Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Berkeley Alexander?
Set up in 1980, Berkeley Alexander are a leading wholesale General Insurance intermediary, allowing firms such as Independent Financial Advisers, Mortgage Brokers, and other Independent Intermediaries to sell General Insurance products to their clients without the need for an agency with the insurer direct.
To find out more about Berkeley Alexander, visit the About Us page.
What do Berkeley Alexander do?
Berkeley Alexander is a well established, reputable and profitable business to business General Insurance wholesaler, offering both personal and commercial insurance lines of business to IFA networks, directly authorised IFAs and mortgage brokers, small insurance brokers and organisations such as solicitors and estate agents. We can provide a wide range of products, and an extremely competitive, simple service called BA Solus, enabling those advisers who wish to focus on just a few key providers within clearly defined sectors (currently ASU/MPPI, Household and Buy to Let insurances) to do so.
Berkeley Alexander can accept business where full advice has been given by the adviser or where the adviser wishes simply to introduce business, whereby we accept regulatory responsibility for the advice given.
Do Berkeley Alexander permit introduced business?
Yes, advisers can choose simply to introduce business to Berkeley Alexander. With this course of action, we do all the essential work and you receive an increasing and on-going income. We will use our 60+ agencies to find a competitive deal for your client and we will examine each renewal to ensure they remain competitive. Further, we assume full regulatory responsibility and deal direct with your client, dealing with any mid-term adjustments and claims. To find out more, go to our Introducing page.
Do Berkeley Alexander deal with commercial insurance?
Yes, we do. We have access to a wide range of product providers, offering policies to cover areas such as shops and offices, public and employer/employee liability, contractors insurance, business combined, commercial legal insurance to name but a few. Full details can be found on our Commercial page.
What is BA SOLUS?
BA SOLUS is our premier single insurer quotation system giving you instant access to leading insurers for buildings and/or contents, MPPI, Buy to Let and other products. Online quote and buy facilities are available with excellent indemnity commission.
Commission
What commission do I get paid?
Whenever you are logged into the web site, you will be able to view a list of commissions payable through the "See Also..." menu. This list will include initial and renewal commissions for advised sales (where you deal with your client) and for introduced sales (where we deal directly with your client).
How is commission paid?
As long as we hold you account details this payment will be made via our BACS system at the end of every month. If a statement comes through confirming a balance brought forward please forward your account details on headed paper together with your agency number. The payment will then be made to you the following month.
When is commission paid?
Commission is paid around about the 28th of every month via our BACS system.
Commission is usually paid in the 2nd month of the policy starting. For example:
For a policy paid upfront with a start date of 15.01.07 – we receive commission from the insurer on 28.02.07 we would then forward the payment to you in our March statement.
For policies paid by Direct Debit, commission is paid dependent on when first payment is taken from the client account rather than the start date. For example, if the policy starts around the middle of January, the first payment won’t come out until February. We would then receive commission at the end of March and forward payment to you in our April payment. (MortgageLIFELINE commission is paid the month following the first payment being taken from the client's account.)
Is commission paid Net or Gross of IPT?
Commission on all cases is paid Net of IPT. There is no commission payable in respect of this Government tax.
Agencies
How do I arrange an agency?
Whenever you are not logged into the site, the "Your Next Step" menu will have an option of "Agent Login". You will then have the option of "Create a New Account", again in the "Your Next Step" menu. This will lead you through creating an account and setting up your password to get you logged in straight away.
Quotations
How do I obtain a quotation?
Go to the home page and simply click on the "Get A Quote" button for the product you require.
Alternatively, if the product you require is not listed, click on "Products" on the menu and select your product from the more expansive list provided and follow the on screen instructions. If you are still unable to find the product you require, either use the "Other Products" section or phone us on 0845 355 1166.
What if I want a quote from your panel of insurers?
Simply go to our home page at www.baonline.co.uk and click on the product you require.
Alternatively, click on "Products" on the menu and a list of our full standard product range will be shown. Click again on the product you are interested in to find out about getting a comparative quote for that product. If you have any problems or do not see the product you require, please call us on 0845 355 1166.
What if I want to use a 'single insurer' quote system?
Simply go to www.basolus.co.uk and click the "Get A Quote" button for the product you require.
Alternatively, click on "Products" in the menu and select the product you require from our comprehensive list. If you still don't see the product you require, please call us on 0845 355 1166.
What if I want a quote for an unusual risk?
Simply go to our home page at www.baonline.co.uk and go to the "Other Products" section. You can then email us with details of the quote you require.
Alternatively, you can call us with details of the insurance you require on 0845 355 1166.
Miscellaneous
Who do I contact if I have any other questions?
Simply go to our "Who's Who" of staff and choose which section leader would be most suited to your query. Then just call us on 0845 355 1166 and ask to speak to them, or use the email address provided on the page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Berkeley Alexander?
Set up in 1980, Berkeley Alexander are a leading wholesale General Insurance intermediary, allowing firms such as Independent Financial Advisers, Mortgage Brokers, and other Independent Intermediaries to sell General Insurance products to their clients without the need for an agency with the insurer direct.
To find out more about Berkeley Alexander, visit the About Us page.
What do Berkeley Alexander do?
Berkeley Alexander is a well established, reputable and profitable business to business General Insurance wholesaler, offering both personal and commercial insurance lines of business to IFA networks, directly authorised IFAs and mortgage brokers, insurance brokers, financial institutions and organisations such as solicitors and estate agents. We provide a wide range of products offering both you the adviser and your client choice, utilising the benefits of technology whilst not losing site of traditional service.
Berkeley Alexander can accept business where full advice has been given by the adviser or where the adviser wishes simply to introduce business, whereby we accept regulatory responsibility for the advice given.
Do Berkeley Alexander permit introduced business?
Yes, advisers can choose simply to introduce business to Berkeley Alexander. With this course of action, we do all the essential work and you receive an on-going income. We will do our best to use our numerous insurer agencies to find a competitive deal for your client and we will examine each renewal to ensure they remain competitive. Further, we assume full regulatory responsibility and deal direct with your client, dealing with any mid-term adjustments and claims. To find out more, go to our Introduce A Client page.
Do Berkeley Alexander deal with commercial insurance?
Yes, we do. We have access to a wide range of product providers, offering policies to cover areas such as shops and offices, public and employer/employee liability, contractors insurance, business combined, commercial legal insurance to name but a few. Full details can be found on our Commercial page.
Commission
What commission will I receive?
When you're logged into www.baonline.co.uk, you can view a list of commissions payable by clicking on 'Commission Rates'. This will provide initial and renewal commissions for 'advised sales' (where you deal with your client) and for 'introduced sales' (where you ask us to deal directly with your client). Please call us regarding any products not shown.
How is commission paid?
Commission is paid via BACS, reaching your account by the last working day of the month. Commission becomes due to you once we have received it from the insurer, and we aim to get it to you at the end of the month following the policy going on risk/renewal. Whether you receive commission on an indemnity basis or monthly will depend on the product type:-
- On annually renewable policies (such as household, landlords, and commercial polices), commission is paid up-front on an indemnity basis, both for new business and at renewal.
- On ASU policies, our process will mirror how we are remunerated by the insurer, so commission will be paid to you on an indemnity basis if the insurer pays us annually, or monthly to you if it’s being paid by the insurer to us monthly.
We do have a cut off of the 15th of the month, so if we receive the commission by the 15th, it will be paid to you at the end of that month. If it is received after the 15th, it will be paid to you at the end of the following month.
Example:
- Policy going on risk during, say, February
- In this scenario we would usually receive the commission from the insurer in March
- If we receive it by 15th March, it will be paid to you by the last working day of March
- If we receive it after 15th March, it will be paid to you by the last working day of April
When is commission paid?
On household, landlords, and commercial polices, commission is paid up-front in a lump sum, both initially and at renewal.
On ASU policies, commission will be paid in a lump sum if the insurer pays us annually and monthly if it’s being paid by the insurer to us monthly.
Statements are sent out between the 25th and 28th of each month, and commission is paid via BACS by the last working day of the month.
The commission becomes due to you once we have received it from the insurer, and we would expect to get it to you at the end of the month following the policy going on risk/renewal.
We have a cut off of the 15th of the month, so if we receive the commission by the 15th, it will be paid to you at the end of that month. If it is received after the 15th, it will be paid to you at the end of the following month.
Example:
- Policy going on risk during, say, February
- We would usually receive the commission from the insurer in March
- If we receive it by 15th March, it will be paid to you by the last working day of March
- If we receive it after 15th March, it will be paid to you by the last working day of April
Could the commission payment be delayed?
We do our utmost to settle transactions with insurers before the 15th of each month.
Occasionally there may be a delay in us receiving the commission, which will then delay us paying commission to you. The likely causes of delay are:-
- The client not paying the premium promptly
- Us not receiving settlement from insurers in time.
- The policy being a large and complex commercial case
Is commission paid net or gross of IPT?
On all cases your commission entitlement is paid Net of IPT. There is no commission payable in respect of this Government tax element.
Is commission paid in a lump sum or by monthly instalments?
On household, landlords, and commercial polices, commission is paid up-front in a lump sum, both initially and at renewal.
On ASU policies, commission will be paid in a lump sum if the insurer pays us annually and monthly if it’s being paid by the insurer to us monthly.
Who are Premium Credit?
Premium Credit are our chosen partner for premium finance where payment by instalment is required. They are the No.1 insurance premium finance company in the UK and Ireland and support 2,700 intermediaries. In 2015 they helped over 2.2 million customers, processed more than 29 million Direct Debits and achieved advances of £3.9 billion.
Agencies
How do I arrange an agency?
Whenever you are not logged into the site, the menu will have an option of "Agent Login". You will then have the option of "Register". This will lead you through creating an account and setting up your password to get you logged in straight away.
Quotations
How do I obtain a quotation?
Go to the home page and simply click on the "Get A Quote" button for the product you require.
Alternatively, if the product you require is not listed, click on "Products" on the menu and select your product from the more expansive list provided and follow the on screen instructions. If you are still unable to find the product you require, either go to our Bespoke section or phone us on 01273 477784.
What if I want a quote for an unusual risk?
Go to our home page at www.baonline.co.uk and go to the Bespoke section. You can then email us with details of the quote you require.
Alternatively, you can call us with details of the insurance you require on 01273 477784.
Miscellaneous
Who do I contact if I have any other questions?
Go to our "Who's Who" of staff and choose which section leader would be most suited to your query. Then just call us on 01273 477784 and ask to speak to them, or use the email address provided on the page.