Client Terms of Business
These terms supercede any previous versions. It is important you retain a copy with your insurance documentation.
Should you proceed with a quotation or renewal provided by us, acceptance of these terms and conditions is implied by you (irrespective of whether you have signed and returned a copy).
About Uttings Insurance Brokers and our Services
Localsprint Limited trading as Uttings Insurance Brokers is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority under number 311120.
This information can be checked on the FSA’s Register by visiting their website
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/register or by contacting them on 0845 606 1234.
We are an independent Insurance Broker arranging a wide range of general insurances and dealing with a wide range of Insurers. Occasionally we may act as the Agent for another intermediary, for instance when accessing the London Lloyd’s market.
Whilst we take every reasonable precaution and use our market experience and expertise to recommend the right product and Insurer to you, we cannot guarantee the solvency of any Insurer we place Business with.
Unless you request otherwise, we will automatically contact you in good time before renewal of your policy (provided it is a renewable contract) to discuss your needs.
We will arrange your General Insurances in line with the Conduct of Business rules set out by the FSA. This means when acting on your behalf we will:-
· Carefully establish your requirements prior to arranging any Insurances for you and issue you with a Demands and Needs Statement which reflects these.
· Carry out your instructions to place your Insurances.
· Provide a comprehensive claims service and provide you with on-going advice when you require it.
· Make any mid-term adjustments or other alterations to your Insurances as directed by you.
For the avoidance of any doubt, please put your instructions to us in writing. We will, of course, accept any verbal instructions, but ask that you follow these up in writing.
Holding your money
All premiums and other monies held on your behalf will be held in trust until such time as they are remitted by us to your Insurance Company/to you. Our Banker in all cases is Barclays Bank plc. Any interest earned on accounts is retained by us.
In the vast majority of cases, we act as Agent of the Insurer when collecting or refunding your premiums. This means that when you pay us, you are effectively paying the Insurer. Where we do not act as Agent of the Insurer, we will inform you.
We will keep your premium in a statutory trust account, pending passing your premium to the Insurance provider or refunding premiums to you. The aim of the trust account is to protect you in the event of the failure of the firm, or the failure of the Bank. In these events, the firms creditors would not be able to make claims on your money. We will not use one clients’ premiums to fund another clients premiums.
We have no responsibility to you for any loss you may suffer as a result of any Insurers cancelling your policy or taking any steps against you as a result of late payment.
Our remuneration and your charges
In most cases, we receive commission from the Insurance provider as a percentage of the premium. We may also receive additional overriding payments based on the profitability and growth of certain Insurers’ accounts as a whole.
Please note you are entitled, at any time, to request information regarding any commission which we may have received as a result of placing your business.
If we propose to operate on a fee basis or charge any additional charges, we will agree its basis, frequency and method with you in writing before we carry out any chargeable work.
In some cases, the commission we receive makes the business uneconomical to handle. We may therefore make an additional administration charge when the policy is taken out or renewed, or to cover re-issue of documents you have mislaid.
All fees will be clearly advised to you and set out in our invoice.
If any policy is cancelled for any reason other than expiry of the policy period you should be aware that Insurers may not make premium refunds. Where policy refunds are made we will be entitled to pay these to you, net of any commission and charges.
If any policy is cancelled due to non-payment, default by you or non-compliance with any policy terms, a time on risk charge may be made by your Insurer to which may be added a charge by us for our time in arranging your Insurances.
Payment of premiums
All payments, without exception, are due in their entirety prior to or on the date of policy inception. You accept in all cases that payment within this timescale is your responsibility.
Policies will not be renewed or incepted until such time as premiums are received by us, as cleared funds.
We can accept payment by cash, cheque or BACS payment or by monthly instalment via Insurer Schemes for which, in most cases, Insurers will usually charge instalment fees. Alternatively, we may arrange via a reputable credit provider, for payments to be collected via monthly Direct Debit. Arrangements may be made through us. We may receive remuneration from credit providers who pay us an Introducer’s Fee or Bonus based on the volume of Business we produce for them.
If we agree to allow payment by instalments direct to the Insurer or Finance Provider and you default, then this will be deemed to be an instruction from you to cancel the relevant cover.
You should be aware that if premiums are overdue or unpaid after inception date, that claims may be declined and/or your insurance may be inoperative.
Confidentiality of personal data
We are registered under the Data Protection Act 1988 and we undertake to comply with the Act in all our dealings with your personal data.
Your personal information will be kept secure. We may use information which we hold about you to provide information to you about our other products and services. If you do not wish to receive marketing material from us, please let us know.
In the interests of security and to improve our service, telephone calls may be recorded and/or monitored.
Conflict of interest
Occasions can arise where Uttings, clients or product providers will have a potential conflict of interest with business being transacted for you. If this happens and we become aware that a potential conflict exists, we will write to you and obtain your consent before we carry out your instructions, and detail the steps we will take to ensure fair treatment.
Your responsibility – disclosure of information (what you must tell us)
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 and checked by you for accuracy.
Your attention is particularly drawn to the importance of the declaration and signature on any Insurers’ Proposal Forms or Insurance Agreement 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, Renewal, Extension or Alteration 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.
If you are unsure whether a fact is material or not, it should be disclosed.
Proposal Form/Policy Documentation
We will usually ask for a Proposal Form to be completed and will always be happy to assist you with its completion. Occasionally we may complete the form on your behalf but it is always your responsibility to ensure its accuracy before you sign the form.
Policy cover may from time to time be subject to other factors such as a survey of any property being insured or Health and Safety/Security requirements imposed by Insurers. Additionally, if cover is subject to a confirmed claims experience or no claims bonus, it is your responsibility to provide it within the timescale given to you.
You are strongly recommended to read all policy documentation carefully – this includes the Policy Schedule and Certificate of Insurance which form the basis of any contract.
Termination
You may terminate our services at any time in writing as we may terminate our services to you, in writing.
Complaints
We will always strive to provide you with best levels of service but if for any reason you are dissatisfied, we operate a formal procedure a copy of which will be provided to you.
In the first instance you should write to:-
Mrs J D Edmunds
Uttings Insurance Brokers
16 The Fairland
Hingham
Norfolk NR9 4HN
Telephone Number: 01953 850459
E-mail: julie.edmunds@uttingsinsurance.co.uk
Governing Law
In respect of policies issued in England and Wales, these terms and conditions of trading will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales with the parties submitting to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales. In respect of policies issued in Scotland these terms and conditions of trading will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Scotland with the parties submitting to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of Scotland.
Compensation Scheme
We are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. You may be entitled to compensation from the scheme if we cannot meet our obligations. This depends upon the type of business and the circumstances of the claim. Insurance advising and arranging is covered for 100% of the first £2,000 and 90% of the remainder of the claim. For compulsory classes of insurance, advising and arranging is covered for 100% of the claim without any upper limit.