Breakdown cover terms & conditions
Who the insurance is provided by:
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, PO Box 589, Great West House (GW2), Great West Road, Brentford, TW8 1AH, United Kingdom.
Allianz Insurance plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Our authorisation can be confirmed by the FSA by calling 0845 606 1234 or at www.fsa.gov.uk. Our FSA registration number is 121849.
What to do if your product is broken or accidentally damaged:
1. Firstly check the plug, the fuse and the manufacturer’s instructions. Remember that if no fault is found you may be required to pay a call-out charge. If the fault still persists and your manufacturer’s guarantee has ended report the fault straight away to Allianz by calling 0844 3914007.
2. Providing you present your valid Confirmation of Cover to the repairer you will not normally be asked to pay for the repair. In some circumstances this may not be possible. In this case, settle the repair bill and obtain an invoice which must state:
- the date and cause of the breakdown
- the remedial work carried out
- parts replacement and cost
- the date of the repair
- the cost of labour
- the VAT amount
3. This should be sent to Allianz Schemes, Claims Department, 500 Avebury Boulevard, Milton Keynes, MK9 2XZ quoting your Confirmation of Cover Number for prompt reimbursement.
What to do if frozen food is spoilt:
1. As soon as the loss is discovered, make a list of the spoiled food showing per item:
a) type of food;
b) approximate weight;
c) price you paid.
2. Advise Allianz Schemes of the loss immediately by ringing 0844 391 4007 You will be asked for:
a) your name and address;
b) certificate number;
c) date the loss happened;
d) total value and weight of food being claimed;
e) make and model number of your product.
3. Send your list to Allianz Schemes, quoting the details in '2' above.
4. You will be advised within 2 days (usually immediately) if any inspection is necessary.
Your product is covered for:
A. Breakdown – Repair costs if the manufacturer’s warranty has expired and your product breaks down, up to the original price you paid for it. If the insurer declares the product impossible or uneconomical to repair, replacement Argos vouchers up to the original purchase price will be issued. Once replacement vouchers have been issued your policy will end.
B. Accidental Damage – Repair costs if your product is damaged as the result of an accident (other than cosmetic damage) up to the original price you paid for it. If the insurer declares the product impossible or uneconomical to repair, replacement Argos vouchers up to the original purchase price will be issued. Once replacement vouchers have been issued your policy will end.
C. Frozen Food loss – The purchase price you paid for frozen food contained within your freezer or fridge/freezer which is spoiled as a result of your product suffering a covered loss. This is limited to £300 for each claim and up to £600 in all for the term of the policy.
Your product is not covered for:
1. Breakdown or damage caused by:
a) use of the product by anyone other than you, your family or employees;
b) use of the product away from your domestic or business premises (other than in respect of cameras, camcorders, disc players, navigation aides, palm top computers and car audio systems);
c) use in a commercial environment, unless the product is a telephone or office equipment (fax, scanner, PDA, printer, monitor, MP3 player or CD writer etc);
d) not following the manufacturer’s instructions;
e) you deliberately damaging or neglecting the product;
f) accessories, peripherals, tapes, disks, software or programming;
g) any form of electronic virus;
h) incorrect or faulty installation;
i) radioactive contamination or the weather such as lightning, flood and high winds.
2. Repair costs for:
a) work which relates to a manufacturer’s recall of the product;
b) disposable/customer replaceable items such as batteries, styli, light bulbs (including rear projection television bulbs) or disposal bags;
c) cosmetic damage whether internal or external such as scratching, chipping, staining, rust or corrosion which does not prevent the product from working;
d) repairs, upgrades or alterations carried out by persons not authorised by us;
e) replacing software media including but not limited to CD-ROMs, computer tapes, lost or corrupted data;
f) routine service inspection, maintenance or cleaning;
g) any laptop that does not have the manufacturer’s security seal in place;
3. Repairs to LCD/Plasma televisions due to or arising from:
a. unusual physical or electrical stress, burned screen or software interface problems;
b. faulty installation;
c. pixel failure where the location or number does not exceed the manufacturer’s acceptable limit;
d. any damage caused during delivery or installation.
4. Call out charges where a fault cannot be found with the product.
5. Any costs covered under the manufacturer’s warranty.
6. Any costs suffered as a result of not being able to use the product or any costs other than the repair or replacement cost of the product.
7. Any cost or damage caused by 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.
Other Conditions
1. Unless we agree otherwise:
a) the language of the policy and all communications relating to it will be English; and
b) all aspects of the policy, including negotiation and performance, are subject to English law and the decisions of English courts.
2. You cannot transfer the insurance to someone else without our permission.
3. The purchase of this cover is limited to customers who are 18 years of age and over.
4. If the settlement is made because the product is considered uneconomical or not possible to repair, then:
a) Allianz Schemes may take the product from you, if we do not take the product you become responsible for its safe disposal; and
b) the cover will end and the Confirmation of Cover should be returned to Allianz Schemes.
5. You must take all reasonable precautions to prevent any loss or damage.
6. Due to technological advances in the computer industry, some types of repair or replacement may involve changes to the cosmetic appearance and size and we are not liable for any consequent reduction in market value.
Further relevant information
Renewal Information
If you buy the 5 year cover your insurance will end after 5 years and we will not renew the policy.
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 of satisfactory quality. After 6 months from the date of purchase the consumer needs to prove that the item had a fault when it was sold.
Fraud Statement
If the insured or anyone acting on behalf of the insured makes any false or fraudulent claim or supports a claim by false or fraudulent document, device or statement, this policy shall be void and the insured 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 claim 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.
Cancellation Rights
If you purchase the insurance and change your mind, you can cancel the insurance within 45 days by returning to 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. This 45 day period includes the 14 day statutory cancellation period. If you do not cancel within this period, the policy may run for its full term.
If you wish to cancel after 45 days you can do so and obtain a pro rata refund for the remaining period left on your policy. This pro rata refund can be obtained by contacting Allianz Insurance plc in writing at: Pro Rata Refund Request, Customer Services Manager, Allianz Schemes, PO Box 589, Great West House (GW2), Great West Road, Brentford, TW8 1AH.
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. You may call us on 0844 391 4007 to discuss these procedures.
Financial Protection Statement
If Allianz is unable to meet its liabilities you may be entitled to compensation under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Further information about compensation scheme arrangements is available at www.fscs.org.uk (This is a separate website and will open in a new window), by emailing enquiries@fscs.org.uk or by phoning the FSCS on 0207 892 7300
Data Protection
Allianz Insurance plc
The details you supply will be stored and used by Allianz Insurance plc to administer your insurance cover. Your personal details may be transferred outside of the EU. They will at all times be held securely and handled with the utmost care in accordance with all principles of the English law.
We may exchange your details with other insurers through various databases to help us check information provided and also to prevent fraudulent claims. Your 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 our privacy policy. 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
If your complaint is about the insurance:
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, PO Box 589, Great West House (GW2), Great West Road, Brentford, TW8 1AH, United Kingdom.
Telephone: 01483 260758
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.
Copies of this document are available in Braille, audio cassette or large print on request.