Trade Credit

Trade with confidence, with trade credit insurance

Trading on credit is how the business world goes round. But if a payment is delayed or your debtor goes insolvent, it can leave a hole in your company finances. Trade credit insurance covers the shortfall – keeping your cashflow steady, while giving you the confidence and security to seize new opportunities for your business.

At Howden, we tailor trade credit insurance to your specific needs – helping protect your business from the risk of non-payment, while providing the peace of mind you need to grow.

Trade Credit insurance: a strategic approach 

There’s more to Trade credit insurance than just protracted defaults and insolvencies. Access to market insights can help you train your sales efforts on companies that have a good reputation for paying up. 

We have an in-house team of credit analysts who can help you gain that all important competitive advantage. Upon commencing your policy with us, you will have access to market and sector intelligence, insolvency statistics evaluation and customer financial analysis.

Tailoring for your client base
It’s normal that your will business offers clients different terms. Your Trade Credit insurance should be set up to account for that. For example, you could have deductibles (excess) for some clients, but not others. 

Avoiding pitfalls
Supplier disputes can be an exclusion on many policies. However, the precise definition of what counts as dispute varies from insurer to insurer. We can help word policies to put you in the best possible position. 

Factors affecting Trade Credit insurance pricing

• Current credit management processes and losses
• Client base
• Contract frustration/repudiation
• Arbitration 
• Currency inconvertibility and non-transfer 
• Trade disruption 

Howden can help you assess your risks around each client and deliver a cost-effective package bespoke to your needs. 

While we strive to drive down premiums the emphasis is always on the quality of cover – there’s no point in buying a cheap cover only to realise you’re not covered when you come to claim, due to unforeseen policy exclusions.