MIB Legal Expenses Scheme

Q. What is MIB Legal Expenses Scheme?
A. This is a bespoke before the event legal expenses policy available to all claimants making claims under the Uninsured Drivers Agreements. The cover is not restricted to specific solicitors and therefore there is complete freedom of choice. The limit of indemnity is £100,000.

Q. What is the Motor Insurance Database Information System?
A. This is the web site, provided by the Motor Insurers' Information Bureau (MIB), and supported by the UK information Centre that solicitors can access to ascertain whether or not there is a record of insurance for a specific vehicle involved in an accident with their client.

Q. Who are the providers of the cover?
A. This insurance policy is administered by FirstAssist Insurance Services Limited and is underwritten by Great Lakes Reinsurance (UK) PLC.

Q. What will be the involvement of MIB?
A. The only involvement will be sending a copy of the claim form to FirstAssist when a claimant has indicated that they want to take advantage of the cover. FirstAssist will then contact the legal representative of the claimant and operate completely independently. The bureau does not take any part in deciding how or why FirstAssist may elect to fund a case under the policy.

Q. Where can the details of the policy terms and conditions be found?
A . Enquiries regarding the scope of cover should be directed to FirstAssist. However, it is true to say that the cover provided is one of the widest in the market.

Q. Who can have access to MIDIS?
A. Members of the Law Society of England and Wales and the Law Society of Scotland will be able to register on line to use MIDIS. UKIC will verify that registration and part of that process will involve the validation of the solicitor's law society membership number. Once registered, a solicitor can make enquiries of the Motor Insurance Database (MID) on line.

Q. How long does the registration process for the MIDIS system take?
A. All the necessary checks to complete registration and confirm access will take approximately 7 working days.

Q. Why is there no charge for solicitors?
A. As this service is limited to one class of enquirer at the moment, it has been decided that no charge should be made. However, the MIB which provides the MIDIS service, reserves the right to levy a charge in the future should it be necessary to do so.

Q. How can other enquirers discover whether or not a vehicle is insured?
A. At the moment, only solicitors can use MIDIS. However, other enquirers can still contact the UKIC at MIB, complete an application form and submit that together with a payment of £10 to cover the administrative costs. Enquirers should contact 0845 165 2800, or e-mail information@mib.org.uk, or see www.miic.org.uk/public for more information. A new website www.askmid.com is available for people to check their vehicle is on the MID – this service is free of charge.

Q. How can solicitors gain access to the system?
A. There is a dedicated web address www.midis.org.uk, which will be widely advertised

Q. For which cases will the cover be available?
A. Claims made on or after the official launch date will be entitled for consideration by FirstAssist for legal expenses cover.

Q. In which jurisdiction will the cover apply?
A. England, Wales and Scotland

Q. How will the MIDIS system operate?
A. Solicitors must first register on the MIDIS web site. Once registered, then on input of the vehicle registration number and the accident date, MIDIS will immediately confirm whether or not there is a record of insurance on the MID. If there is a "no" response, a prompt will be made to access the MIB web site via a link and complete an application form to claim under the Uninsured Drivers' Agreement. The availability of the MIB legal expense scheme is highlighted in the process. If the response is "yes", then the option is offered of requesting details of that insurance, which will be supplied by separate e-mail as soon as possible.

Q. How will solicitors get to know about MIB Legal Expenses Scheme?
A. There will be an extensive publicity campaign by both MIB and FirstAssist in the Law Society Gazette and the national press. In any event, MIB application forms will feature the availability of the scheme prominently

Q. What support is there by the legal profession?
A. APIL and MASS have been involved in discussions regarding the specification of the product and amendments have been made at their request.

Q. Who should be contacted in the event of any query about the legal expense scheme?
A. If the query is about the availability of the scheme prior to an application being made, you can contact Trevor Harrison, Technical Manager at tharrison@mib.org.uk. If the query relates to the provision of funding after application, or the detail of the policy wording, you should contact FirstAssist.

Q. Who should be contacted if there is any technical difficulty in accessing MIDIS?
A. You can check the Q & A's at www.miic.org.uk/public, MIDIS page, or contact the UKIC on 0845 165 2800, or e-mail at information@mib.org.uk.

Q. Why can’t the system advise details of the insurer immediately?
A. In certain circumstances the system may return a record with more than one insurer. Where this occurs, it is necessary for UKIC to check and validate the correct details.

Q. Do claimants have to use MIB Legal Expenses Scheme?
A. No. If they already have a Before the Event legal expense policy then this will be used. If the claimant elects to take out an After the Event policy then it must be pointed out that when considering costs and disbursements the MIB may refuse to pay the premium and any success fee that may be claimed.

Q. Will the legal expenses scheme apply to any MIB claims other than those under the Uninsured Drivers' Agreement?
A. No. This is because there is a specified contribution to the cost of legal advice within the Untraced Drivers' Agreement

Q. What happens if the claim commences as uninsured and then becomes an untraced application?
A. Subject to the facts of the case, MIB pays costs as agreed up to the date of the transfer, after which the scale contained in the Untraced Drivers Agreement will apply

Q. What happens if an insurer is located?
A. The policy will continue in force and the terms accepted by the insurer.

Q. If solicitors wish to contact FirstAssist what is the address?
A.FirstAssist, Bowling Mill, Dean Clough, Halifax, HX3 5WA