• Welcome to The Farming Forum!

    As part of this update, we have made a change to the login and registration process. If you are experiences any problems, please email [email protected] with the details so we can resolve any issues.

investment in nfu sub paid off big time

marco

Member
Why so negative @Clive ?
Why not congratulate the NFU for the help and assistance that they gave in this case?
Give credit where it's due.
Exactly, how do you think the farmers would have bankrolled a 3 year court case? The nfu like the ifa in ireland have their uses, its good buisness to keep them onside and pay a small sub.
 

Clive

Staff Member
Moderator
Location
Lichfield
Why so negative @Clive ?
Why not congratulate the NFU for the help and assistance that they gave in this case?
Give credit where it's due.

It's great to hear they got a result, but let's not be mislead that your NFU membership gets you legal representation, the article states that they had legal insurance, a product available from all of the Mutuals competitors which most people running a business would be well advised to buy

NFU legal helpline is VERY basic in my past experience, they normally refer users to a guidance sheet or tell you to call your solicitor

I would say credit for the judgment will be more down to the farmers lawyer / Barrister than being part of a union
 

An Gof

Member
Location
Cornwall
It's great to hear they got a result, but let's not be mislead that your NFU membership gets you legal representation, the article states that they had legal insurance, a product available from all of the Mutuals competitors which most people running a business would be well advised to buy

NFU legal helpline is VERY basic in my past experience, they normally refer users to a guidance sheet or tell you to call your solicitor

I would say credit for the judgment will be more down to the farmers lawyer / Barrister than being part of a union

@Clive you may or may not be aware of all the workings of the NFU LAS (Legal Assistance Scheme). Yes it's effectively an insurance policy but it's run in a completely different way. Some cases are fought when other insurance schemes would have long since thrown the towel in.
Let's all rejoice at the current outcome for this couple. I reckon their view of NFU and value of membership might be at odds to yours ............
 

Clive

Staff Member
Moderator
Location
Lichfield
@Clive you may or may not be aware of all the workings of the NFU LAS (Legal Assistance Scheme). Yes it's effectively an insurance policy but it's run in a completely different way. Some cases are fought when other insurance schemes would have long since thrown the towel in.
Let's all rejoice at the current outcome for this couple. I reckon their view of NFU and value of membership might be at odds to yours ............

lets get it right please

The NFU as a member organisation does not to the best of my knowledge provide members with insurance as part of their sub ? it gives access to a legal helpline I think though for basic first instance advice ??

The NFU mutual - an insurance company offers for a fee policies that would cover a customers legal bills, they have this in common with many other insurance brokers and companies that do not require membership of the NFU to become a customers of

who funded this farmers legal battle - the NFU or the NFU mutual ??

Im not knocking it, and its a great result, just thinking there is a little bit creative / unclear reporting here maybe ?
 
Last edited:

spin cycle

Member
Location
north norfolk
i'm generally anti- nfu but in this case weldone to them(y)

but what a nightmare for those ppl....and it's not really over yet.....think i'd take the money and buy back home in scotland
 

Flyer

Member
Location
New Forest
lets get it right please

The NFU as a member organisation does not to the best of my knowledge provide members with insurance as part of their sub ? it gives access to a legal helpline I think though for basic first instance advice ??

The NFU mutual - an insurance company offers for a fee policies that would cover a customers legal bills, they have this in common with many other insurance brokers and companies that do not require membership of the NFU to become a customers of

who funded this farmers legal battle - the NFU or the NFU mutual ??

Im not knocking it, and its a great result, just thinking there is a little bit creative / unclear reporting here maybe ?

Best check your facts old chap

http://www.nfuonline.com/membership/farmer-grower/member-services/legal-assistance-scheme/
 

borderterribles

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
South Shropshire
Could someone who has the benefits of NFU membership and the legal assistance insurance, please clarify if it is still the case that they don't want to know , if the person that you have the dispute with is also a NFU member?
 

Flyer

Member
Location
New Forest
£33 pounds a year of insurance premium by my book

The NFU will help fight some legal battles that do not necessarily make economic sense to fight if there is a case for a 'greater good' for the rest of the Union.
Most other legal insurance (except for after the event type policies) will just be looking to settle asap in order to keep costs down.
 

Clive

Staff Member
Moderator
Location
Lichfield

so that's a £33 premium for £5000 of profesional fees (with a "discretionary" pay out I add !)- which would have been miles short of fighting this case, the article says quite clearly that his fight was funded via the legal assistance scheme (so thats £5000) and insurance (that will be the remaining 6 figure sum then I guess !)

some VERY creative writing in that report IMO

Not to detract from the fantastic result by the lawyers representing the farmer who look like they did a very good job for him
 

Flyer

Member
Location
New Forest
so that's a £33 premium for £5000 of profesional fees (with a "discretionary" pay out I add !)- which would have been miles short of fighting this case, the article says quite clearly that his fight was funded via the legal assistance scheme (so thats £5000) and insurance (that will be the remaining 6 figure sum then I guess !)

some VERY creative writing in that report IMO

Not to detract from the fantastic result by the lawyers representing the farmer who look like they did a very good job for him

The NFU will help fight some legal battles that do not necessarily make economic sense to fight if there is a case for a 'greater good' for the rest of the Union.
Most other legal insurance (except for after the event type policies) will just be looking to settle asap in order to keep costs down.

Did you read my post?

  • Financial support towards professional fees* up to £5,000. Additional funding may be available from the National Legal Board in exceptional cases
 

Clive

Staff Member
Moderator
Location
Lichfield
Did you read my post?

yes I did

did you read the article or the link you posted ?

the article states this case was funded by the legal assistance scheme (so thats is £5000 for a £33 premium) and the farmers insurers (that will be the rest of what I assume would be a BIG bill)
 

Clive

Staff Member
Moderator
Location
Lichfield
Clive I am afraid your ignorance and inability to be told something are shining through, legal assistance scheme awards do go far higher than the £5000 you mention on very many cases

not according to the link ? is the NFU website wrong ?

http://www.nfuonline.com/membership/farmer-grower/member-services/legal-assistance-scheme/

*Financial support will be between 25-75% of the member's own professional costs up to a maximum of £5,000. Awards are discretionary and each case is decided on its facts and legal merits. Costs incurred prior to NFU notifcation do not qualify.


legal insurance however (as supplied by the mutual or others) would go to what ever level of cover you had paid a premium for

read the article which quotes
"the Wakleys were able to defend only with assistance from their insurers and the NFU Legal Assistance Scheme."

your inability to follow and read links seems too be shining through more than any ignorance upon my part. I read that article to say that an insurance company (unnamed) paid all but £5000 of the legal bill that was the result of an additional £33 policy with the NFU.

I might be wrong but thats how I read it no matter how many times I look at it.
 
Last edited:

How is your SFI 24 application progressing?

  • havn't been invited to apply

    Votes: 29 34.9%
  • have been invited to apply

    Votes: 17 20.5%
  • applied but not yet accepted

    Votes: 29 34.9%
  • agreement up and running

    Votes: 8 9.6%

Webinar: Expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive offer 2024 -26th Sept

  • 2,501
  • 50
On Thursday 26th September, we’re holding a webinar for farmers to go through the guidance, actions and detail for the expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer. This was planned for end of May, but had to be delayed due to the general election. We apologise about that.

Farming and Countryside Programme Director, Janet Hughes will be joined by policy leads working on SFI, and colleagues from the Rural Payment Agency and Catchment Sensitive Farming.

This webinar will be...
Back
Top