Introduction
We are a regulated independent intermediary and pride ourselves on providing a personal and professional service. We are confident that you will enjoy doing business with us. We provide insurance policies for many insurable risks and we would welcome the opportunity to provide free no obligation quotations for your insurance needs.
Accepting our Terms of Business
By asking us to quote for, arrange or handle your insurances, you are providing your informed agreement to these Terms of Business. We draw your particular attention to the section headed ‘Use of personal data, and specifically the paragraph explaining how “sensitive personal data” will be used.
If you are unsure about any aspect of our Terms of Business or have any questions regarding our relationship with you, please contact us at the above address.
Insurance ANSweR
Commercial Insurance Brokers
EXPLAINING OUR TERMS OF BUSINESS
1. Regulation. Insurance ANSweR is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA is the independent watchdog that regulates Financial Services. It requires us to give you certain information to decide if our services are right for you. Our FCA Authorisation Number is 568076.
You can check this on the FCA’s register by visiting the FCA’s website at www.fsa.gov.uk/register or by contacting the FCA on 0800 111 6768.
Their Code of Practice and Rules regulates sales, advisory and service standards to ensure general insurance customers are treated fairly.
Our permitted business is advising on and arranging general insurance contracts.
2. Status. We offer a full range of insurance products and our services includes: advising you on your insurance needs; arranging your insurance cover with insurers to meet your requirements and helping you with any subsequent event or alteration to your insurance that we have placed on your behalf. We place insurance with a number of Insurers and we will advise you should you have any special arrangements with them or should you have to deal directly with the insurer for ongoing policy administration. We may issue policies and handle claims on behalf of some insurers. For certain types of insurance we represent only one Company and we will advise you should this be the case. We will also advise you should we place your insurance through any other intermediary regulated by FCA.
3. Confidentiality. Unless required by law, public interest, virtue of being members of FCA or you give your consent all information you supply will be kept confidential to us and parties involved in the normal course of arranging and administrating your insurance. Under the Data Protection Act 1998 you have the right to see personal information about you that we hold in our records. Should you have any queries please write to us.
4. Disclosure of Information. It is important that you understand that any information, statements or answers made by you to us or your insurer are your responsibility and must be correct. Your attention is particularly drawn to the importance of the declaration and signature on any Insurers’ Proposal Forms as any failure to disclose facts material to the insurance or any inaccuracies in your answers may invalidate your insurance cover in part or in whole. Facts material to the insurance are matters or information which may influence your Insurer as to the acceptability or otherwise of your Proposal or Renewal and must be disclosed at the earliest opportunity and certainly at each Renewal. You are advised to keep copies of documentation sent to or received from us for your own protection. Please do consult us if you are in doubt on any aspect.
5. Awareness of Policy Terms. We will issue Policy documentation in a timely manner. Your Policy documentation will confirm the basis of the cover, give details of the Insurers, and be accompanied by a cover/debit note. When a policy is issued you are strongly advised to read it carefully, as it is that document, the schedule and any certificate of insurance that is the basis of the insurance contract you have purchased. If you are in doubt over any of the policy terms or conditions, please seek our advice promptly.
Prior to the conclusion of the contract you will be given a Statement of Demands and Needs. You should read this carefully. It will set out your demands and needs and confirm whether the contract has been personally recommended and, if so, the reasons for making that recommendation.
You will be provided with renewal terms promptly in a durable medium before expiry of the Policy, or notified that renewal is not being invited. Attached to the renewal terms will be a Statement of any changes to the terms of the policy, and changes to directive – required information (information required under the EU Directives), statement of price and information about cancellation.
You will be given an explanation of any changes, where necessary and in good time, which may appear in your policy and you will be advised of your right to request a new policy statement.
Mid-term changes to your Policy will be provided in good time, prior to the change taking effect.
It is our policy to retain documents for business effected on your behalf in electronic or paper format for as long as it relevant for which they are made.
For some type of insurance cover it is possible that a claim may be made under a policy long after its expiry date and it is therefore important you keep such documents safely.
6. Cancellation Clause. Your insurance contract may include a cancellation clause. A cancellation clause is mandatory for all retail customers. In the event that you fail to pay your premium by the due date the insurance may be cancelled forthwith or by insurers, giving notice of the cancellation. In the event of cancellation of the insurance contract, Insurers may return a pro rata premium to us.
Once our remuneration has been earned, in the event that the insurance is cancelled after inception, our fees or brokerage will not usually be returnable.
7. Security. We will use reasonable
endeavours to monitor the financial strength and security of the insurers we recommend to you, however we do not guarantee the solvency of any insurer we place business with. A liability for the premium, whether in full or pro rata, may arise under policies where a participating insurer becomes insolvent. In the event that an insurer becomes insolvent or delays making a claims settlement we do not accept liability for any unpaid amounts.
8. Our Remuneration. We receive remuneration by way of a commission payment from the Insurer. Commission may be paid on individual policies and/or on a whole account basis. If we charge a fee agreed with you or a case handling administration fee we will specify the amount of that fee separately.
We may also make the following charges to cover the administration of your insurances:-
Arranging new policies £35, Mid-term adjustments £35, Mid- term cancellations £35, Renewals £35, Replacement/duplicate Certificates or cover notes £15. The specific charge and purpose of any additional charges will always be advised to you in advance. Return premiums (usually arising if an insurance risk is reduced or a policy cancelled). On a return premium, we repay commission on the amount to your insurer and this will be deducted from the final amount due to you.
In view of the costs involved, we will not issue any return premium that is less than £25 (after deducting reclaimed commission). An amount less than £25 will be held to your credit and can be utilised against any future insurance policy with us.
If a policy is cancelled, we will refund any return premium due (after deduction of the commission and our charge). Return premiums can only be allowed once the appropriate credit has been made to our account by the insurer, and their account reconciled.
9. Account Payment. We will be responsible for issuing invoices for all new and renewal premiums and mid-term alterations as soon as practicable after inception or renewal of your Policy. We will remit premiums to Insurers in accordance with the agreed Terms of Business. You will be responsible for paying promptly all our Invoices for premiums to enable us to make the necessary payments to Insurers. For the avoidance of doubt, we have no obligation to fund any premium on your behalf. We also have no responsibility for any loss that you may suffer as a result of Insurers cancelling the Policy or taking any other prejudicial steps as a result of the late payment of such sums if such delay is attributable to you. In certain circumstances, Insurers may impose a specific premium terms whereby they require payment of premium by a certain date. We must stress that breach of that term will entitle Insurers to void the Policy from inception of cover. You agree that the settlement of premiums in good time is your responsibility. We normally accept payment by cheque, debit card or credit card.
Payment terms are by return unless payment is via instalments direct to the insurer or an external finance arrangement. Any instalment deposit must be paid by return on receiving the instalment form from us. Any separate agreement to this will be confirmed in writing by us to you.
Where premiums are paid by instalments, we will be under no duty to monitor the payments. If cover is withdrawn because an instalment has not been paid, we do not accept any liability arising from this.
10. Non Account Payment. Whilst we will always endeavour to maintain policy cover for clients, we cannot guarantee cover. Payment period needs to be agreed with Marsh & Co and confirmed in writing by us to you.
11. Client Money. We are not authorised to hold client money.
12. Claims. If you have occasion to claim on your policy you must notify us immediately and we will promptly advise you and, if appropriate, issue you with a claim form and pass all details to your insurer. You should not admit liability nor agree to any course of action, other than emergency measures carried out to minimise the loss, until you have agreement from your insurer.
If you should transfer your insurances away from us to another Broker and/or Agent, we reserve the right to charge a case handling/administration fee for,
a) continuing to deal with your existing outstanding claims,
b) dealing with any new claims subsequently reported to us following such transfer.
Alternatively, you may transfer your claims handling to your new Broker/Agent. Upon written instruction, we shall pass on all relevant papers over to them.
13. Complaints. It is always our intention to provide a first class service. However, should you have any cause for complaint you should in the first instance contact our Chief Executive orally or in writing. Your complaint will be acknowledged within 5 business days advising you who is dealing with the complaint and indicating when you may expect an answer. We will provide a formal written response within 20 business days from receipt of the original complaint. If the complaint cannot be resolved within this timescale we will write with an explanation as to the progress and the likely timescale involved. You will be advised of any further redress available to you, should you believe the matter has not been resolved to your satisfaction.
If you wish to register a complaint please contact us:
In writing: Insurance ANSweR
Head Office
First Floor
320 Romford Road
Forest Gate
London
E7 8BD
By Telephone: (020) 8257 9918
A copy of the Complaints Procedure is available upon request.
Your insurer also operates a complaints procedure details of which are in you policy.
If you cannot settle your claim with us, you maybe entitled to refer to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
14. Compensation. We are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). You may be entitled to compensation from the FSCS if we cannot meet our obligations. This depends on the type of business and the circumstances of the claim.
Insurance advising and arranging is covered for 90% of the claim with no upper limit and for compulsory classes of insurance, insurance advising and arranging is covered for 100% of the claim without any upper limit.
Further information about compensation scheme arrangements is available from FSCS.
15. Documents. With your consent we reserve the right to retain certificates or other policy documents at this office until all payments due under the policy have been made or an agreed facility for payment of premiums by instalments has been entered into. By accepting this agreement, you agree that delivery of any certificates of insurance to us shall constitute delivery to yourself in accordance with statute law. Should we withhold any documents we will ensure you receive full details of your insurance cover.
16. Notice. Insurers pass information to the Claims and Underwriting Exchange run by Insurance Database Services Ltd and Motor Insurance Anti- Fraud and Theft Register run by the Association of British Insurers. The aim is to check information provided and also prevent fraudulent claims.
Motor insurance details are added to the Motor Insurance Database run by the Motor Insurers’ Information Centre which has been formed to help identify uninsured drivers and maybe searched by the Police to help confirm who is insured to drive. In the event of an accident the database may be used by insurers and the Motor Insurers Bureau to identify relevant policy information.
17. Quotations. Unless otherwise agreed any quotation given will remain valid for a period of fourteen (14) days from the date of issue of the quotation.
18. Note. Your acceptance of these Terms of Business does not affect your normal legal rights.
19. Governing Law.
This Terms of Business shall be governed by and construed in accordance with, the Laws of England and Wales and the parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales.
Introduction
We are a regulated independent intermediary and pride ourselves on providing a personal and professional service. We are confident that you will enjoy doing business with us. We provide insurance policies for many insurable risks and we would welcome the opportunity to provide free no obligation quotations for your insurance needs.
Accepting our Terms of Business
By asking us to quote for, arrange or handle your insurances, you are providing your informed agreement to these Terms of Business. We draw your particular attention to the section headed ‘Use of personal data, and specifically the paragraph explaining how “sensitive personal data” will be used.
If you are unsure about any aspect of our Terms of Business or have any questions regarding our relationship with you, please contact us at the above address.
Insurance ANSweR
Commercial Insurance Brokers
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO CLIENTS OF
Insurance ANSweR
EXPLAINING OUR TERMS OF BUSINESS
1. Regulation. Insurance ANSweR is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA is the independent watchdog that regulates Financial Services. It requires us to give you certain information to decide if our services are right for you. Our FCA Authorisation Number is 568076.
You can check this on the FCA’s register by visiting the FCA’s website at www.fsa.gov.uk/register or by contacting the FCA on 0800 111 6768.
Their Code of Practice and Rules regulates sales, advisory and service standards to ensure general insurance customers are treated fairly.
Our permitted business is advising on and arranging general insurance contracts.
2. Status. We offer a full range of insurance products and our services includes: advising you on your insurance needs; arranging your insurance cover with insurers to meet your requirements and helping you with any subsequent event or alteration to your insurance that we have placed on your behalf. We place insurance with a number of Insurers and we will advise you should you have any special arrangements with them or should you have to deal directly with the insurer for ongoing policy administration. We may issue policies and handle claims on behalf of some insurers. For certain types of insurance we represent only one Company and we will advise you should this be the case. We will also advise you should we place your insurance through any other intermediary regulated by FCA.
3. Confidentiality. Unless required by law, public interest, virtue of being members of FCA or you give your consent all information you supply will be kept confidential to us and parties involved in the normal course of arranging and administrating your insurance. Under the Data Protection Act 1998 you have the right to see personal information about you that we hold in our records. Should you have any queries please write to us.
4. Disclosure of Information. It is important that you understand that any information, statements or answers made by you to us or your insurer are your responsibility and must be correct. Your attention is particularly drawn to the importance of the declaration and signature on any Insurers’ Proposal Forms as any failure to disclose facts material to the insurance or any inaccuracies in your answers may invalidate your insurance cover in part or in whole. Facts material to the insurance are matters or information which may influence your Insurer as to the acceptability or otherwise of your Proposal or Renewal and must be disclosed at the earliest opportunity and certainly at each Renewal. You are advised to keep copies of documentation sent to or received from us for your own protection. Please do consult us if you are in doubt on any aspect.
5. Awareness of Policy Terms. We will issue Policy documentation in a timely manner. Your Policy documentation will confirm the basis of the cover, give details of the Insurers, and be accompanied by a cover/debit note. When a policy is issued you are strongly advised to read it carefully, as it is that document, the schedule and any certificate of insurance that is the basis of the insurance contract you have purchased. If you are in doubt over any of the policy terms or conditions, please seek our advice promptly.
Prior to the conclusion of the contract you will be given a Statement of Demands and Needs. You should read this carefully. It will set out your demands and needs and confirm whether the contract has been personally recommended and, if so, the reasons for making that recommendation.
You will be provided with renewal terms promptly in a durable medium before expiry of the Policy, or notified that renewal is not being invited. Attached to the renewal terms will be a Statement of any changes to the terms of the policy, and changes to directive – required information (information required under the EU Directives), statement of price and information about cancellation.
You will be given an explanation of any changes, where necessary and in good time, which may appear in your policy and you will be advised of your right to request a new policy statement.
Mid-term changes to your Policy will be provided in good time, prior to the change taking effect.
It is our policy to retain documents for business effected on your behalf in electronic or paper format for as long as it relevant for which they are made.
For some type of insurance cover it is possible that a claim may be made under a policy long after its expiry date and it is therefore important you keep such documents safely.
6. Cancellation Clause. Your insurance contract may include a cancellation clause. A cancellation clause is mandatory for all retail customers. In the event that you fail to pay your premium by the due date the insurance may be cancelled forthwith or by insurers, giving notice of the cancellation. In the event of cancellation of the insurance contract, Insurers may return a pro rata premium to us.
Once our remuneration has been earned, in the event that the insurance is cancelled after inception, our fees or brokerage will not usually be returnable.
7. Security. We will use reasonable
endeavours to monitor the financial strength and security of the insurers we recommend to you, however we do not guarantee the solvency of any insurer we place business with. A liability for the premium, whether in full or pro rata, may arise under policies where a participating insurer becomes insolvent. In the event that an insurer becomes insolvent or delays making a claims settlement we do not accept liability for any unpaid amounts.
8. Our Remuneration. We receive remuneration by way of a commission payment from the Insurer. Commission may be paid on individual policies and/or on a whole account basis. If we charge a fee agreed with you or a case handling administration fee we will specify the amount of that fee separately.
We may also make the following charges to cover the administration of your insurances:-
Arranging new policies £35, Mid-term adjustments £35, Mid- term cancellations £35, Renewals £35, Replacement/duplicate Certificates or cover notes £15. The specific charge and purpose of any additional charges will always be advised to you in advance. Return premiums (usually arising if an insurance risk is reduced or a policy cancelled). On a return premium, we repay commission on the amount to your insurer and this will be deducted from the final amount due to you.
In view of the costs involved, we will not issue any return premium that is less than £25 (after deducting reclaimed commission). An amount less than £25 will be held to your credit and can be utilised against any future insurance policy with us.
If a policy is cancelled, we will refund any return premium due (after deduction of the commission and our charge). Return premiums can only be allowed once the appropriate credit has been made to our account by the insurer, and their account reconciled.
9. Account Payment. We will be responsible for issuing invoices for all new and renewal premiums and mid-term alterations as soon as practicable after inception or renewal of your Policy. We will remit premiums to Insurers in accordance with the agreed Terms of Business. You will be responsible for paying promptly all our Invoices for premiums to enable us to make the necessary payments to Insurers. For the avoidance of doubt, we have no obligation to fund any premium on your behalf. We also have no responsibility for any loss that you may suffer as a result of Insurers cancelling the Policy or taking any other prejudicial steps as a result of the late payment of such sums if such delay is attributable to you. In certain circumstances, Insurers may impose a specific premium terms whereby they require payment of premium by a certain date. We must stress that breach of that term will entitle Insurers to void the Policy from inception of cover. You agree that the settlement of premiums in good time is your responsibility. We normally accept payment by cheque, debit card or credit card.
Payment terms are by return unless payment is via instalments direct to the insurer or an external finance arrangement. Any instalment deposit must be paid by return on receiving the instalment form from us. Any separate agreement to this will be confirmed in writing by us to you.
Where premiums are paid by instalments, we will be under no duty to monitor the payments. If cover is withdrawn because an instalment has not been paid, we do not accept any liability arising from this.
10. Non Account Payment. Whilst we will always endeavour to maintain policy cover for clients, we cannot guarantee cover. Payment period needs to be agreed with Marsh & Co and confirmed in writing by us to you.
11. Client Money. We are not authorised to hold client money.
12. Claims. If you have occasion to claim on your policy you must notify us immediately and we will promptly advise you and, if appropriate, issue you with a claim form and pass all details to your insurer. You should not admit liability nor agree to any course of action, other than emergency measures carried out to minimise the loss, until you have agreement from your insurer.
If you should transfer your insurances away from us to another Broker and/or Agent, we reserve the right to charge a case handling/administration fee for,
a) continuing to deal with your existing outstanding claims,
b) dealing with any new claims subsequently reported to us following such transfer.
Alternatively, you may transfer your claims handling to your new Broker/Agent. Upon written instruction, we shall pass on all relevant papers over to them.
13. Complaints. It is always our intention to provide a first class service. However, should you have any cause for complaint you should in the first instance contact our Chief Executive orally or in writing. Your complaint will be acknowledged within 5 business days advising you who is dealing with the complaint and indicating when you may expect an answer. We will provide a formal written response within 20 business days from receipt of the original complaint. If the complaint cannot be resolved within this timescale we will write with an explanation as to the progress and the likely timescale involved. You will be advised of any further redress available to you, should you believe the matter has not been resolved to your satisfaction.
If you wish to register a complaint please contact us:
In writing: Insurance ANSweR
Head Office
First Floor
320 Romford Road
Forest Gate
London
E7 8BD
By Telephone: (020) 8257 9918
A copy of the Complaints Procedure is available upon request.
Your insurer also operates a complaints procedure details of which are in you policy.
If you cannot settle your claim with us, you maybe entitled to refer to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
14. Compensation. We are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). You may be entitled to compensation from the FSCS if we cannot meet our obligations. This depends on the type of business and the circumstances of the claim.
Insurance advising and arranging is covered for 90% of the claim with no upper limit and for compulsory classes of insurance, insurance advising and arranging is covered for 100% of the claim without any upper limit.
Further information about compensation scheme arrangements is available from FSCS.
15. Documents. With your consent we reserve the right to retain certificates or other policy documents at this office until all payments due under the policy have been made or an agreed facility for payment of premiums by instalments has been entered into. By accepting this agreement, you agree that delivery of any certificates of insurance to us shall constitute delivery to yourself in accordance with statute law. Should we withhold any documents we will ensure you receive full details of your insurance cover.
16. Notice. Insurers pass information to the Claims and Underwriting Exchange run by Insurance Database Services Ltd and Motor Insurance Anti- Fraud and Theft Register run by the Association of British Insurers. The aim is to check information provided and also prevent fraudulent claims.
Motor insurance details are added to the Motor Insurance Database run by the Motor Insurers’ Information Centre which has been formed to help identify uninsured drivers and maybe searched by the Police to help confirm who is insured to drive. In the event of an accident the database may be used by insurers and the Motor Insurers Bureau to identify relevant policy information.
17. Quotations. Unless otherwise agreed any quotation given will remain valid for a period of fourteen (14) days from the date of issue of the quotation.
18. Note. Your acceptance of these Terms of Business does not affect your normal legal rights.
19. Governing Law.
This Terms of Business shall be governed by and construed in accordance with, the Laws of England and Wales and the parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales.