DAS UK: 'How we became a key resource for crisis information’
Authored by David Swigciski, Director, Client Services, DAS UK Group
“I know I speak for everyone when I say that we are simply trying our best to support each other and get through this extraordinarily trying time.
Our primary objective is obviously to protect the welfare and health of our colleagues, particularly those who are classed as vulnerable, whilst endeavouring to continue to respond to the needs of our customers and business partners as best as we can.
We took a decision very early on in the crisis to ensure that as many of our staff as possible were working from home. Our IT team toiled around the clock to make this happen while liaising with our technology partners to also move our telephony system and contact centre staff into this new ‘virtual’ world.
It has also been important to remember that we have a vital role play as an information source for our brokers, corporate business partners and policy holders, reassuring them with the latest legal advice concerning the crisis. Our teams of qualified legal advisers have produced numerous guides for businesses, sole traders and employees, as well as for specific sectors such as landlords.
This information is also available on our dedicated microsite – www.das.co.uk/covid19 - which went live long before the crisis hit its stride. The site has been enthusiastically received with over 3,000 pageviews in the first week alone and 6,000 pageviews since it went live over three weeks ago.
On behalf of the whole of the DAS UK team, we would like to wish anyone reading this, their family, and their colleagues, the very best of health.”
About DAS Group
The DAS UK Group comprises an insurance company (DAS Legal Expenses Insurance Company Ltd), a law firm (DAS Law), and an after the event (ATE) legal expenses division.
DAS UK introduced legal expenses insurance (LEI) in 1975, protecting individuals and businesses against the unforeseen costs involved in a legal dispute. In 2018 it wrote more than seven million policies.
The company offers a range of insurance and assistance add-on products suitable for landlords, homeowners, motorists, groups and business owners, while it’s after the event legal expenses insurance division offers civil litigation, clinical negligence and personal injury products. In 2013, DAS also acquired its own law firm – DAS Law – enabling it to leverage the firm’s expertise to provide its customers with access to legal advice and representation.
DAS UK is part of the ERGO Group, one of Europe’s largest insurance groups (the majority shareholder in ERGO is Munich Re, one of the world’s largest reinsurers).