Insurance for Kid's Birthday Party

OzBestDeal on 05/12/2016 - 16:36

I'm planning to host a party for my kid's birthday (6 years old). This will be the first time we invite her school friends over (about 30 children + adults).
When looking for venue, some actually ask if we have insurance (I think it's a public liability insurance).

We normally host bbq parties in the park or at home, so we're not even aware if we need to have insurance to invite friends over to have fun.
From the quotes we gather, it could cost $400-$600 for a 1 day cover, which I think is a bit excessive.
Is this normal?

Financial

Comments

  • garffi on 05/12/2016 - 16:57
    +1

    No, a small business insurance + $20M public liability is only $900 for a whole year. I reckon that's way too much for 1 day.
    Since when did parents need to buy public liability insurance for their kid's party?

    • OzBestDeal on 05/12/2016 - 17:02

      We're surprised too when I heard this, especially when the venue we're trying to get is a school hall.
      Insurance cost is very high probably because they group us together with those commercial nightclubs or professional concert :(

      • apple2016 on 05/12/2016 - 17:43
        +1

        Not just you. I am surprised as well.

  • tomsco on 05/12/2016 - 17:01
    +2

    Pfft. If you have it for a party, why not have it for whenever you have friends over /sarcasm

    If anything is organised through a business, the business should have appropriate insurance. I'd hate to live in a world where I feel obliged to get insurance for having people over for a BBQ.

  • Ryanek on 05/12/2016 - 17:02
    +6

    Umm so yeah I would take those people off the list.

  • OzBestDeal on 05/12/2016 - 17:08
    +4

    Sigh….

    Looks like good ol' times where people just gather around to have fun together will be gone soon.
    Before you know it, party host need to make sure spills on the floor wiped immediately, warning signs everywhere, enough clearance between seats and tables, meat cooked perfectly, foods are covered all the time, etc, etc, etc…

    • WT on 06/12/2016 - 08:22
      +1

      Do you live in the USA? If not dont worry about that shit

  • aussieprepper on 05/12/2016 - 17:16
    +4

    Is this a serious post or a troll post?

    • OzBestDeal on 05/12/2016 - 17:21
      +1

      No I'm serious….
      Sounds like a joke… but it happened to us.

      • aussieprepper on 05/12/2016 - 17:25

        What makes you think you need insurance? Have you heard bad stories? Surely parents understand children can be hurt at a party but its a part of life?
        What next seriously wrapping kids in bubble wrap?

        • OzBestDeal on 05/12/2016 - 17:26
          +1

          Sorry for not making it clear in the original post.
          Currently, we need insurance because the venue ask for it. Without insurance we won't be able to hire the venue.

        • aussieprepper on 05/12/2016 - 17:29

          @cimot: Now i understand kids running around playing on equipment makes sense lol. Id be rich if we had insurance back in the days all the times i was hurt on the old trampoline.

        • BigTed on 05/12/2016 - 17:29
          +7

          @cimot: Surely the venue has their own insurance. Why would you need to be insured to use a public venue to host a party. That is part of the service you pay them to provide???

        • tassieeagle on 05/12/2016 - 17:29
          +3

          @cimot: surely they have Public liability insurance? Perhaps choose a different venue that actually has insurance. I'm gobsmacked that the venue asked you to organise your own, like wtf

        • OzBestDeal on 05/12/2016 - 17:31

          @cimot: It's a school hall, and our party was considered as private party, thus not covered under school's insurance

        • apple2016 on 05/12/2016 - 17:40

          So what does this Insurance cover? Damage to the venue?

        • Agret on 05/12/2016 - 19:19

          @cimot: I'd try asking your local community hall. Whatever you pay for insurance is going to outweigh the cost savings by hiring out the schools hall.

        • tomsco on 05/12/2016 - 20:23
          +1

          @cimot: not that it helps, but the fact the school hires out privately, the onus should be on them to ensure their insurance does have it.

          If they want to make the money on it, they gotta spend the cash.

        • OzBestDeal on 05/12/2016 - 20:37

          @cimot: Thanks for the suggestion guys.
          We're looking for other alternatives, probably local business that provide venue + activity.
          The cost per hour is a lot more but at least there's no hidden fees.

        • altomic on 06/12/2016 - 00:00
          +1

          @cimot: check out scout halls for hire.

      • boomramada on 06/12/2016 - 09:21

        This is normal for some venues; this because some venues has their own PLI, they pass it on to you with the hiring cost, and some don't, so they asked you to have you own. I had to do this when I organizing LAN parties years ago.
        That is what you get for inviting entire school for b/d ;)

    • Emli on 06/12/2016 - 08:41
      +1

      The OP is not asking to hire a public venue. They are asking to hire a school hall. I work at a school and we have never hired out school facilities for a birthday party. Groups that hire are normally businesses eg after school care, yoga… Asking for insurance is standard practice. Hiring out a school for a birthday party is unusual.

      Why not go to a park, McDonalds, swimming pool or one of the many facilities that cater for birthdays. Look at your local council website to see if there are halls for hire.

  • holdenmg on 05/12/2016 - 17:36

    Try:
    http://www.webberinsurance.com.au/events

    Tell them it is a "one off event"

    (or just go to McDonald's).

  • try2bhelpful on 05/12/2016 - 17:44
    +1

    I agree with the others, I would be looking for another venue. Find a park with barbeques and plenty of room for them to run around. Get the parents to help patrol the kids and organise games and time on the play equipment. Kids that age really don't need anything really fancy.

    • OzBestDeal on 05/12/2016 - 20:57

      Thanks for the idea. This is what we usually do in the past. Simple bbq and activity, no issues so far. First time we want to get fancy this year but didn't expect it would be this complicated.

      • try2bhelpful on 05/12/2016 - 21:16
        +1

        I can understand the reason for the insurance, because if something goes wrong then someone is going to be sued, but it makes it almost impossible to do anything now days. Look online there are probably some really interesting games you can find to keep them busy and tire them out. Best of luck with the kids party - set aside a really good bottle of wine for that night, you are going to need it.

  • Unbranded on 05/12/2016 - 21:12
    +1

    My child once went to a birthday party at a home where the parents hired a pony for pony rides in the back yard. The pony decided it wasn't happy and started bucking and going berserk, lots of kids were in danger at that point. So yes, insurance is important but who is responsible for it, I can't say.

  • jhmtaylor on 06/12/2016 - 08:44

    Your house contents insurance has personal liability and Will probably cover this at no cost.

    • michaelTito on 06/12/2016 - 09:17

      never knew you can buy house contents insurance for school hall..

      sign me up

  • OzBestDeal on 06/12/2016 - 09:33

    Thanks for all the responses guys.
    Yes public venues usually have their own insurance and we can pay a little bit extra (~$30) if we don't have our own insurance.

    We're start considering celebrating birthday in the park. Just need lots of extra eyes to watch for children.

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