customer access issues – we accurately capture the unique trading patterns that affect your loss calculation.

Hospitality Expertise

Food service complications, licensing requirements, seasonal revenue protection – we navigate the high gross profit rates and partial trading scenarios common in this sector.

Professional Services Insight

Revenue-based policies, denial of access scenarios, cyber-related interruptions – we understand how to quantify lost billable hours and project delays.

E-commerce Understanding

Supplier failures, utility interruptions, technology dependencies – we grasp the supply chain vulnerabilities that can devastate online businesses.

Our Proven Process: Step-by-Step Claim Management

Free Consultation:

Initial discussion to assess your claim circumstances (no obligation).

Detailed Policy Review:

Expert assessment of your coverage and claim potential.

Comprehensive Claim Preparation:

Thorough documentation and submission handled entirely by our team.

Proactive Negotiation:

Direct, assertive negotiations with your insurer.

Interim Payment Assistance:

Securing quick payments to ease immediate financial strain.

Settlement & Follow-Up:

Complete resolution and guidance for future risk management.

One call, one team, problem solved.

Free Consultation

Business Interruption Insurance: Your Questions Answered

When should I appoint a loss assessor for my BI claim?

Immediately after the incident. Early intervention allows us to guide documentation collection, assess policy coverage, and begin interim payment negotiations whilst you focus on business recovery. Delays in appointing professional representation can cost thousands – every day without expert advocacy is a day your settlement could be at risk. We’ve seen businesses lose substantial sums simply because they waited too long to seek professional help.

How does the fee structure work?

We operate on a clear “No Win, No Fee” basis. You pay nothing upfront, and our fee is only charged upon successfully settling your claim – typically 10% + VAT of the final settlement. This means you can access expert representation without any financial risk during an already challenging time for your business cash flow.

Do you only get paid if I win?

Yes, our commitment is entirely risk-free for you. Our fee is contingent on achieving a successful claim outcome. If we don’t improve your position or secure a settlement, you pay nothing. This aligns our interests completely with yours – we only succeed when you do.

Will I get a better settlement with PCLA?

Our clients regularly secure settlements 30-50% higher than initial insurer offers, thanks to our detailed understanding of policy wordings and strategic negotiation approach. We know how to calculate losses correctly, identify all available coverage, and challenge inadequate offers. With over £2.3M recovered for UK businesses in 2024, our track record speaks for itself.

How does the average clause affect my business interruption settlement?

If your sum insured is less than your actual insurable gross profit, the average clause reduces your entire claim proportionately. For example, if you’re 20% underinsured, your claim is reduced by 20% regardless of the loss amount. With over 40% of UK businesses underinsured, this devastating clause affects nearly half of all BI claims – often without the business owner even knowing until it’s too late.

What if my policy is complex?

Complex policies are our speciality. We expertly navigate nuances like indemnity periods, increased costs of working, policy extensions, and intricate calculation methods. Our team includes former loss adjusters and chartered surveyors who understand the most sophisticated commercial policies. The more complex your policy, the more value we typically add by ensuring nothing is overlooked.

What's the difference between gross profit and accounting profit in BI claims?

Insurable gross profit includes all standing charges that continue during interruption (rent, wages, overheads), whilst accounting gross profit simply deducts cost of goods sold. Using the wrong definition for your sum insured leads to severe underinsurance. Most businesses make this fundamental error, leaving them exposed to devastating average clause reductions when they claim.

What policy extensions could apply to my business interruption claim?

Your policy likely includes valuable extensions for suppliers, customers, denial of access, public utilities failure, and notifiable diseases. Each has specific triggers and sub-limits that require expert assessment. These extensions often go unclaimed because businesses don’t understand the complex wordings – yet they can add tens of thousands to your settlement when properly identified and claimed.

Still have questions?

The PCLA Advantage in Action - When Technical Expertise Matters Most

Don’t let complex BI calculations, underinsurance penalties, or missed policy extensions cost you thousands. The statistics are sobering: 43% of UK BI policies are underinsured by an average of 53%, representing a £1 billion annual problem across the commercial sector.

Your business deserves expert advocacy. Contact PCLA today and discover why UK businesses trust our technical expertise when insurance matters most.

Every day you delay costs you money. While you’re struggling with policy wordings and calculation methods, your cash flow suffers and your claim value potentially diminishes.

Comprehensive Documentation Management

We eliminate delays through expert preparation and submission of all critical documentation, from management accounts to ICOW evidence, ensuring efficient claim progression.

Forensic Accountant Coordination

We work seamlessly with specialist forensic accountants to substantiate complex financial loss calculations, ensuring your projections withstand insurer scrutiny.

Rapid Interim Payment Negotiations

We protect your cash flow with proactive approaches to securing interim payments, alleviating immediate financial pressures while your full claim is assessed.

Robust Underinsurance Challenge

We aggressively challenge inappropriate average clause applications, armed with detailed adequacy calculations and policy interpretation expertise.

Don't Let Complex BI Calculations Cost You Thousands

Business interruption claims require specialist knowledge of UK insurance law, financial calculations, and policy interpretation. Our chartered loss assessors have the expertise to navigate these complexities and secure your full entitlement.

Every day you delay costs you money. While you’re struggling with policy wordings and calculation methods, your cash flow suffers and your claim value potentially diminishes.

Take Action Now
📞 24/7 Emergency Claims Hotline: 028 9581 5318

🔍 Request Free BI Claim Review: Get immediate expert assessment of your policy coverage and claim potential

📋 Download BI Claims Guide: Essential documentation checklist and calculation guidance

💼 Book Expert Consultation: Speak directly with our chartered loss assessors about your specific situation