Argos Coversafe
Protect your Argos Card and save yourself the worry
Table 3: Disability Cover (accident only)
Argos Coversafe
Features and Benefits
Summary of Cover
This policy summary does not contain the full terms and
conditions of the contract. Full terms and conditions can be
found in the policy document.
Who is the insurer and administrator?
Pinnacle Insurance plc is the underwriter and claims
administration provider of the policy. Cardif Pinnacle is a
trading style of Pinnacle Insurance plc. Pinnacle Insurance plc
is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
Home Retail Group Insurance Services Ltd (HIS) is the
administration provider for policy queries, amendments
and cancellations;
• you must be at least 18 and less than 70 years of age;
• you must live and have the right to reside permanently in the
United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man; and
• you must agree to pay the monthly premium and keep to
the terms and conditions of this policy.
You must continue to meet the conditions above to remain
eligible for cover. If your circumstances change or you no
longer meet the conditions above you should contact Argos
straight away to discuss your options.
What are the main features, benefits, exclusions and
limitations of Argos Coversafe?
What is Argos Coversafe?
Argos Coversafe provides benefits for your Argos store card in the
event of your death, accidental injury, disability, hospitalisation
and critical illness. It also offers purchase protection insurance
where you have chosen this cover as an option.
The following tables summarise the different
levels of cover provided under this policy,
for full details please refer to the relevant
sections of the policy document.
Eligibility
To become insured under this policy, you must meet all the
following conditions at the start date:
• you must be the first named on your agreement;
If during the period of insurance you are
disabled for 14 continuous consecutive days or
more, you will be entitled to an amount equal to
the monthly benefit.
Thereafter, you will be entitled to a monthly
benefit for each continuous consecutive period
of 30 days you remain disabled.
Significant Exclusions or Limitations
The maximum monthly benefit is £1,000, regardless of the
number of policies you have with us.
The maximum number of monthly benefit payments for any
one claim is 7.
Benefits will not be payable if your claim results from:
• a self-inflicted injury;
• drug or alcohol abuse; or
• cosmetic surgery.
Benefit will not be payable if you are currently receiving
benefits under the hospitalisation cover.
Policy
Reference
Sections
6 and 7
Table 4: Hospitalisation Cover
Features and Benefits
• If during a period of insurance, you are
continuously hospitalised for at least 7
consecutive days, we will pay Argos an
amount equal to the monthly benefit.
• If during a period of insurance, you are
continuously hospitalised for 14 consecutive
days or more, we will pay Argos for the credit
of the account, a sum equal to the balance
outstanding or your authorised credit limit
(whichever is lower), at the date of your
hospitalisation.
Significant Exclusions or Limitations
Policy
Reference
The maximum benefit per month is £1,000.
The maximum amount payable is £15,000, regardless of the
number of policies you may have with us.
Benefits will not be payable if your claim results from:
• a self-inflicted injury;
• drug or alcohol abuse; or
• cosmetic surgery.
Benefit will not be payable if you are currently receiving
benefits under the disability cover.
Sections
8 and 9
Table 5: Critical Illness Cover - only applicable if you are less than 65 years of age
Table 1: Life Cover
Features and Benefits
Significant Exclusions or Limitations
In the event of your death during the period
of Insurance, we will pay Argos for the credit
of the account, a sum equal to the balance
outstanding at the date of your death.
The maximum benefit is £15,000, regardless of the number
of policies you may have with us.
Benefits will not be payable if your claim results from:
• a self-inflicted injury; or
• drug or alcohol abuse.
Policy
Reference
Sections
2 and 3
Features and Benefits
Significant Exclusions or Limitations
Policy
Reference
If you suffer a critical illness (from which you
survive for a period of 28 days or more from
the date of diagnosis) during a period of
insurance, we will pay to Argos for the credit
of the agreement a sum equal to the balance
outstanding.
The maximum benefit payable is £15,000, regardless of the
number of policies you may have with us.
Benefits will not be payable if your claim results from:
• a self-inflicted injury; or
• drug or alcohol abuse.
Sections
10 and 11
Table 6: Purchase Protection Cover - only applicable if you are less than 70 years of age and you have chosen to
include purchase protection as part of your policy and will be stated on your demands and needs letter
Table 2: Accidental Injury Cover
Features and Benefits
We will, in the event of your accidental injury
during a period of insurance, subject to the
other provisions of this policy, pay Argos for the
credit of the account, a sum equal to the balance
outstanding at the date of your accidental injury.
2
Significant Exclusions or Limitations
The maximum benefit is £15,000, regardless of the number
of policies you may have with us.
Benefits will not be payable if your claim results from:
• a self-inflicted injury;
• drug or alcohol abuse; or
• cosmetic surgery.
Policy
Reference
Sections
4 and 5
Features and Benefits
We will cover you against loss, theft or damage
for insured articles purchased by you, using your
store card within 365 days from the date of
purchase during the period of insurance or the
date of delivery, whichever is the later.
Significant Exclusions or Limitations
The maximum amount in respect of a single article is £1,500,
£15,000, for each event and £50,000, in total per annum.
The following are some of the exclusions:
• loss or damage due to intentional acts by you;
• fraud, abuse, neglect or failure to follow the manufacturer’s
instructions;
• theft from an unattended motor vehicle except where all
reasonable care has been taken to conceal the item; and
• unexplained loss of an insured article.
Policy
Reference
Sections
12 and 13
3
Table 7: General Information - Applicable to all Cover
Policy
Reference
Contact Details
For general enquiries: Argos Card Services Limited, Thynne Street, Bolton BL11 1AS
Tel: 0845 640 0700
For policy complaint:
The Customer Care Team, Argos Card Services Limited,
Thynne Street, Bolton BL11 1AS
Tel: 0845 640 0700
You may contact Argos using TypeTalk on telephone number 18001 0844 892 0195.
Telephone calls may be monitored or recorded to assist with staff training and for
quality control.
We will review your premium rate at least annually and you will be given at least 60 days’ written notice of
any alteration to the premium rates under this policy unless the change is due to legislative, tax or regulatory
requirements.
Page 1 of your
policy document
For claims enquiries:
Claims Department, Cardif Pinnacle
Pinnacle House, A1 Barnet Way, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire WD6 2XX
Tel: 0844 801 2174 (lines are open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6pm)
You can also download a claim form and track your claim online at:
www.support.cardifpinnacle.com
For claims complaint:
Claims Department, Cardif Pinnacle, Pinnacle House, A1 Barnet Way,
Borehamwood, Hertfordshire WD6 2XX
Tel: 0844 801 2174 (lines are open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6pm)
Section 17
Our right to cancel
Section 18
Providing you pay your premium when due, this policy will continue until the date you no longer have an
agreement, you reach 70 years of age except for critical illness which ends when you reach 65 years of age, you Section 24 definition
of
die, you or we cancel the policy, the critical illness benefit is paid or you fail to pay the monthly premium when
“end date”
due, whichever happens first.
You should review your circumstances regularly and consider whether this policy still meets your lifestyle needs.
Claims
4
Terms and conditions
We may vary or waive the terms and conditions of this policy. This may be to:
• vary the cover provided under this policy because of changes to our expected future costs. We will only change
your terms and conditions for this reason where there is a change to the specific factors we have set out in Section
22 of your policy, and that change results in our expected future costs being higher or lower than assumed when
the premium was set.
This may include changes to our expected future claims costs due to changes in economic conditions such as
unemployment rates;
• improve your cover;
• comply with any applicable laws or regulations;
• reflect any changes to taxation; or
• correct any typographical or formatting errors that may occur.
Sections 14,
15 and 16
Section 20
You will be given at least 60 days’ written notice of any alteration (including detailed advice about what has changed
and how it may impact you) to the terms and conditions of cover under this policy unless the change is due to
legislative, tax or regulatory requirements.
Except where the terms and conditions of cover under this policy are changed due to legislative, tax or regulatory
changes, the minimum period between consecutive changes will be 180 days.
Such changes may have the effect of increasing or reducing the cover previously provided under this policy. If you do not
wish to continue your cover you can cancel your policy with immediate effect by either telephoning or writing to Argos.
Compensation
We are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). If we are unable to meet our liabilities to you,
you may be entitled to compensation from the FSCS. Further information is available from their website: www.fscs.org.uk
Duration of Cover
To make sure you receive your benefits as quickly as possible you must notify us about your claim as soon as
you can. You should contact us using the contact details above to request a claim form.
For accidental injury and disability, you can also download a claim form and track your claim online at:
www.support.cardifpinnacle.com
We may review your premium rate more frequently than annually if it becomes necessary due to significant
changes in any of the specific factors referred to in Section 19 Except where your premium rate is changed due to
legislative, tax or regulatory requirements, the minimum period between consecutive changes will be 180 days.
If a review results in an increase to your premium rate and you do not wish to pay the increase you can cancel
your policy with immediate effect by either telephoning or writing to Argos.
If you cancel within 30 days of the start of this policy or the date you receive your policy documents, the cooling
off period, we will make a full refund of any premium you have paid, providing you do not make a claim. If you
do make a claim no refund will be payable.
We may cancel your insurance cover immediately where there is evidence of dishonest or exaggerated behaviour
or where you have misrepresented or failed to disclose something at the time of application which would have
caused us to decline you for cover.
We may cancel your insurance cover by giving not less than 90 days’ written notice. We will only do this in the
circumstances set out in Section 18 of your policy document.
Section 19
As a result of the premium rate review, your monthly premium may go up, stay the same or go down, and there
is no limit to the amount of any change.
Your right to cancel
If you cancel outside the initial 30 day “cooling off period”, no refund of premium will be payable.
To cancel, please contact:
Argos Card Services Limited
Thynne Street, Bolton BL11 1AS
Tel: 0845 640 0700
Premiums
The premium rate applicable to your cover may change during the time you have this policy. This may be
because of changes to our expected future costs. We will only change your premium rate for this reason where
there is a change to the specific factors we have set out in this policy, and that change results in our expected
future costs being higher or lower than assumed when the premium rate was set. This may include changes to
our expected future claims costs due to changes in economic conditions such as unemployment rates.
Complaints
For complaints regarding general administration of your policy:
The Customer Care Team
Argos Card Services Limited, Thynne Street, Bolton BL11 1AS
Tel: 0845 640 0700
For complaints regarding claims administration of your policy:
Customer Relations Manager, Cardif Pinnacle
Pinnacle House, A1 Barnet Way, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire WD6 2XX
Telephone: 0844 801 2174
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of any internal enquiries, you can ask the Financial Ombudsman
Service (FOS) to consider your complaint.
Section 22
Section 23
5
Argos Coversafe
1. Eligibility
(iv) We will continue to pay the monthly benefit until:
To become insured under this policy, you must meet all the following
conditions at the start date:
(b) we have paid 7 monthly benefit payments;
10. Critical illness benefits
Underwritten by Pinnacle Insurance plc
(i) you must be the first named on your agreement;
(c) you fail to provide evidence of your disability; or
(This benefit is only available if you are less than 65 years of age.)
Head and Registered Office:
Pinnacle House
A1 Barnet Way
Borehamwood
Hertfordshire WD6 2XX
United Kingdom
(ii) you must be at least 18 and less than 70 years of age;
(d) the end date;
(iii) live in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
You will also be eligible for continued cover
whichever happens first.
Your Policy Document
Company Registered No. 1007798
Group Policy No. 02501
Date of Policy: 01/05/2012
This policy provides protection insurance for your Argos store card in the
event of your death, accidental injury, disability, hospitalisation and
critical illness, and where you have chosen purchase protection insurance,
we agree to provide benefit in the event of the direct physical loss or damage
to insured articles, providing you meet the eligibility criteria set out in
Section 1 and have paid the monthly premium when due.
This policy provides you with everything you need to know about your cover
and contains all terms and conditions of your cover including the exclusions
and limitations. Please make sure that you:
(iv) you must agree to pay the monthly premium and keep to the terms
and conditions of this policy.
You must continue to meet the conditions above to remain eligible for
the levels of cover that apply to you. If your circumstances change or
you no longer meet the conditions above you should contact Argos
straight away to discuss your options.
2. Life benefits
We will, in the event of your death during a period of insurance, subject
to the other provisions of this policy, pay Argos for the credit of the
account, a sum equal to the balance outstanding at the date of your
death, up to a maximum of £15,000 regardless of the number of policies
you may have with us.
•
are eligible for the insurance cover;
3. Life exclusions
•
know what this insurance does and does not cover;
No life benefit will be payable if your death results from or as a consequence
of the following:
•understand how changes in your employment may affect your eligibility to claim; and
•
understand the terms and conditions for making a claim.
This policy uses words and phrases that have specific meanings. You will
find these explained in Section 24 “Definitions”. Defined words are shown in
“bold” wherever they appear.
Contact details
For general enquiries:
Argos Card Services Limited
Thynne Street, Bolton BL11 1AS
Tel: 0845 640 0700
For policy complaints:
The Customer Care Team,
Argos Card Services Limited
Thynne Street, Bolton BL11 1AS
Tel: 0844 201 2174
You may contact Argos using TypeTalk on telephone number 18001 0844
892 0195. Telephone calls may be monitored or recorded to assist with staff
training and for quality control.
For claims enquiries:
Claims Department, Cardif Pinnacle
Pinnacle House, A1 Barnet Way, Borehamwood,
Hertfordshire WD6 2XX
Tel: 0844 201 2174
(lines are open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6pm)
You can also download a claim form and track your claim online at:
www.support.cardifpinnacle.com
For claims complaints:
Claims Department, Cardif Pinnacle
Pinnacle House, A1 Barnet Way, Borehamwood,
Hertfordshire WD6 2XX
Tel: 0844 201 2174
(lines are open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6pm)
(i)
a self-inflicted injury; and
(ii)being under the influence of, or being affected by, alcohol or drugs
unless prescribed by a doctor (other than prescribed for the treatment
of drug addiction or alcohol dependency).
4. Accidental injury benefits
We will, in the event of your accidental injury during a period of
insurance, subject to the other provisions of this policy, pay Argos for the
credit of the account, a sum equal to the balance outstanding at the date
of your accidental injury, up to a maximum of £15,000 regardless of the
number of policies you may have with us.
5. Accidental injury exclusions
No accidental injury benefit will be payable if your accidental injury
results from or as a consequence of the following:
(i)
a self-inflicted injury; and
(ii) being under the influence of, or being affected by, alcohol or drugs unless prescribed by a doctor (other than prescribed for the treatment of drug addiction or alcohol dependency).
(v) P regnancy and childbirth - we will pay benefit for any disability
resulting from any symptom(s) of, or complication(s) of pregnancy and
childbirth which a doctor, and which is not excluded under any other
exclusions listed in this policy. However no benefit will be payable for
normal pregnancy and childbirth related conditions.
(vi)The maximum monthly benefit payable is £1,000 and the maximum
benefit is £15,000, regardless of the number of policies you may have
with us.
(vii)If we have paid the monthly benefit for 7 consecutive months, we
will also pay any interest due on the balance outstanding and the
monthly premium that you have paid during the period of claim.
7. Disability exclusions
(i)
We will not pay any disability benefit if your accident results from or as a consequence of the following:
(a) a self-inflicted injury;
(b) being under the influence of, or being affected by, alcohol
or drugs unless prescribed by a doctor (other than prescribed for
the treatment of drug addiction or alcohol dependency); and
(c) any elective surgical procedure or cosmetic surgery
unless directly attributable to physical injury, disease or sickness.
(ii)Benefit will not be payable if you are currently receiving benefit under
the hospitalisation in respect of the relevant day.
8. Hospitalisation benefit
(i)If during a period of insurance, you are continuously hospitalised
for at least 7 consecutive days, we will pay an amount equal to the
monthly benefit, up to a maximum of £1,000 per month, directly to
Argos for the credit of the account.
(ii)If during a period of insurance, you are continuously hospitalised
for 14 consecutive days or more, we will pay Argos for the credit of
the account, a sum equal to the balance outstanding at the date
of your hospitalisation. The maximum amount payable is £15,000,
regardless of the number of policies you may have with us.
(iii) To receive the benefit you must:
(a) be under regular care and attendance; and
(b) give us any evidence we ask for in order to prove your claim is
valid and continues to be so.
(iii)any surgical procedure taken at your own request, which is not
medically necessary to sustain your quality of life, or cosmetic surgery
unless directly attributable to physical injury, disease or sickness.
(iv)When paying your claim we will consider the first day of
hospitalisation to be the day you are admitted to a hospital.
6. Disability benefits (accident only)
(a) w
e have paid an amount equal to the balance outstanding;
(i)If during the period of insurance you are disabled for 14
continuous consecutive days or more, you will be entitled to an
amount equal to the monthly benefit. Thereafter, you will be entitled
to an amount equal to the monthly benefit for each continuous
consecutive period of 30 days you remain disabled.
(b) you fail to provide evidence of your hospitalisation; or
(c) the end date;
whichever happens first.
The monthly benefit will be paid directly to Argos for the credit
of the account provided you meet the terms and conditions of this
policy.
(i)
We will not pay any hospitalisation benefit if your hospitalisation
results from or as a consequence of the following:
(ii) To receive the monthly benefit you must:
(a) be under regular care and attendance; and
(b) give us any evidence we ask for in order to prove your claim is
valid and continues to be so.
(iii)When paying your claim we will consider the first day of your
disability to be the day a doctor certifies that you are disabled.
6
(a) w
e have paid an amount equal to the balance outstanding;
(v)We will continue to pay the benefit until:
9. Hospitalisation exclusions
(a) a self-inflicted injury;
(b) b eing under the influence of, or being affected by, alcohol or
drugs unless prescribed by a doctor (other than prescribed for the
treatment of drug addiction or alcohol dependency); or
(c) any elective surgical procedure or cosmetic surgery unless
directly attributable to physical injury, disease or sickness.
(ii)No benefit will be payable if we make any benefit payment for
disability under Section 6 in respect of the relevant day.
We will, in the event of your critical illness (from which you survive for
a period of 28 days or more from the date of diagnosis) during a period of
insurance and subject to the other provisions of this policy, pay to Argos
for the credit of the agreement a sum equal to the balance outstanding.
The maximum benefit payable under the critical illness is £15,000,
regardless of the number of policies you may have with us.
11. Critical illness exclusions
No critical illness benefit will be payable if your critical illness results
from or as a consequence of any of the following:
(i)
a self-inflicted injury; or
(ii)being under the influence of, or being affected by, alcohol or drugs
unless prescribed by a doctor (other than prescribed for the treatment
of drug addiction or alcohol dependency).
12. Purchase protection benefit
(This benefit is only available if you are less than 70 years of age and you
have chosen to include purchase protection as part of your policy.) You must
continue to pay your monthly premium to maintain purchase protection
benefit. If you fail to pay your monthly premium, this cover will end
(please see end date within the definitions Section 24 of this policy.)
(i)
We will cover you against loss, theft or damage for the insured
articles purchased by you, using your store card within 365 days from
the date of purchase during the period of insurance or the date of
delivery, whichever is the later.
(ii)If at the date of loss or damage to any insured article, there is any
other insurance covering the same loss or damage then you will only
be covered to the extent that the direct physical loss or damage has not
been paid by such other insurance. This cover will not extend to any
policy excess.
(iii) The maximum amount payable will be:
(a) the original purchase price of the personal property as reflected on
your account statement and the appropriate till receipt;
(b) w
here the account has been used as a partial payment - the actual
proportion of the purchase price paid for using the account;
(c) either the cost of repair of the insured article or if the insured
article is replaced with our prior approval, the sum debited to your
account on purchase of the replacement insured article; or
(d) £ 1,500, in respect of a single article, £15,000, for each event and
£50,000, in total per annum.
(iv)in the event of total loss or damage, where an insured article is
replaced with our prior approval, evidence that the insured article
has been replaced with the same item will be required. If the insured
article is no longer available for purchase, evidence that a similar item
has been purchased will be required.
(v)If you suffer any loss to one part or to a set of personal property and it is
incapable of being used individually, and cannot be replaced separately,
then we will pay you the maximum benefit outlined in this Section
(iii) above, in respect of any direct physical loss and/or damage to that
personal property.
(vi)When a claim is paid for loss or replacement, the insured article
automatically becomes our property.
(vii)It is a condition of the insurance that any damage caused by malicious
persons or vandals, loss or theft must be notified to the police within 24
hours of discovery of such damage, loss or theft.
7
loss and/or damage. (Any claim for loss will need to be validated by a
copy of the police report, sales invoice and card receipt. Any claim for
damage will need to be validated by an estimate for repair, sales invoice
and card receipt.)
13. Purchase protection exclusions
No benefit will be payable under this policy for any loss and/or damage
arising directly or indirectly from, or in respect of:
(i)
faults or defects covered by any manufacturer’s guarantee;
(ii)the insured article being used for business purpose;
(iii)theft from an unattended motor vehicle except where all reasonable care
has been taken to conceal the item (e.g. in the boot or locked in a glove
compartment and where the vehicle security system has been activated);
(iv)jewellery and watches stolen from baggage unless it is carried by hand
and under the personal supervision of you or a member of your family;
(v) fraud, abuse, neglect or failure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions;
(vi)loss or damage to any insured article as a result of intentional acts
by you;
(vii)damage caused by normal wear and tear to the insured article;
(viii)damage in the normal course of play and consumable sporting items
such as balls and racquet strings;
(ix) the unexplained loss of an insured article;
(x)loss of use of the insured article or any loss over and above the cost of
the insured article;
(xi)loss 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;
(xii) theft or damage while the insured article is in the care, custody or
control of anyone other than you or a member of your family;
(xiii)theft or damage to the insured article prior to the delivery and
acceptance in perfect condition by you or someone authorised by
you; and
(xiv) theft of any item from any property, land, premises or vehicle unless
entry or exit to the property, premises or vehicle was gained by the
use of force, resulting in physical damage to the property, premises or
vehicle.
14. Claims
(i)
You (or your legal representative in the event of your death) must send
us a claim form with full details of the facts on which the claim is based,
as soon as possible after the date your disability began, the date you
were hospitalised, the date your critical illness occurs, the date of
your death in respect of a life claim or the date of loss or damage in
respect of purchase protection cover claim and in all cases within 90
days of that date.
(ii)
We will need proof of your claim and the circumstances leading to
your claim. This proof could be (amongst other things) a doctor’s
certificate,
(iii)In the case of your death, we will require an original or certified copy of
your death certificate as well as reasonable notice before your interment or
cremation or the holding of an inquest or enquiry into your death.
(iv)During the period of a claim, we will need proof that you are still
disabled or hospitalised. You must pay any costs of getting the
proof we ask for. However, if you are claiming for accident or
hospitalisation, we may require medical evidence in addition to
your doctor’s initial report or we may ask you to go for a medical
examination with a doctor appointed by us. We will pay the costs of
this additional medical evidence. We will not pay you any benefit if you
fail to go for a medical examination and you do not have a reasonable
explanation.
(v)
We have a regulatory obligation to prevent fraud. Insurers share
information with each other to prevent fraudulent claims via a register
of claims. A list of participants is available on request. In the event of a
claim, any information you have supplied relevant to this insurance and
on the claim form, together with other information relating to the claim,
will be provided to the register of claims.
8
(vi)Any claim under the purchase protection insurance cover detailed in
Section 12 must be notified to us within 45 days of the actual physical
(a) in the unlikely event that for any of the reasons listed in Section
19 we expect to experience unsustainable losses for the particular
country or market sector that applies to your policy; or
(b) if we decide for reasons of strategy or cost that it is no longer viable
for us to continue to provide cover within the particular country or
market sector that applies to your policy.
15. How to make a claim
(i)A claim form can be obtained from us at the address below. The form
contains notes on how to fill in the form and what to do.
(ii)All the relevant sections must be completed to avoid delay in receiving
any benefits.
(iii)Send the claim form and any other necessary documents to us at the
following address:
Claims Department, Cardif Pinnacle
Pinnacle House, A1 Barnet Way, Borehamwood,
Hertfordshire WD6 2XX
Telephone: 0844 801 2174
www.support.cardifpinnacle.com
(accidental injury and disability insurance claims)
16. Claims Support Programme
For accidental injury and disability insurance claims, we will provide you
with our Claimant Health Guide and access to our Claims Support website
(www.support.cardifpinnacle.com) each subject to availability, which may
assist you with health updates and general information on your condition.
(iii)Except in cases of dishonest or exaggerated behaviour,
misrepresentation or failure to disclose a material fact (including not
providing us with the evidence we may request as set out in Section
18 (i) (d)) any decision to cancel cover will not be made at an individual
level and will not be based on whether you have made a claim.
(iv)Except in cases of dishonest or exaggerated behaviour,
misrepresentation or failure to disclose a material fact (including not
providing us with the evidence we may request as set out in Section
18 (i) (d)) cancellation of your policy will not affect your entitlement to
claim for any event occurring before the date of cancellation.
(v)In the event that the relationship between Argos and us terminates,
your insurance cover may terminate on the monthly renewal date of
your policy, which will be notified to you by Argos on not less than
60 days’ notice.
19. Premiums
(i)Each monthly premium covers you for one month. Your monthly
premium will be calculated using the premium rate.
(vii)If we change your premium rate and you do not wish to continue
your cover you should contact Argos to cancel your policy.
(viii)If, during a claim, you cancel your policy or fail to pay the monthly
premium when due, we will continue to pay the monthly benefit
provided that the claim was made prior to the date on which you
cancelled or first failed to pay the monthly premium when due.
You will not, however, be covered for any new claim made on or after
that date.
(ix)The policy premium will be automatically added to your Argos
store card. This will be treated as a purchase transaction. This means
that where interest is due on the transaction it will be charged at the
standard rate of interest charged under your credit agreement.
(x)When collecting and refunding premiums, HIS does so on our behalf.
20. Terms and Conditions
(i)
We may vary or waive the terms and conditions of this policy to reflect
changes in the assumptions set out in Section 19 (ii) above which is used to
design and price your cover. Such changes may have the effect of increasing
or reducing the cover previously provided under this policy.
(ii)When changing your terms and conditions we will only consider any
future impact of changes in one or more assumptions due to the reasons
set out in Section 19 (ii) above.
(iii)In addition, we may also vary or waive your terms and conditions to:
(a) improve your cover;
(b) comply with any applicable laws or regulations;
(c) reflect any changes to taxation;
(a) changes due to new information arising from our own experience
suggesting that future claims experience is likely to be better or worse
than previously assumed. This information includes changes to the
number of claims we expect to pay, changes to the average expected
duration of our claims payments or changes to the average expected
amount paid per claim;
(d) c orrect any typographical or formatting errors that may occur.
(b) changes due to new information arising from external sources such
as general industry, population or reinsurer experience suggesting
that our future claims experience is likely to be better or worse than
previously assumed. This includes industry or general population
experience;
(v)Except where the terms and conditions of cover under this policy are
changed due to legislative, tax or regulatory changes, the minimum
period between consecutive changes will be 180 days.
(iv) All cancellation requests should be made to:
(c) relevant changes to our previous assumptions in relation to:
Argos Card Services Limited
Thynne Street, Bolton BL11 1AS
(i) expenses related to providing the insurance;
(ii) p olicy lapse rates which means the average time policies
are held;
(a) b e made as a result of any reason other than changes in the
assumptions mentioned in Section 19 (ii) or for the reasons set out in
Section 20 (iii) above;
(b) be based on whether you have made a claim; or
(c) be made to recover any previous losses.
17. Your right to cancel
(i)
Within the “cooling off period” - if you decide you do not want the
cover and wish to cancel your policy, you can do so within 30 days
of the start date or the date you receive these policy documents,
whichever is the later (the “cooling off period”). You will receive a full
refund of any monthly premium you have paid provided no claim has
been made under the terms of this policy. If you have made a claim, no
refund of monthly premium will be payable.
(ii)
Outside the “cooling off period” - if you cancel outside the initial 30 day
cooling off period, no refund of monthly premium will be payable.
(ii)This policy has a reviewable premium rate, which means that the
premium rate applicable to your policy may change subject to us
giving you 60 days’ notice. We will only consider changes to the
premium rate, arising from one or more of the following:
(iii)If we change your premium rate and/or vary or waive the terms and
conditions and you do not wish to continue your cover you should
contact Argos to cancel your policy.
Tel: 0845 640 0700
18. Our right to cancel
(iii) interest rates;
(i)
We may cancel your insurance cover immediately:
(iv) tax rates; or
(a) where there is evidence of your dishonest or exaggerated behaviour
(or dishonest or exaggerated behaviour by someone acting on your
behalf) in relation to the cover provided under this policy;
(v) the cost of any legal or regulatory requirements.
(b) where you have failed to make disclosure of a material fact which, if
disclosed at the time of application, would have caused us to decline
you for cover;
(c) where you have misrepresented a material fact which, if correctly
represented at the time of application, would have caused us to
decline you for cover;
(d) where, as part of your application, we asked you to provide us
with evidence of your previous insurance cover on request, and you
do not provide it to us within a reasonable time after we requested
you to do so;
(e) where necessary to comply with any applicable laws or regulations;
(f) you fail to pay your monthly premium when due; or
(g) when you reach age 70.
(ii)
We may cancel your insurance cover by giving not less than 60 days’
notice:
(iii) Any changes to your premium rate we make will not:
(a) be made as a result of any reason other than changes in the
assumptions mentioned above;
(b) be based on whether you have made a claim; or
(c) be made to recover any previous losses.
(iv)
We will review your premium rate at least annually and you will
be given at least 60 days’ written notice, at your last known address,
of any alteration to the premium rate under this policy unless the
change is due to legislative, tax or regulatory requirements. If your
premium is changed due to legislative, tax or regulatory requirements,
then HIS may not be able to give you 60 days’ notice.
(v)
We may review your premium rate more frequently than annually if it
becomes necessary due to significant changes in any of the assumptions
referred to above. Except where your premium rate is changed due to
legislative, tax or regulatory requirements, the minimum period between
consecutive premium rate changes will be 180 days.
(vi)As a result of the premium rate review, the corresponding monthly
premium may go up, stay the same or go down, and there is no limit
to the amount of any change.
(iv)
You will be given at least 60 days’ written notice to your last known
address of any alteration to the terms and conditions of cover under this
policy unless the change is due to legislative, tax or regulatory requirements.
If your cover is changed due to legislative, tax or regulatory changes, then
HIS may not be able to give you 60 days’ notice.
(vi) Any changes to your terms and conditions we make will not:
(vii)If we vary or waive your terms and conditions and you do not wish to
continue your cover you should contact Argos to cancel your policy.
21. Invalid monthly benefit payments
If we make any payments as a result of your dishonest or exaggerated
behaviour (or the dishonest or exaggerated behaviour of someone acting on
your behalf) you will no longer be entitled to any benefits under this policy
and we may demand that any payments made by us are paid back.
We may take legal action against you for the return of such monies and we
may demand that you reimburse us for any investigation costs incurred.
22. General conditions
(i)The monthly benefit cannot be paid to anyone else or in any way
other than as described in this policy.
(ii)When your cover under this policy ends it will not have a surrender or
cash value.
(iii)The rights given under this policy cannot be transferred to anyone else.
(iv)A person who is not a party to the contract of insurance set out in this
policy shall have no rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties)
Act 1999 (the “Act”) to enforce any term of this policy provided that
this shall not affect any right or remedy of any person which exists or is
available otherwise than pursuant to the Act.
9
(v)
We are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
If we are unable to meet our liabilities to you, you may be entitled to
compensation from the FSCS. Further information is available from their
website: www.fscs.org.uk
(vi)This policy is governed by English law. The parties to this policy agree
to irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of England and
Wales unless you live in Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands
or the Isle of Man, in which case you will be entitled to commence legal
proceedings in your local courts.
(vii)
We will use the English language in all documents and communications
relating to this policy.
(viii)To improve the quality of our service, we will be monitoring and
recording some telephone calls.
23. Enquiries and complaints
Step 1
(a) A
dministration Complaints - Argos handles complaints
regarding general administration on our behalf.
If you are unhappy with the general administration of the policy or
have cause for complaint you should contact Argos by telephone or in
writing by letter or email to:
“end date” means the date when your insurance ends which will be the
earliest of the following:
“account” means the account maintained by Argos under the agreement;
(i) the date your agreement ends;
“agreement” means a credit agreement including all payment plans such
as Buy Now Pay Later between you and Argos in relation to which we have
agreed to provide insurance cover under this policy;
(ii) the date you reach 70 years of age except for critical illness which
ends when you reach 65 years of age;
“Argos” means Argos Card Services Limited which is an appointed
representative of Home Retail Group Insurance Services Ltd (HIS);
(iii) the date you die;
(iv) the date you fail to pay the monthly premium when due;
“policy” means the terms and conditions set out in this document;
(v) if you or we cancel your insurance as set out under the terms of
this policy insurance cover will (subject to our rights in Section 18 (i))
continue until the end of the relevant month for which the monthly
premium has been paid and accepted by us;
“premium rate” means a cost per £100 of the outstanding balance at the
statement date on your Argos store card agreement in the applicable month;
“regular care and attendance” means that you are under the regular care
and attendance of your doctor for your accident or sickness;
(vi) the date of diagnosis of a critical illness where as a result a benefit
has been paid; or
(vii) the date you leave the United Kingdom to permanently live abroad.
“sickness” means an illness or sickness which prevents you from doing
your normal occupation (or any job which you are reasonably able to do,
given your experience, education or training) and for which you are receiving
treatment from a doctor. If you are self-employed, you must not be
receiving any form of payment or be helping, managing or carrying on any
part of the running of the business whilst you are claiming;
“balance outstanding” means the amount outstanding on the account at the
statement date or your authorised credit limit (whichever is lower) immediately
preceding the commencement of your disability, accidental injury,
hospitalisation, critical illness or death, subject to a maximum of £15,000;
“blindness” means the loss of an eye or the total and irrecoverable loss of
sight in at least one eye;
“cancer” means any malignant tumour positively diagnosed with histological
confirmation and characterised by the uncontrolled growth of malignant
cells and invasion of tissue. The term malignant tumour includes leukaemia,
lymphoma and sarcoma.
“heart attack” means the death of a portion of the heart muscle, due to
inadequate blood supply, that has resulted in all of the following evidence of
acute myocardial infarction:
The following are not covered:
(i) typical clinical symptoms (for example, characteristic chest pain);
(i) all cancers which are histologically classified as any of the following:
(ii) new characteristic electrocardiographic changes; and
Customer Care Team
Argos Card Services Limited
Thynne Street, Bolton BL11 1AS
Tel: 0845 640 0700
• pre-malignant;
(iii) the characteristic rise of cardiac enzymes or Troponins recorded at
the following levels or higher;
• Troponin T > 1.0 ng/ml;
The Argos Customer Services Team will tell you what Argos will do
to resolve your concerns and how long it will take.
If Argos is unable to resolve your complaint to your satisfaction you
may refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) to consider using
the address below.
• having either borderline malignancy; or
• AccuTnI > 0.5 ng/ml or equivalent threshold with other Tropon in I
methods.
(b) C laims Complaints - If you have a complaint about a claim you have
made please contact:
Customer Relations Manager, Cardif Pinnacle*
Pinnacle House, A1 Barnet Way
Borehamwood, Hertfordshire WD6 2XX
Telephone: 0844 801 2174
Step 2
Should you remain dissatisfied with the outcome of any internal enquiries;
you have the right to refer your complaint to:
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)
South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR
This procedure will not prejudice your right to take legal proceedings.
However, please note that there are some instances when the FOS cannot
consider complaints.
A leaflet detailing our full complaints/appeals process is available from us on
request.
* Cardif Pinnacle is a trading style of Pinnacle Insurance plc. Pinnacle
Insurance plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
• non-invasive;
• cancer in situ;
• having low malignant potential.
(ii) all tumours of the prostate unless histologically classified as having a
Gleason score greater than 6 or having progressed to at least clinical TNM
classification T2N0M0.
(iii) chronic lymphocytic leukaemia unless histologically classified as having
progressed to at least Binet Stage A.
(iv) any skin cancer other than malignant melanoma that has been
histologically classified as having caused invasion beyond the epidermis
(outer layer of skin).
“condition” means any sickness, disease or injury (or symptoms of any of
these) whether or not it results in a diagnosis;
“consultant” means a medical specialist registered under the Medical Act
1983 (as amended) who is a member of a Royal College (for example, the
Royal College of Surgeons) and is recognised by that Royal College to be a
consultant. It does not include you, your spouse, civil partner, a relative or
someone who lives with you;
“coronary artery bypass surgery” means the undergoing of surgery to
divide the breastbone (median sternotomy) on the advice of a consultant
cardiologist to correct narrowing or blockage of one or more coronary arteries
with by-pass grafts. The following are not covered: Non-surgical procedures
such as balloon angioplasty or laser treatments;
24. Definitions
“critical illness” means one or more of the conditions listed namely
heart attack, cancer, stroke, major organ transplant, coronary artery
bypass surgery and kidney failure;
The following words and phrases will have the following meanings where
they appear in bold type.
“disabled” means you suffering from a disability and being under the
continued supervision of, and receiving treatment from a doctor;
“accident” means a bodily injury which prevents you from doing your
normal occupation (or any job which you are reasonably able to do, given
your experience, education or training) and for which you are receiving
treatment from a doctor. If you are self-employed, you must not be
receiving any form of payment or be helping, managing or carrying on any
part of the running of the business whilst you are claiming;
“disability” means you being in a state of incapacity resulting solely from an
accidental bodily injury which occurs during the period of insurance and
which is certified by your doctor;
“accidental bodily injury” means an injury to your body resulting from
an accidental, external, violent and visual means (specifically excluding any
sickness, disease or any naturally occurring condition or degenerative process);
“accidental injury” means bodily injury occurring during the period of
insurance and resulting solely and directly from accidental outward violent
and visible means which directly and independently of any other cause and
10
within 12 months of the date of such bodily injury shall result in loss of limb
or blindness;
“doctor” means a fully qualified medical practitioner registered with the
General Medical Council and working in the United Kingdom, the Channel
Islands or the Isle of Man. The doctor who confirms your accident or
sickness when you are making a claim, cannot be you, your spouse, civil
partner, a relative, close friend or someone who lives with you;
“elective surgical procedure” means a procedure undertaken solely at
your request which is not medically necessary to sustain or maintain your
quality of life;
sickness and dizzy spells) and which do not represent a significant medical
hazard to mother or baby;
“partner” means a spouse, civil partner, partner of the same or opposite sex
with whom you currently live;
“period of insurance” means the period after the start date and before the
end date for which you have paid the monthly premium;
“start date” means the date you are accepted for this insurance cover;
“statement date” means the day each month that Argos calculates a
balance on the account for the purpose of calculating interest and the
monthly payment due under the agreement;
“stroke” means the death of brain tissue due to inadequate blood supply or
haemorrhage within the skull resulting in permanent neurological deficit with
persisting clinical symptoms. The following are not covered:
(i) transient ischaemic attack; and
The evidence must show a definite acute myocardial infarction.
(ii) traumatic injury to brain tissue or blood vessels;
The following are not covered: Other acute coronary syndromes including but
not limited to angina;
“we, our, us” means Pinnacle Insurance plc who is the underwriter and
claims administration provider of this policy. Cardif Pinnacle is a trading style of
Pinnacle Insurance plc;
“HIS” means Home Retail Group Insurance Services Ltd (HIS), Avebury,
489-499 Avebury Boulevard, Saxon Gate West, Milton Keynes
MK9 2NW who is our administration provider for queries, amendments
and cancellations;
“hospital” means a lawfully operated establishment which has
accommodation for residential patients with organised facilities for diagnosis
and surgery which provides 24 hours a day nursing services by registered
nurses and will not be, other than incidentally, an institution for the care of
mental or nervous illness or convalescence;
“you, your” means the principal cardholder in the agreement who has
been accepted for insurance cover under this policy.
The singular will include the plural and vice versa. Within this policy, headings are
only included to help you and do not form part of the insurance contract.
“hospitalised/hospitalisation” means being admitted to hospital;
“immediate family” means your spouse, civil partner, partner of the
same or opposite sex whom you currently live with and have lived with for
a continuous period of at least 1 year, parent or child or step child who you
currently live with and have lived with for at least 1 year, or from birth if they
are aged below one;
“insured article(s)” means any article purchased by you during the period
of insurance using your credit agreement. Gift vouchers or telephone
vouchers or other Argos vouchers are excluded.
“kidney failure” means end stage renal failure presenting as chronic and
irreversible failure of both kidneys to function, as a result of which either
regular renal dialysis or renal transplant is initiated;
“loss of limb” means the permanent loss of a limb by a physical separation
at or above the waist or ankle;
“major organ transplant” means the undergoing as a recipient of a
transplant of bone marrow or of a complete heart, kidney, liver, lung, or
pancreas, or inclusion on an official United Kingdom waiting list for such a
procedure. The following is not covered: Transplant of any other organs,
parts of organs, tissues or cells;
“monthly benefit” means 15% of the balance outstanding at the date of
your accident or hospitalisation, subject to maximum of £1,000;
“monthly premium” means the monthly sum payable by you each month
for insurance cover under this policy;
“normal pregnancy” means symptoms which normally accompany
pregnancy which are of a minor and/or temporary nature (such as morning
11
About our Insurance Services
Are we covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme
(FSCS)?
Home Retail Group Card Services Ltd,
Royal Avenue, Widnes WA88 1AL
We are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
You may be entitled to compensation from the FSCS if we cannot meet our
obligations to you. The amount of compensation depends on the type of
insurance business. Most types of insurance business are covered for 90% of
the claim, without any upper limit. Further information about compensation
arrangements is available from the FSCS, telephone number 020 7741 4100.
Whose products do we offer?
For Argos Coversafe insurance we are contracted to offer only the products of
Pinnacle Insurance plc.
Which service will we provide you?
We will always aim to ensure that you have sufficient information to
make an informed decision. For internet applications you will not receive
advice on whether this product is suitable for your needs. If you apply
over the telephone we will assess your demands and needs and make a
recommendation based on them.
What will you have to pay us for our services?
There will be no fee for our services.
Who regulates us?
Home Retail Group Card Services Ltd is an appointed representative of
Home Retail Group Insurance Services Ltd (HIS), Avebury, 489-499 Avebury
Boulevard, Saxon Gate West, Milton Keynes MK9 2NW, who are authorised
and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). FSA Register number
for Home Retail Group Insurance Services is 314050.
Home Retail Group Card Services and HIS are part of the same group of
companies Home Retail Group Insurance Services permitted business is
arranging and administering general insurance contracts. You can check this on
the FSA’s Register by visiting www.fsa.gov.uk/register or by contacting the FSA
on 0845 606 1234.
What to do if you have a complaint?
AC0208/CS-E/14577/0512
We do hope that you will be happy with the service that we provide in
relation to this insurance. However, if for any reason you are unhappy
we would like to hear from you, please contact our Customer Service
Department on 0845 640 0700 or at the address at the top of the page. If
you cannot settle your complaint with us, you may be entitled to refer it to
the Financial Services Ombudsman Service.
Premiums and Payments
HIS holds all premiums, refunds and benefits payable under and in
connection with purchase and payment protection insurance as an agent on
behalf of Pinnacle Insurance plc.
Change of Insurer
In the event that our relationship with Pinnacle Insurance plc terminates,
we may change the insurance company underwriting your cover. We shall
provide you with 60 days’ notice of any such change and inform you of any
material effect on your policy cover. You consent to any replacement insurer
sending you an offer of insurance directly for such new cover. You can
opt out of/reject this offer by contacting us, otherwise you consent to
your cover automatically transferring to the replacement insurer.
Additional benefits of Coversafe
You may choose to take one additional Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) plan in
each calendar year that you continue to hold Argos Coversafe. To take up
this benefit you must phone 0845 640 0700 within 60 days of making any
purchase in Argos to request that the purchase is moved to a 12 month
BNPL plan, quoting Coversafe BNPL deal. To take up this benefit your Argos
account must be up to date at the time of making this request. You may only
take one additional BNPL deal in any one calendar year. You may continue
to take one 12 month BNPL per calendar year until the end date of this policy.