These terms of business come into force on the date you receive it from us and will remain in force until you are provided with revised terms. Buddies acts as an agent for insurers in sourcing and placing pet insurance. We provide the arrangement and administration of cover from a single insurer, QBE Insurance (Europe) Limited for pet insurance contracts.
Buddies Enterprises Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Our FSA authorisation number is 514428. Our permitted business is arranging general insurance products. We hold money as agents of the insurer. You can check this information on the FSA register by visiting the FSA’s website www.fsa.gov.uk/register or by contacting the FSA on 0845 606 1234.
QBE Insurance (Europe) Limited, of Plantation Place, 30 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 3BD, Tel: 020 7105 4000, Fax: 020 7105 4019 - Registered in England No. 1761561 is authorised and regulated by the FSA. QBE’s authorisation number is 202842.
We take all complaints seriously. If you wish register a complaint, please contact the customer service department on 01536 744583 or write to: The Quality Manager, Buddies, Unit C, Oak House, 7 Medlicott Close, Oakley Hay, Corby, Northamptonshire NN18 9NF. Full details of our complaints procedure can be seen on our website www.buddies.co.uk
When we supply you with a quotation, we will confirm how long this will be valid for on the terms we have quoted, provide you with a written quotation including all the information you need to make an informed decision and give you a summary of the policy coverage.
In the normal course of our business, we receive income as commission paid to us by the insurance company with whom we place business. We reserve the right to make charges, details of which will be provided to you in writing before the conclusion of the contract.
These are funds we receive in the course of carrying on our insurance mediation service. We do this in accordance with rules set out by the Financial Services Authority. The insurer, QBE Insurance (Europe) Limited, has given us permission to act as its agent in collecting premiums and paying claims. All client money is segregated from our own money.
We are responsible for issuing all new and renewal premiums, as well as mid-term alterations. We do this as soon as practicable after the inception, or renewal, of the policy. Premiums are remitted to the insurer in accordance with the agreed terms of business. You are responsible for paying premiums promptly following a request for payment. We have no obligation to fund premiums on your behalf and are not responsible for any loss you may suffer as a result of the late payment of your of policy premium.
Your policy documentation will be issued in a timely manner and confirm the basis of cover, details of the insurer and clear instructions to follow in the event of a claim. Where practicable, we will write to you in no less than 21 days before the expiry of the policy with renewal terms, or advise you if renewal is not being offered. We will also notify you of any changes and may retain evidence of insurance and/or your insurance policy until any outstanding premiums and/or administrators charges are settled. You may also request a new policy document.
It is important that all the information you give us verbally or in writing, in proposing for, renewing, making changes to your insurance, or making a claim, is full and correct and that you tell us about all relevant changes such as address and pet details. Failure to do so could later invalidate your policy or claims made under it, or result in an increased premium or additional terms.
You have the right to cancel a general insurance contract within 14 days. In addition to premiums charged by insurers we make the following charges: duplicate documents: £9.00, all mid-term adjustments: nil, new business/renewals: £9.00.
Cancellation of the policy within the first 14 days of receipt of the policy documents:
A full refund of the premium and charges will be made if you decide to cancel the policy within the first 14 days of receipt of the policy documents.
Cancellation of the policy after the first 14 days of receipt of the policy documents:
Your policy is a contract for 12 months. If your insurance is cancelled for any reason after the first 14 days, only a pro rata refund of any premium paid (less the administrative charge/any charges paid) will be refunded to you. However, there will be no refund of premium if a claim has been made during the current year of insurance.
Each year, we will send you renewal terms. These may include renewing to a different insurer if the underwriter of pet insurance has changed for new policies during the course of the year. If you pay your premium by instalments, your policy will automatically renew on an annual basis for your convenience. This will be confirmed by us sending you your renewal documents detailing the premium payable and the terms and conditions applicable for the renewed policy. If you do not wish to renew your policy, you should return the schedule of insurance to Buddies Enterprises Limited and cancel your Direct Debit.
In order to prevent and detect fraud, Buddies Enterprises Limited may at any time:
- share information about you with other organisations and public bodies including the police.
- check and/or file your details with fraud prevention agencies and databases, and if you give us false or inaccurate information and we suspect fraud, we will record this.
Buddies Enterprises Limited and other organisations may also search these agencies and databases to:
- help make decisions about the provision and administration of insurance, credit and related services for you and members of your household.
- trace debtors or beneficiaries, recover debt, prevent fraud and to manage your accounts or insurance policies.
- check your identity to prevent money laundering, unless you furnish us with satisfactory proof of identity.
- undertake credit searches and additional fraud searches.
For the purposes of the Data Protection Act, Buddies Enterprises Limited is the data controller. We will hold and process your personal data for insurance administration, marketing and statistical analysis. For this purpose, the information may also be passed to selected third parties, insurers, and may be processed outside the EEA. You understand that all personal data you supply must be accurate. At the request of many of our customers and to make managing your insurance more convenient, it is our policy to deal with your spouse or partner who calls on your behalf, provided they are named on the policy. We will discuss your policy with your spouse or partner and make amendments but not cancellation. If you would like someone else to deal with your policy for you on a regular basis, please let us know. In some exceptional circumstances we may also deal with other people who call on your behalf. If at any time you would prefer to let us deal only with you, please let us know. We like to keep you up to date about our own products and services and those of companies which might be of interest to you. However, if you prefer not to be informed, please write to us at: Unit C, Oak House, 7 Medlicott Close, Oakley Hay, Corby, Northamptonshire NN18 9NF. Be sure to include your full name, address, date of birth and reference number.
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 claim settlement, we do not accept liability for unpaid amounts.
The 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.
If QBE Insurance (Europe) Limited, or Buddies Enterprises Limited, is unable to meet its obligations you might be entitled to compensation under the FSCS. Further information is available from the FSCS website at www.fscs.org.uk
A specimen policy is available on request.
You may terminate our authority to act on your behalf at any time without notice period or penalty. Notice of termination must be given in writing and will be without prejudice to the completion of any transactions already initiated. We may cancel our authority to act on your behalf at any time by sending 14 days notice to you at your last known address.
Any business currently in progress will be completed unless we receive your instructions to the contrary. Any fees outstanding at the date of termination will be due within four weeks of the termination date.
