From: Kennedy-Todd Silka
Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2016 1:25 PM
To: ‘Steve Garelick GMB Professional Drivers Branch’; ‘Grant David’;
Cc: TPH Senior Relationship Manager (SRM); Chapman Helen (TPH); Hayward Siwan
Subject: UberPOOL
Steve, Grant and Mike
Thank you all for highlighting your concerns with the extent to which hire and reward insurance covers ride sharing. I can confirm that we contacted Uber prior to their launch of UberPool and received assurances, including written confirmation from a number of insurance companies, that drivers do not require any additional hire and reward insurance for the carriage of passengers paying separate fares.
Following your emails, and in particular the allegation that LV insurance does not cover ridesharing, we have been in contact with Uber to further clarify their position, as well as to ascertain what is being done to ensure that their drivers do have the correct insurance in place in light of these allegations. We received confirmation that was the case. Uber has provided written confirmation from LV that they have no specific policy exclusions in relation to UberPool and is therefore content to include the service within their policy cover.
We carried out a compliance visit to Uber, before Christmas, to inspect a random selection of records they have for around 100 UberPool jobs, all undertaken by different drivers. For every journey undertaken there was correct H&R insurance cover in place. The Compliance team then verified every journey with the insurer and all confirmed that UberPool journeys were covered for the purpose of hire and reward.
I hope this gives you the level of reassurance you sought, and I am sorry for the delay in getting back to you.
Regards,
Silka
Silka Kennedy-Todd | Taxi and Private Hire Senior Relationship Manager
Posted: 18th February 2016