Jewellery insurance terms & conditions

INTRODUCTION

This is the policy document for your Argos Jewellery Insurance. It contains all the terms and conditions of your policy. you will need this document if you need to make a claim.

This insurance policy is only valid if the insured item has been purchased from an Argos store in the United Kingdom.

Copies of this document are available in Braille, large print or audio cassette on request.

We will not offer a renewal of this policy when it expires.

DEFINITIONS

The words and phrases defined below have the same meaning wherever they appear in bold in this policy document.

Mechanical or electrical breakdown - the sudden and unforeseen failure of an insured item arising from any permanent mechanical or electrical defect causing sudden stoppage of its functions, necessitating immediate repair or replacement before normal operation can be resumed excluding normal deterioration or wear and tear where such items have reached the end of their working life because of age or usage.

Insured item – the item you have purchased from Argos as shown on the till receipt and for which this cover is offered.

Period of cover – subject to the receipt of your premium, this insurance is in force from the purchase date shown on the till receipt and lasts 24 calendar months from that date unless cover ends as stated in the “When Cover Ends” section.

Standard Perils - storm, flood, earthquake, fire, lightning, explosion, smoke, malicious act, impact

United Kingdom – means England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

We, us, our – Allianz Insurance plc.

You, your – the person that has purchased the insured item or the person who has been given the insured item as a gift by the person who bought both the insured item and this insurance at the same time.

WHAT we WILL PAY

Your insured item is covered for:

All the paragraphs below in the remainder of this section apply to all the Sections (A, B & C) above:-
If it is not possible or economical to repair the insured item , at our discretion, it will be replaced or you will receive Argos vouchers for a replacement. You may use the Argos vouchers as part payment towards the purchase of goods with a higher selling price.

If the insured item is replaced, it will either be replaced with an identical item or with one of comparable specification at our discretion.

The most we will pay for any single claim is the purchase price of the insured item as stated on the till receipt (excluding any insurance premium or credit, delivery or other charges).

Please note that once your insured item is repaired or replaced all cover under this policy will cease.

WHAT we WILL NOT PAY

You cannot make any claim for:
1) Theft:
a) from any convertible or soft topped vehicle;
b) from any unoccupied motor vehicle unless the insured item has been concealed in a glove compartment (or other concealed internal compartment) or locked boot and the vehicle is locked and all the vehicle's security systems have been activated;
c) from any building, land or premises unless
i) force, resulting in damage to the building or premises, was used to gain entry or exit; or
ii) the insured item was stored in a fixed, locked receptacle and force resulting in entry to that receptacle was used;
d) from your control, except where it is being worn or has been concealed on or about the person and where the use of physical force or violence against you has been used or threatened.
2) Breakdown or damage caused by:
a) deliberate damage, misuse or neglect of the insured item;
b) not following the manufacturer's instructions or overwinding;
c) routine servicing, inspection, maintenance, repair, cleaning, alteration or restoration;
d) atmospheric or climatic conditions;
e) mildew, fungus or oxidation;
f) use not intended by the manufacturer;
g) water or any other liquid where the insured item has not been adequately resealed to maintain the manufacturer's original specification following battery replacement, servicing or repair (other than by the authorised repairer for Argos under this policy).
3) Repair or other costs for:
a) routine servicing, inspection, maintenance, cleaning, alteration or restoration;
b) replacement of, or adjustment to, straps, fittings or batteries;
c) repairs carried out by persons not authorised by us ;
d) scratching;
e) wear and tear or gradual deterioration.
4) Any expense incurred as a result of not being able to use the insured item, or any expense other than the repair or replacement cost of the insured item.
5) Any repair or other costs due to or arising from any manufacturer's defect or fault for which the insured item has been recalled by the manufacturer.
6) Any costs covered by a manufacturer's guarantee or warranty.
7) Any reduction in the market value of the insured item, beyond the cost of repair or replacement.
8) Unexplained disappearance or if the insured item (or parts of the insured item) is lost.
9) Any claim where the insured item is held or used for any business, trade or commercial purposes.
10) Damage at, or theft from, your premises where they have been left unoccupied for a period of more than 45 consecutive days.
11) The cost of replacing any undamaged item of a pair or of a set or other item of a uniform nature, colour or design, where matching replacements cannot be obtained.
12) Any claim due to or arising from the failure of any electrical or computer equipment, software, micro-controller, microchip, accessories or associated equipment, to correctly recognise and process any calendar date or time.
13) War, invasion, act of foreign enemy, hostilities (whether war be declared or not), civil war, rebellion, revolution, insurrection or military or usurped power.
14) Confiscation or detention

ARE THERE ANY OTHER CONDITIONS OR LIMITATIONS?

1) You must report any theft to the police and obtain a crime reference number and station details. You should report the theft to the police within 24 hours of the discovery.
2) You must allow any damaged or broken insured item to be inspected by our authorised repairer. If you do not, we will not consider or pay your claim.
3) This policy is not valid if
a) anybody other than the manufacturer's or Argos' authorised agent repairs the insured item for any reason; or
b) if genuine factory parts are not used in servicing.
4) Unless we agree otherwise:
a) the language of the policy and all communications relating to it will be in English; and
b) all aspects of the policy, including negotiation and performance, are subject to English law and the decisions of the English courts.
5) Cover includes use of the insured item anywhere in the world, however you must follow the Claims Procedure below.
6) If at the time of claim, the insured item is covered under any other insurance, we may only pay our share of that claim.
7) This insurance may only be altered, varied or its conditions relaxed or premium changed by one of our authorised officials, giving you 30 days notice in writing.
8) We may cancel the policy by giving you 30 days notice in writing.
9) If we replace the insured item then
a) we may take the insured item from you and dispose of it
b) this insurance will cease without return of premium and the policy document should be returned to us for cancellation.
10) You must take all reasonable precautions to prevent any theft, damage or breakdown.

WHEN COVER ENDS

This policy will end automatically on whichever of the following happens first:

• The date we send you Argos vouchers towards a replacement; or
• The date you cease to own the insured item; or
• The date your cover is cancelled by you or us ; or
• The date your insured item is repaired; or
• 24 months from the date you purchased the insured item as shown on your till receipt

CLAIMS PROCEDURE

Breakdown and Damage – Items purchased for less than £50.00

1) In the event of a breakdown, check that it is not a simple problem such as the battery needs replacing.
2) If your insured item still fails to work or is damaged, please fill out the attached claim form and take it together with this leaflet, your till receipt and the insured item to your local Argos branch.
3) Subject to the terms and conditions of this insurance, your insured item will be replaced or you will be provided with Argos vouchers (at the discretion of the Argos manager).
4) Should you choose a more expensive product as a replacement, you will be required to pay the difference.

Breakdown and Damage – Items purchased for more than £50.00

1) In the event of a breakdown, check that it is not a simple problem such as the battery needs replacing.
2) If your insured item still fails to work or is damaged, please fill out the attached claim form and take it together with this leaflet, your till receipt and the insured item to your local Argos branch.
3) Argos will then arrange for the insured item to be sent to their authorised repair agents.
4) Dependent upon the extent of the damage, the insured item will be repaired and returned to the Argos branch, whereupon you will be notified that it can be picked up. If the repair work is deemed uneconomical, at our discretion the insured item will be replaced or you will be provided with Argos vouchers.

Theft

1) If your insured item is stolen you must report the theft to the police and obtain a crime reference number and station details. you should report the theft within 24 hours of discovery.
2) Call Allianz on the claims hotline, 0870 264 66 97 who will supply you with a claim form.
3) Please fill out the claim form and send this to:
Allianz Schemes, Allianz House, 6 Vale Avenue, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1EH quoting the claim reference number.
4) If the claim is valid, we will send you Argos vouchers for you to purchase a replacement. Should you choose a more expensive product as a replacement, you will be required to pay the difference.

FRAUD

If you or anyone acting on your behalf makes any false or fraudulent claim or supports a claim by false or fraudulent document, device or statement, this policy shall be void and you will forfeit all rights under the policy. In such circumstances, we retain the right to keep the premium and to recover any sums paid by way of benefit under the policy.

If we receive a claim under your policy we may ask you or any person covered under the policy to give written consent, during the claims process, for us to obtain specified information and material from the police and to exchange information and material with them. The purpose of these measures is to help us verify claims and to guard against fraud. If you or a covered person gives such consent you or the covered person will be given the opportunity to receive a copy of the information and material the police release to us. Should you or any covered person decline to give such consent we may in turn decline to settle the claim without the required information and material. we will not normally release information or material about a covered person to you without their consent.

FURTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

Consumer Rights
Consumers have certain rights under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 including the right to claim for repair or replacement of an item for up to 6 years (5 years in Scotland) if when it was sold it was not fit for purpose. After 6 months from the date of purchase the consumer needs to prove that the item had a fault when it was sold.

Purchase Rights
All prices displayed in this leaflet are applicable from 28th July 2008. To find the insurance price, please refer to the pricing table. your insurance price is determined by the type of item you have bought, its manufacturer's guarantee length and the price of the item as shown on your till receipt. If you decide not to purchase this insurance today you have up to 45 days in which to purchase, simply return to the store with your receipt and this leaflet. In order to take out cover the item must still be in working order and undamaged.

Please note that product insurances may be available from other providers and household insurance may be relevant for some items.

Cancellation Rights
If you purchase the insurance and change your mind, you can cancel the insurance within 45 days by returning to any Argos store with your policy document and receipt and provided you have not made a claim you will be entitled to a full refund. The refund will be given in the funds you originally tendered. If you do not cancel within the 45 day period the premium becomes due, and the policy may run for its full term. This 45 day period includes the 14 day period required under statutory regulation.

If you wish to cancel after 45 days you can do so and obtain a pro rata refund for the remaining period left of your policy. This pro rata refund can be obtained by contacting Allianz by telephone on 0870 608 7201, or in writing to:

Pro Rata Refund Request,
Customer Services Manager,
Allianz Schemes,
Allianz House,
6 Vale Avenue,
Tunbridge Wells,
Kent, TN1 1EH.

You will be required to provide your insurance receipt and policy document to obtain your pro rata refund.
If your product is replaced under the insurance your policy ends and you will not be entitled to a pro rata refund.

Financial Protection Statement

You may be entitled to compensation from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), if they cannot meet their liabilities under this policy. The level of compensation provided by the FSCS is that the first £2,000 of a claim or policy is protected in full, above this threshold, 90% of the rest of the claim or value of unused premiums will be met. Further information is available from the FSCS on 0207 892 7300 or at enquiries@fscs.org.uk

DATA PROTECTION

Allianz Insurance plc. The details you supply will be stored by Allianz Insurance plc and it's wholly owned administrator company Allianz Schemes, to administer your insurance cover. These details will not be kept for longer than necessary.

Argos Limited. Argos Limited (“Argos”) is a member of the Home Retail Group (“the Group”). For more details about the Group and how it may use your personal information, please refer to the Argos Catalogue or see the Argos website at www.argos.co.uk. Argos will use your personal information to process your order, to fulfil your insurance agreement and for other purposes as set out in the Catalogue. Argos will also give information about you to other members of the Group and to third parties for the same purposes or for marketing purposes and Argos or they may contact you by mail, telephone, e-mail or otherwise. When you provide Argos with your information, you will be given the opportunity to say if you do not wish it to be used or shared for marketing purposes.

Complaints Procedure

Our aim is to get it right, first time, every time. If we make a mistake we will try to put it right promptly. we will always confirm to you the receipt of your complaint within five working days and do our best to resolve the problem within four weeks. If we cannot we will let you know when an answer may be expected. If we have not sorted out the situation within eight weeks we will provide you with information about the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Please contact us at:

Customer Satisfaction Manager,
Allianz Schemes,
Allianz House,
6 Vale Avenue,
Tunbridge Wells,
Kent, TN1 1EH,
United Kingdom

Telephone: 01892 703416
Fax: 01892 517994
Email: schemescsm@allianz.co.uk

Using our complaints procedure or referral to the Financial Ombudsman Service does not affect your legal rights.

Notice to Customers

You are advised that any telephone calls made to our Administration and Claims Handling Unit may be recorded. These recordings are used to monitor the accuracy of information provided by customers and our own staff. They may be used to allow additional training to be provided to our staff or to prove that our procedures comply with legal requirements. Our staff are aware that conversations are recorded.

Underwriter

This insurance is underwritten by Allianz Insurance plc: Registered in England No. 84638. Registered Office: 57 Ladymead, Guildford, Surrey GU1 1DB United Kingdom
Administered by Allianz Schemes, Allianz House, 6 Vale Avenue, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1EH United Kingdom
Allianz Insurance plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Their authorisation can be confirmed by the FSA by calling 0845 606 1234 or at www.fsa.gov.uk. Their FSA registration number is 121849.

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