Terms of Use Agreement

Our Terms of Business and Code of Conduct

The following document forms the basis of our contract with you.  Please read this document carefully as it sets out the terms on which we agree to act for our clients and contains details of our regulatory and statutory responsibilities.

We have no financial interest in any insurance company or any other intermediary; neither does any insurance company nor any other intermediary have any financial interest in us.

How we Act for you

This product is designed to meet the insurance needs for companies operating in the ICT Sector in respect of your
            Professional Indemnity liability
            Office Insurance
            Employers and Public liability insurance

We have negotiated what we believe to be advantageous cover at competitive prices. However the site does not compare premiums or cover to other products in the market. Whilst we take care to ensure that this product continues to provide a competitive edge if you wish to compare this to others that are available in the market please contact us and we will undertake a market exercise for you.

Once you have taken out the cover renewal and servicing needs will be undertaken on line. However you will have access to our offices (Direct lines and Contact Names are given later) to discuss any servicing or claims issues you may have.

You must telephone us to discuss your requirements if you start up new activities beyond the scope of listed activities shown or if your fees exceed the limit for acceptance under this facility. When we discuss these issues with you we will Act in Your Best interests and recommend the alternative choices available to you.

Our Role

We are required to comply with FSA Regulations relevant to an insurance intermediary, these include the following:-

• We will conduct our business with integrity and treat our customers fairly.
• We will exercise due care, skill and diligence at all times.
• Our aim is to provide all documentation in an easily understood format which is clear, fair and not misleading in a timely manner.
• We will take reasonable steps to identify and control conflicts of interest between ourselves and our customers and other clients. 
• We keep all information you give us confidential and secure and where appropriate in accordance with data protection legislation including the Data Protection Act 1988. It will only be disclosed in the normal course of negotiating or maintaining insurance on your behalf, unless we are obliged to disclose it for regulatory or legal reasons.
• We will maintain records of the insurance contract(s) that we arrange on your behalf and our policy is to maintain placing and claims records in accordance with best practice within the insurance industry.
• We will automatically destroy records after these periods unless you advise otherwise. We are happy to provide this service free of charge for as long as we remain your Broker.
• We take care to ensure the security of records both current and on disposal.
• We have established systems and controls appropriate to our business which we take care to maintain and update.

 Utmost Good Faith and Duty of Disclosure

The law imposes onerous duties both on yourself when you enter into an insurance contract, as well as on anyone acting on your behalf.

• You have a duty to disclose all facts or circumstances that may influence the insurer in fixing the premium or determining whether to accept the risk.  Your duty is not only at the beginning of, or during the contract, but also at renewal or in the event of any material change in the risk, during the period of insurance.  This duty also applies when you submit and substantiate any claim.
• If you are in any doubt as to whether information is material, you should disclose it.  You must also answer a proposal form, claim form, or any other document relating to the insurance contract, fully and accurately.

Do keep copies of documentation sent to or received from us in safe keeping, for your own records and protection.

The Information You Should Expect

• Prior to taking out the Contract you will have downloaded and read our Terms of business and the Summary of Cover showing the scope and limitations of your policy. Prior to concluding the Contract it is important to telephone or email us if there is any aspect upon which you require clarification.
• When you make payment for the premium this will be transmitted direct to the Insurance Company’s Premium Account and you will receive the benefits of the cover with immediate effect (or such later date you may have requested).
• Once you have concluded the contract you will be able to download the policy document and we recommend that you keep this in hard copy too, for safekeeping. 
• During the period of the insurance contract we will handle all alterations you notify us of promptly and send you confirmation of all your instructions by email.
• The Insurance Company will notify you when your insurance cover is due to expire, in time for you to consider and arrange any continuing cover you may require.
• Where we are able to continue to fully match your cover requirements, we will promptly give you full, accurate details confirming that we can place the insurance at the quoted terms so that you can make an informed decision.  You will at that point be able to download a new Summary of Cover showing any changes.
• Where we are unable to fully match your requirements under the Scheme facility i.e. your activities or fee income are beyond the scope of acceptance, we will promptly inform you and offer an alternative solution. Where we are able to propose an alternative, we will explain any differences between your needs and the insurance proposed, fully and clearly.

Claims Procedure

• You must notify your insurance company immediately when an incident occurs which may give rise to a claim.
• Failure to do so may prejudice negotiations and entitle the insurer to deny liability for the claim.
• Details of the notification procedure can be found in the policy and On Line. Contact us if you need any assistance.

Our Service

• We will always endeavour to provide the highest standards of service but in the unlikely event that our service does not meet your expectations, please contact our Complaints Manager or Managing Director in writing at the address shown in the document Your Contacts at Astbury Wren or by telephone.  We will acknowledge your complaint within 24 hours if we are unable to resolve it within that time, and issue our complaints procedure.
• If we are unable to satisfy your complaint you may be entitled to refer to the Financial Ombudsman Service. If this is the case we will advise you when we write to you with our conclusions.
• We are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. You may be entitled to compensation if we are unable to meet our obligations. This depends on the type of business and circumstances of your claim. Insurance advising and arranging is covered for the first £2,000 and 90% of the remainder of the claim without any upper limit. Full details are available from the FSCS.

 Our Regulators

We are regulated by the Financial Services Authority and are authorised to advise our customers on general insurance arrangements and to administer and arrange policies on their behalf.
You may check our regulatory status by visiting the FSA website at http://www.fsa.gov.uk/register or by contacting them on 0845 606 1234.  Our FSA number is 311328.

By accepting these Terms of Business you are giving us your consent for us to operate this way.  These terms of business shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law.  In relation to any legal action or proceedings arising out of or in connection with these terms of business we both irrevocably to the non exclusive jurisdiction of the English Court.