In modern practice, Russian entrepreneurs have increasingly begun to use survey services. However, many of our businessmen have the most distant idea of what exactly the people who render them do. Let us examine this question in more detail.
Who is a surveyor
If we turn to our "great and mighty", then the word expert will be close in meaning. So, a surveyor is a person who can professionally understand something? Yes it is.
Representatives of this profession conduct a detailed, objective, and most importantly, independent analysis of all the circumstances of the case, so that later it can be determined whether this or that fact actually took place. Also, at the initiative of individuals and legal entities, they prepare recommendations in licensed areas of activity.
A bit of history
In the era of the dominance of the communist system, the following structures were vested with the powers of surveyors: the Institute of Emergency Commissioners, expert councils at the CCI (Chamber of Commerce and Industry), and Soyuzekspertiza.
With the collapse of the USSR, the above institutions gradually ceased to carry out an expert function.
The first surveyor organizations after the “victory of democracy” in the country were formed at the end of the zero years. Moreover, this happened in large cities with seaports. At that time, the competence of experts was limited to the investigation of insurance cases in water transport. Currently, the surveyor is a professional in all areas of insurance.
Often, expert institutions are now being created at various ministries, departments, and research institutes.
It should be noted that today surveyor organizations are successfully operating in many large cities of Russia: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok and others.
The principle of independence is central
In his work, the surveyor should be guided by the principle of independence. In other words, no expert institution should be controlled by state structures. Unfortunately, the opposite is the case in Russian practice, so foreign courts sometimes do not accept reports prepared by our surveyors as evidence.
Responsibilities
First of all, a surveyor is an expert in the analysis and verification of circumstances of insurance cases, such as loss, damage to property, damage to health, floods, fires and so on. He coordinates the process of inspection of the scene of the incident (organizes the rescue of people, calls specialists, fixes the damage). In addition, the surveyor is the main consultant, whose opinion should be listened to by the owners of ships and those who manage them. However, this is not the entire list of job responsibilities that an expert performs. He collects evidence to determine the causes of disasters and accidents, studies ship records, examines reports from divers, interviews witnesses, and checks weather reports. And at the final stage of the work, the expert sits down at the report.
Also, the services of a surveyor include the issuance of certificates for cargo. This is a document that confirms that the cargo is properly stacked and secured in the holds, which means that it will reach the destination point intact, without causing any harm to the vehicle.
Legislative base needs serious revision
Unfortunately, at the legislative level, the activities of surveyor organizations are not fully regulated. Subjects of civil rights are guided exclusively by departmental regulatory legal acts.
Of course, the insurance surveyor creates some competition, but there is no rule on the domestic market that would oblige market participants to resort to the services of the above experts. If you want - invite him, but if you want - not. As they say, the matter is voluntary. In case of problems with cargo transportation, ship owners often do not need any expert. Insurance in our country is still underdeveloped, so they prefer to resolve the conflict on their own.
Unfortunately, in practice, the surveyor acts as a regular intermediary who performs an unusual job: he is a consultant, and provider, and appraiser, and insurer, and tour operator.
Nevertheless, this market segment is developing smoothly in our country, and survey services are in great demand in the business environment.