Every additional information (AI) request from an underwriter adds 3–7 business days to your quote turnaround — and most AI requests are for information you already have or could have collected during intake. Reducing back-and-forth is not about working faster — it is about submitting complete information the first time so underwriters can quote without interruption.
Common cause
Vague description of operations
Fix
Write a 3–5 sentence description that explains what the business does, who its customers are, what its primary revenue sources are, and any specialty or unusual activities. "Retail store" is not a description. "Specialty outdoor sports retailer selling hunting, fishing, and camping equipment to recreational consumers in a 4,500 sq. ft. storefront, with 15% of revenue from online sales and no rental or gunsmith services" is a description.
Common cause
Missing loss runs
Fix
Order loss runs before submitting, not after. A submission that arrives at the underwriting desk without loss runs is typically set aside until they arrive. 5 years of loss runs from the prior carrier, certified as of a recent date, should accompany every submission.
Common cause
Revenue that doesn't add up
Fix
Revenue must be consistent across all forms in the submission. If the ACORD 125 shows $800,000 in revenue and the supplemental shows $1.2M, the underwriter will request clarification. Reconcile all financial figures before submission.
Common cause
No prior carrier information
Fix
Always include the prior carrier name, policy number, and expiration date on the ACORD 125. "Unknown" raises questions about whether the account has had coverage issues.
Common cause
Missing payroll by class code
Fix
For WC submissions, payroll must be broken out by class code — not just total payroll. Underwriters cannot rate WC without knowing how payroll is allocated across job functions.
Common cause
Incomplete contractor GL questions
Fix
For contractor GL submissions, always include: subcontractor cost as % of revenue, whether subcontractors provide certificates of insurance, types of work the contractor performs vs. subcontracts, and the largest single project completed.
Common cause
Missing property values
Fix
For property submissions, replacement cost (not market value) must be provided. Underwriters who receive market value or assessed value must request replacement cost — a delay that is entirely avoidable.
✓Description of operations: specific enough that someone unfamiliar with the business could understand exactly what it does
✓Loss runs: 5 years, certified by prior carrier, dated within 90 days
✓Revenue: consistent across all forms, specified as gross receipts / gross billings / net revenue — not ambiguous
✓Prior carrier and policy number: complete on ACORD 125
✓Named insured: matches the entity name on the business license or articles of incorporation exactly
✓All required supplemental applications completed for the coverage lines being requested
✓WC payroll: broken out by class code, not a single total
✓Property values: replacement cost, not market or assessed value
✓Prior dec page attached where available