In the scenario where Emma has begun her insurance policy but filed a claim before the insurer received her direct debit, what would be the insurer's liability?

In this scenario, the insurer is likely to be deemed liable for the claim despite not having received the direct debit payment for the insurance policy. This is because, in many insurance contracts, coverage typically begins as soon as the policy is issued, provided the insured has taken reasonable steps to fulfill their obligations, such as applying for coverage and agreeing to the payment method.

Insurance contracts often operate under the principle of good faith and the expectation that once the insurer accepts the application and issues a policy, they are bound to cover risks subject to the terms of the policy. The insurer's obligation to pay out on a valid claim may not hinge solely on the actual receipt of payment if the insurer has already acknowledged the policy's effective start date. Therefore, if Emma filed her claim after the policy was in effect, even without the direct debit having been processed, the insurer would typically not be able to deny liability.

This situation aligns with the concept that insurance coverage is meant to protect the insured against unforeseen losses as long as they have fulfilled their part of the contract to obtain insurance, making the insurer liable for legitimate claims even if administrative processes (like payment processing) are still underway.