Insurance
Home insurance
Please read this information carefully. If after reading this in fo rmation You have any questions, please contact RAC Insure Customer Service on 0870 600 1264.
These are legal documents. Please keep them safe.

- Useful telephone numbers
- Your contract
- What the terms mean
- If You have any problems
- General conditions
- Claims conditions
- How the Insurer settles claims
- General exclusions
- Inflation protection
- Part A - Contents standard cover
- Part B - Contents additional cover
- Part C - Personal possessions
- Part D - Buildings standard cover
- Part E - Accidental Damage to the Buildings
- Part F - Family Legal Protection
Useful telephone numbers
Claims Notification 0870 010 9505
In the event of You needing to make a claim, call the above number which is open 24 hours a day. We will take all the details and if appropriate give You the telephone number and location of Your
recommended repairer. We will also inform You of any further action You may need to take. We are committed to dealing with each claim quickly and effectively.
Customer Services 0870 600 1264
Our Customer Service Team is available to help You with any questions You may have regarding Your Policy. Lines are open 8am-8pm Monday to Friday and 9am-2pm on Saturday.
Legal Helpline 01454 209 516
Our Legal Helpline is available 24 hours a day to give advice on any private legal matter. The service is completely confidential and any advice provided can be confirmed in writing.
Caravan, Motor, Motorcycle and Classic Car Quotations
0800 678 000
We provide flexible quotations for caravan, motor, motorcycle and classic cars. Call now for a free no obligation quotation from one of Our experienced advisors.
Your contract
Welcome to Your Home Insurance Policy and thank You for choosing RAC Insure.
The information You have supplied forms part of the contract of insurance with the Insurer as arranged and administered by Us. Your Policy is evidence of that contract. You should read it carefully and keep it in a safe place.
There is a choice of law for this insurance but unless We agree otherwise English law applies.
In return for having accepted Your premium, the Insurer will in the event of injury loss or damage happening within the Period of Insurance, provide insurance as described in the following pages and referred to in Your schedule. If after reading these documents You have any questions please contact Us on 0870 600 1264.
Important
We recommend that You read this Policy in conjunction with Your
schedule to ensure that it meets with Your requirements. Should You have any queries please contact Us.
What the terms mean
Where We explain what a word means that word will have the same meaning wherever it is used in the Policy or schedule.
These words are highlighted by the use of bold print and start with a capital letter.
Accidental Damage
Damage caused as direct result of a single unexpected event.
Buildings
The structure of the Home including landlord’s fixtures and fittings and the following if they form part of the property: oil and gas tanks, cesspits, ornamental ponds, fountains, permanent swimming pools, tennis hard courts, walls, gates, fences, hedges, terraces, patios, drives, paths, car ports, garages and Outbuildings.
Endorsement(s)
A change to the terms of the Policy as shown under Endorsements in the schedule.
Europe
Republic of Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, The Channel Islands, Isle of Man, The Faroe Islands, Iceland, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Holland, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Albania, Italy, Vatican City, San Marino, Monaco, Cyprus, Malta, Spain, Portugal, Andorra, The Azores, Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, Gibraltar, Croatia, Slovenia, Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), Macedonia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Excess
The amount You are required to pay as the first part of certain claims made under the Policy. In the event of a claim being made under more than one Section of the Policy for the same incident, You are only responsible for one Excess.
Family/Family's
Your domestic partner and each member of Your Family permanently
residing with You.
Home
The private residence shown in the schedule including its garages and Outbuildings if they form part of the property.
Insurer/Their/They
The authorised Insurer or Lloyd’s syndicate shown on the current schedule.
Outbuildings
- sheds
- greenhouses
- summer houses
- other Buildings
which do not form part of the structure of the main Building of the Home and are used or occupied for domestic purposes.
Period of Insurance
The dates shown in the schedule.
Policy
Your Policy booklet and most recent schedule which include any Endorsement that applies.
Unfurnished
Without sufficient furniture and furnishings for normal living purposes.
Unoccupied
Not lived in by You or Your Family for more than 30 consecutive days or is occupied by squatters.
We/Us/Our
RAC Motoring Services trading as RAC Insure, and BDML Connect Ltd.
RAC Motoring Services
RAC Motoring Services (RACMS)
Company No: 1424399
8 Surrey Street
Norwich NR1 3NG
Registered in England: Company No 1424399
BDML Connect Ltd
The Connect Centre
Kingston Crescent
Portsmouth
PO2 8QL
Registered in England: Company No 2785540
RAC Motoring Services, RAC Insure and BDML Connect Ltd are members of the General Insurance Standards Council (GISC)
You/Your
The person or persons named in the schedule as the policyholder.
Your Policy is designed to help You understand the extent of cover provided.
You will find on many of the pages these headings:
What is covered
These sections give detailed information on the insurance provided and must be read with ‘What is not covered’ at all times.
What is not covered
These sections draw Your attention to what is not included in the scope of Your Policy.
If You have any problems
Complaints procedure
If You have cause for complaint, it is important You know We are committed to providing You with an exceptional level of service and customer care. We realise that things can go wrong and there may be occasions when You feel that We have not provided the service You expected. When this happens We want to hear about it so We can try to put things right.
When You contact Us
- Please give Us Your name and contact telephone number
- Please quote Your Policy and/or claim number, and the type of Policy You hold
- Please explain clearly and concisely the reason for the complaint
Who to contact
The most important factors in getting Your complaint dealt with as quickly and efficiently as possible are:
- To be sure You are talking to the right person, and;
- That You are giving them the right information.
Your first point of contact:
Step one - Initiating Your complaint:
Contact RAC Insure by calling or writing to Us using the relevant details below.
Customer Help Team
RAC Insure
P O Box 237
Darlington DL1 5WZ
Tel: 0870 600 1264
We expect that the majority of complaints will be quickly and satisfactorily resolved at this stage, but if You are not satisfied, You can take the issue further.
Step two
Contacting RAC Insure Head of Customer Care. If Your complaint is one of the few that cannot be resolved by this stage, write to the Head of Customer Care who will arrange for an Investigation on behalf of the Chief Executive
Customer Care
RAC Financial Services
RAC Motoring Services (RACMS)
Company No: 1424399
8 Surrey Street
Norwich NR1 3NG
Step three
If Your complaint is against the Insurer. We will provide You with details so that You can contact the Chief Executive of the Insurer identified in Your current schedule or if the Insurer is a Lloyd’s of London syndicate You should write to:
Lloyd’s Complaints Department
Lloyd’s
1 Lime Street
London EC3M 7HA
Step four
If the Insurer has given You Their final response and You are still dissatisfied You may refer Your case to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), an independent body that arbitrates on complaints about general insurance products. The FOS will only consider
complaints after the Insurer has provided You with written confirmation that Their internal complaints procedure has been
exhausted or after 8 weeks of the complaint.
The FOS can be contacted at:
Financial Ombudsman Service
South Quay Plaza
183 Marsh Wall
London
E14 9SR
Tel: 0845 0801 800
Fax: 020 7964 1001
Please note You have 6 months from the date of the Insurer's final response in which to refer Your complaint to the FOS. Referral to the FOS will not affect Your right to take legal action against Us.
If Your complaint is against RAC Insure You can contact the General Insurance Standards Council (GISC)
The General Insurance Standards Council
110 Cannon Street
London EC4N 6EU
Tel : 0845 601 2857
Our promise to You
- Acknowledge written complaints promptly
- Investigate quickly and thoroughly
- Keep You informed of progress
- Do everything possible to resolve Your complaint
- Use the information from complaints to continuously improve Our service.
General conditions
You and Your Family must comply with the following conditions to have the full protection of Your Policy.
If You or Your Family do not comply with them We or the Insurer may at Our or Their option cancel the Policy or refuse to deal with Your claim or reduce the amount of any claim payment.
Keeping Your sums insured at the correct level
You must at all times keep the sums insured at a level which represents the full value of the property insured.
Full value means:
for the Buildings: the estimated cost of rebuilding if the Buildings were completely destroyed.
This is not the market value.
for the Contents: (other than clothes, furs and household linen) the current cost as new.
for clothes, furs and household linen the current cost as new less an appropriate allowance for wear and tear.
Changes in Your circumstances
You must notify Us as soon as possible of any change which may affect this insurance and in particular any of the following:
- change of address
- structural alteration to Your Home
- if You or Your Family intend to lend, let or sub-let Your Home
- if You or Your Family intend to use Your Home for any reason other than private residential purposes
- if Your Home will be Unoccupied for more than 30 consecutive days
- You must also notify Us as soon as possible if You or Your Family have received a conviction or a Police caution for, or been charged with but not yet tried, for any offence other than driving offences.
We will then advise You of any change in terms.
If You are in any doubt please contact Us.
Taking care of Your property
You and Your Family must take all reasonable precautions to avoid injury, loss or damage and take all practicable steps to safeguard all the property insured from loss or damage.
You must maintain the insured property in good repair.
Cancelling Your cover
You may cancel the Policy at any time by giving written notice.
If there has been no claim or incident likely to give rise to a claim during the current Period of Insurance, We will calculate the premium for the period You have been insured and refund any balance.
If a claim has been submitted during the current Period of Insurance no premium refund will be given.
If the premium is paid under a monthly installment scheme and a claim has been settled during the current Period of Insurance, You must continue with the installment payments. Alternatively We will deduct outstanding installments from any claim payment that may be due to You.
No refund of premium will be made under a monthly installment scheme.
We reserve the right to cancel this Policy immediately in the event of nonpayment of the premium or default by You under a monthly installment scheme. No refund will be made to You of any installment paid.
We may also cancel the Policy by sending 7 days notice to You at Your last known address.
Provided that there has been no claim made during the current Period of Insurance (or claim pending), We will calculate the premium for the period You have been insured and refund any balance.
If a claim has been submitted during the current Period of Insurance no refund will be given.
Premiums paid and up to date
The cover provided is dependent on all premiums due in the Period of Insurance being paid in full.
So for:
Annual Premiums - Amounts to have been paid and cleared by Us.
Payment by Direct Debit - If the premiums are paid monthly these will be collected on the cover start date of the insurance shown on the schedule and on the same day of each following month.
If one or more installments have been paid, non-payment of a subsequent installment will cancel this Policy with effect from the due date of the unpaid installment
Claims conditions
These conditions do not apply to Family Legal Protection where separate conditions apply.
You and Your Family must comply with the following Claims Conditions to have the full protection of Your Policy.
If You or Your Family do not comply with them, the Insurer may at Their option cancel the Policy or refuse to deal with Your claim or reduce the amount of any claim payment.
The first thing You must do
If property is lost or theft or malicious damage is suspected, You must immediately inform the Police and obtain a crime or lost property reference number.
Failure to do so may invalidate Your claim.
We recommend that You check Your Policy cover
Check that the loss or damage is covered. The Policy contains details of what is covered and how claims are settled.
You should always immediately:
- contact Us by phone on 0870 010 9505.
- take all reasonable steps to recover missing property
- take all reasonable steps to prevent further damage.
Claims process
By telephoning Us on the above number We will:
- take details of the loss
- notify the loss to the Insurer
- where necessary arrange for someone to call or contact You by ‘phone as soon as possible to discuss Your claim. This person may be one of the Insurer’s own claims staff or an independent Chartered Loss Adjuster.
What You must do after making Your claim
- tell Us and provide full details in writing immediately if someone is holding You or Your Family responsible for damage to Their property or bodily injury to them, and send to Us immediately any writ, summons, letter of claim or other document
- if requested send written details of Your claim to Us within 30 days
- supply at Your own expense all reports, certificates, plans, specification, information and assistance that We may require.
What You must not do
- admit or deny any claim made by someone else against You or Your Family or make any agreement with them. We or the Insurer have the right to negotiate, settle or defend any such claim in Your name and on Your behalf and take possession of the property insured and deal with salvage
- abandon any property to Us or the Insurer
- dispose of damaged items as We or the Insurer may need to see them.
To do so may invalidate Your claim.
Fraud
You and Your Family must not act in a fraudulent manner
If You or anyone acting for You:
- make a claim under the Policy knowing the claim to be false or fraudulently exaggerated in any respect
- make a statement in support of a claim knowing the statement to be false in any respect or submit a document in support of a claim knowing the document to be forged or false in any respect
- make a claim in respect of any loss or damage caused by Your wilful act or with Your connivance
Then:
- the Insurer shall not pay the claim
- the Insurer shall not pay any other claim which has been or will be made under the Policy
- the Insurer may at Their option declare the Policy void
- the Insurer shall be entitled to recover from You the amount of any claim already paid under the Policy since the last renewal date
- the Insurer shall not make any return premium
- the Insurer may inform the police of the circumstances.
Should You have any queries please contact Us.
How the Insurer settles claims
Lost property
Where property has been lost the Insurer will replace with the closest possible match.
Damaged property
Where possible, damaged property will be repaired. Where repair is not possible the property will be replaced.
Where repair or replacement is not possible, the Insurer will pay in cash the amount of the loss or damage.
Where repair or replacement is possible but under the circumstances the Insurer considers it appropriate to make a cash settlement, the sum payable will reflect any discounts the Insurer may have received if They had replaced the property.
Cash payment
Wherever cash payments are made, the sum payable reflects the lost or damaged property at today’s prices.
Replacement
Where replacement of property is arranged, the Insurer’s settlement cheque will be sent directly to the supplier.
Matching items or areas and carpets
Where loss or damage occurs and an exact repair or replacement is not possible the Insurer will endeavour to provide the closest match. If the lost or damaged item or area matched others in the Home, the Insurer will only pay for the lost or damaged item or area.
An individual item of a matching set of articles or suite of furniture or sanitary ware or other bathroom fittings is regarded as a single item.
Where carpeting is damaged beyond repair, only the damaged carpet will be replaced and not undamaged carpet in adjoining rooms or areas.
Will a deduction be made for wear and tear?
Contents - There will be a deduction for clothes, furs and household linen. There will be no deduction for all other Contents provided They have been maintained in good repair and the sum insured represents the full value of the property (see General Conditions on and Claims Conditions).
The Buildings - If repair or reinstatement is carried out there will be no deduction provided that the sum insured represents the full value of the property and They have been maintained in good repair.
Other insurance policies
If any injury loss or damage is covered by any other insurance the Insurer will not pay more than Their proportion.
General exclusions
These exclusions apply throughout Your Policy
The Insurer will not pay for:
Riot/Civil commotion
any loss, damage or liability occasioned by or happening through riot or civil commotion outside the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands.
Sonic bangs
loss or damage by pressure waves caused by aircraft and other aerial devices travelling at sonic or supersonic speeds.
Reduction In market value
any reduction in market value of any property following its repair or reinstatement.
Confiscation
any loss or damage or liability occasioned by or happening through confiscation or detention by customs or other officials or authorities.
Radioactive contamination
loss or damage to any property or any loss or expense resulting or arising there from or any consequential loss or any legal liability directly or indirectly caused by or contributed to by or arising from:
- ionising radiations or contamination by radioactivity from any irradiated nuclear fuel or from any nuclear waste from the combustion of nuclear fuel
- the radioactive, toxic, explosive or other hazardous properties of any explosive nuclear assembly or of its nuclear component.
War risks
any loss, damage or liability occasioned by or happening through war, invasion, act of foreign enemy, hostilities (whether war is declared or not), civil war, rebellion, revolution, insurrection or military or usurped power.
Pollution/Contamination
loss, damage, liability or bodily injury arising directly or indirectly from pollution or contamination unless caused by:
- a sudden and unforeseen and identifiable incident
- leakage of oil from a domestic oil installation at Your Home.
Date change
1. Loss or damage to any computer or other equipment, data processing service product, microchip, micro processor, integrated circuit, embedded chip or similar device, computer software program or process or any other electrical or electronic system directly or indirectly caused by:
- failure to correctly recognise data representing the Year 2000 or any other date in such a way that it does not work properly or at all
- computer viruses.
2. Legal liability directly or indirectly arising from:
any computer or other equipment, data processing service product, microchip, micro processor, integrated circuit, embedded chip or similar device, computer software program or process or any other electrical or electronic system failing to correctly recognise data representing the Year 2000 or any other date in such a way that it does not work properly or at all.
- computer viruses.
Subsequent loss or damage or legal liability for which cover is in force under this Policy is not affected.
Inflation protection
To help protect You against the effect of inflation the sum insured for Contents/ Personal possessions and Buildings may be increased at the end of each month based on changes in the following indices:
Contents/Personal possessions
The Consumer Durables section of the Retail Price Index compiled by the Office of National Statistics.
Buildings
The House Rebuilding Cost Index compiled by the Building Cost Information Service of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
If an index becomes unavailable, the Insurer will use a suitable alternative index.
If an index should fall, the sums insured and monetary limits will be maintained.
There is no charge for this inflation protection at the time of the monthly increase but at the next renewal of Your Policy the premium will be based on the increased sums insured.
Although You have the benefit of inflation protection, You should not rely on this alone to keep the Buildings and contents sum insured at the correct level.
The value of Your Buildings or contents may be growing faster than inflation - perhaps because of a new extension or acquired items.
It is a condition of Your Policy to insure for the correct sum - see page 8.
Part A Contents standard cover
Your schedule will show if this section has been chosen.
What are contents?
All of the following things are included provided that They belong to You or Your Family or You or Your Family are legally responsible for them.
Household goods
Tenants fixtures, fittings and interior decorations.
Business equipment
Computer equipment, facsimile machines, photocopiers, typewriters, word processors, telecommunication equipment, office furniture,and stock (not held for sale) It does not include tools or business stock.
Personal effects
Clothes and articles of a strictly personal nature likely to be worn, used or carried and also portable radios, portable TVs, sports equipment and pedal cycles. It does not include Valuables or Money.
Valuables
Jewellery (including costume jewellery) articles of or containing gold, silver or other precious metals, cameras (which includes video cameras and camcorders), binoculars, watches, furs, paintings and other works of art, collections of stamps, coins and medals.
Money
Coins and bank notes in current use, postal orders, postage stamps which are not part of a collection, trading stamps, premium bonds, saving stamps or certificates, luncheon vouchers, record, book or similar tokens, money orders, travel tickets including season tickets, petrol coupons, gift tokens, phonecards, pre-booked event and entertainment tickets and electronic money cards.
What contents are not covered?
- Watercraft (which includes sailboards and windsurfers) aircraft, caravans, trailers and mechanically propelled vehicles (which includes motor cycles and children’s motor cycles and motor cars, quad bikes and children’s quad bikes) but lawnmovers, garden implements, wheelchairs, models and toys are covered
- parts, accessories, tools, fitted radios, cassette players and compact disc players for the things in (a) above
- plants or any living creature
- property more specifically insured by any other insurance
- documents other than as shown in cover 20
- lottery tickets and raffle tickets
- any part of the structure of the Buildings other than fixtures and fittings for which You are responsible as occupier
What is the most the Insurer will pay?
the Insurer will not pay more in total than the sum insured shown for contents in Your schedule for any one claim under 1-11 and covers 12, 13, 18, 28 and 29. The Insurer will pay in addition amounts due under covers 14-17 and 19-27 up to the limits shown.
Inflation Protection applies see page 15.
The following limits apply:
- for any one valuable - £2,500
- for any one claim - 1/3 of contents for valuables sum insured
- for money - £500
- for frozen food - £1,000
These are the standard limits, if You have increased any of them the revised limits which apply to Your Policy will be shown in Your schedule.
What is covered
Loss or damage to Your or Your Family's contents while They are in the Home by the following causes:
- Fire, smoke, explosion, lightning, earthquake.
- Storm or flood
- Theft or attempted theft. Minimum security precautions Endorsement may apply. The Insurer will not pay more than £5000 for any one claim for contents in a garage or Outbuildings.
- Escape of water from:
- a fixed:
- water installation
- drainage installation
- heating installation
- a washing machine, dishwasher, water bed, refrigerator or deep freeze cabinet.
- a fixed:
- Escape of oil from a fixed oil fired heating installation including smoke and smudge damage by vaporisation due to a defective oil-fired heating installation.
- Malicious persons or vandals.
- Riot, civil commotion, strikes, labour and political disturbances.
- Subsidence or ground heave of the site on which the Buildings stand or landslip.
- Collision by:
- aircraft (or anything dropped from them )
- aerial devices (or anything dropped from them )
- road or rail vehicles (or anything dropped from them )
- animals (or anything dropped from them )
- 10 Falling trees or branches.
- Breakage or collapse of:
- satellite dishes
- TV or radio aerials, aerial fittings or masts
- lamp posts
- telegraph poles
- electricity pylons poles or overhead cables.
- The following covers are included in this section
- Home entertainment equipment Accidental Damage to:
- television sets and their aerials
- radios
- record players, compact disc players and tape recorders
- video recorders (VCR’s)
- DVD players
- Home computers
- cable/satellite/digital television receivers.
- Mirrors and glass Accidental breakage of:
- mirrors
- fixed glass in and glass tops of furniture
- ceramic hobs and ceramic tops of movable cookers
- glass oven doors.
- Replacement of locks if keys are lost or stolen
The Insurer will pay for the cost of replacing keys and locks or lock
mechanism to:
- external doors and windows of the Home
- a safe within or an alarm protecting the Home following the loss of Their keys. The Insurer will not pay more than £500 for any one claim.
- Liability for Credit Card You or Your Family's liability under the terms of any credit card, cheque card or cash dispenser card agreement as a direct result of its theft from the Home and following its unauthorised use by any person not related to or residing with You. The Insurer will not pay more than £1,000 for any one claim
- Accidental loss of oil and metered water The Insurer will pay for accidental loss of domestic heating oil and metered water. The Insurer will not pay more than £1,000 for any one claim
- Contents removed to the garden
Loss or damage by 1-11 to contents while in the open within the boundaries of the land belonging to the Home The Insurer will not pay more than £1,000 for any one claim - Temporary removal
Loss or damage by 1-11 to contents temporarily removed from the Home to:- any bank or safe deposit
- any occupied private residence
- any Building where You or Your Family are working or temporarily residing while anywhere in Europe.
The Insurer will provide insurance protection for contents in the Home during normal periods of unoccupancy, for example when You are on holiday. However, if You are going away for 30 consecutive days or more or if the Home is to be vacated please tell Us as this will affect the terms of Your Policy.
The Insurer will not pay more than 20% of the sum insured for contents for any one claim.
- Alternative accommodation
While the Home cannot be lived in because of loss or damage covered by this Policy, the Insurer will pay for:- rent payable for which You are legally liable or
- the reasonable cost of comparable alternative accommodation for You and Your Family and Your domestic pets.
The Insurer will not pay more than 20% of the sum insured for contents for any one claim.
This cover can be found under both the Buildings and contents sections. Where both sections are in force the Insurer will only pay under one section.
- Documents
Loss or damage by 1-11 to documents (other than money) whilst:- within the main Building of the Home or
- deposited for safe custody in any bank safe deposit, bank or solicitor’s strongroom anywhere in the world.
The Insurer will not pay more than £250 for any one claim.
- Visitors personal effects
Loss or damage by 1-11 to visitors personal effects while They are in the Home.
The Insurer will not pay more than £1,000 for each visitor for any one claim. - Automatic 10% increase in sum insured for
Gifts and provisions
The contents sum insured is automatically increased by 10% for gifts and provisions:- during the period of 1st December to 15th January
- during the period 30 days before and 30 days after Your wedding day or that of a member of Your Family.
- Frozen food
Loss or damage to food in the cold compartment of any refrigerator or deep freeze cabinet which is made unfit for human consumption by:- a change in temperature
- contamination by refrigerant or refrigerant fumes.
The refrigerator or deep freeze cabinet must be:- in the Home
- owned by or the responsibility of You or Your Family The Insurer will not pay more than £1,000 for any one claim
- Business equipment
The Insurer will pay up to £5,000 in total for loss or damage to Business equipment within Your Home.
The most the Insurer will pay for any one item is £2,000. - Liability to domestic staff
Any amount that You or Your Family become legally liable to pay as compensation (including claimant’s costs and expenses) for bodily injury or illness (including death or disease) of any domestic staff under a contract of service at the insured address with You solely for private domestic duties within the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
The Insurer will not pay more than £10,000,000 in respect of all compensation (which includes costs and expenses agreed by Us in writing) for any claim or series of claims arising from any one event or one source or original cause. - Tenant’s liability
Any amount up to 20% of contents sum insured for any claim or series of claims arising from any one event or one source or original cause that You or Your Family become legally liable to pay as tenant of the Home in respect of:- damage to the Buildings by any cause specified under Buildings standard cover of this Policy
- Accidental Damage to any cable, pipe (including any drain inspection cover) or underground sewage tank providing a service to the Home Accidental breakage of:
- fixed glass in:
- windows
- doors
- fanlights
- skylights
- greenhouses
- conservatories
- verandahs
- fixed ceramic hobs or hob covers
- fixed sanitary ware and bathroom fittings
- Liability to the public
Any amount that You or Your Family become legally liable to pay as compensation (including claimant’s costs and expenses) occurring in respect of accidental:- death, bodily injury or illness of any person not an employee of either You or Your Family
- damage to property not belonging to or in the custody or control of You or Your Family and arising from:
- the occupation of the Home (but not its ownership) or
- the private pursuits of You or Your Family
The Insurer will not pay more than £2,000,000 (including costs) for any claim or series of claims arising from any one event or one source or original cause.
What is not covered
The amount of the Excess shown in the schedule except for covers 25, 26 and 27.
- Smoke damage arising gradually or out of repeated exposure.
-
- Loss or damage while the Home is Unoccupied or Unfurnished
- loss where property is obtained by any person using any form of payment which proves to be counterfeit, false, fraudulent, invalid, uncollectable, irrecoverable or irredeemable for any reason.
The Insurer will not pay for the following unless there has been forcible and violent entry to or exit from the Home: - theft of pedal cycles
- theft of Money
- loss or damage from the Home if any part is let, lent or sub let or occupied by anyone but You or Your Family
- loss or damage from any part of the Home which is used for any business, trade, profession or employment purposes
- Loss or damage caused by any person lawfully in Your Home
- Loss or damage while the Home is Unoccupied or Unfurnished.
- Loss or damage while the Home is Unoccupied or Unfurnished.
- Loss or damage while the Home is Unoccupied or Unfurnished.
- Loss or damage:
- resulting from coastal or riverbank erosion
- caused by compaction of infill
- caused by settlement, shrinkage or expansion of the Building
- arising from defective design, defective materials or faulty workmanship
- occurring whilst the Home is undergoing demolition, structural alteration or structural repair
- Loss or damage caused by
- domestic pets
- insects
-
- The cost of removal of the fallen tree or branch
- loss or damage caused during tree felling, lopping or topping.
- Loss or damage of the items themselves.
-
- Mechanical, electronic or electrical breakdown or failure
- loss arising from the cost of remaking any film, disc or tape or the value of any information contained on it
- damage caused by or in the process of cleaning, maintenance, repair, dismantling, altering or dyeing
- loss or damage by chewing, scratching, tearing or fouling by domestic pets
- damage caused by wear and tear
- damage caused by rot, fungus , insects or vermin
- damage caused by the action of light or any atmospheric or climatic condition
- damage caused by any gradually operating cause
- Accidental Damage or contamination to computers or computer equipment by:
- erasure or distortion of data
- accidental erasure or mislaying or misfiling of documents or records
- viruses
- damage to records, discs, cassettes and tapes
- damage to equipment not in or on the Home
- damage to equipment designed to be portable whilst being transported carried or moved (e.g. laptops, computers, portable compact disc players and portable televisions).
-
- Loss or damage while the Home is Unoccupied or Unfurnished
- loss or damage to Your or Your Family's contents while They are not in the Home.
- The cost of replacing keys and locks to a garage or Outbuilding.
This cover can be found under both the Buildings and contents sections. Where both sections are in force the Insurer will only pay under one section. -
- any loss unless You or Your Family have complied with the terms and conditions of the issuing authority
- any loss or claim due to accounting errors or omissions
- Loss or damage while the Home is Unoccupied or Unfurnished
- Loss or damage to:
- Valuables or money
- plants and trees
- Loss or damage
- by theft unless it involves forcible and violent entry to or exit from a Building
- from a caravan, mobile home or motor home
- outside the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands by riot, civil commotion, strikes, labour and political disturbances or malicious persons.
-
- Property more specifically covered by any other insurance
- property used for business, trade, profession or employment purposes.
- Loss or damage resulting from:
- the deliberate act of You or Your Family or any electricity supplier
- strike, lock-out or industrial dispute
- property more specifically covered by any other insurance.
- property mainly used for business trade profession or employment purposes.
- Loss or damage specifically excluded under Part A Contents standard cover.
- Legal liability to pay compensation from bodily injury (including death or disease) sustained by any domestic staff when domestic staff are:
- carried in or upon a vehicle or
- entering or getting on to or alighting from a vehicle
where such bodily injury is caused by or arises out of the use by You or Your Family of a vehicle.
For the purpose of this exception the expressions, “use” and “vehicle” have the same meaning as the Road Traffic Act 1988 or similar legislation.
- Loss or damage to gates, hedges and fences.
Loss or damage if the Home has been left Unoccupied. - Legal liability to pay compensation or costs arising from:
- any business, trade, profession or employment
- the transmission of any communicable disease or virus
- any mechanically propelled vehicle (other than motorised gardening equipment and wheelchairs)
- aircraft or watercraft (except models toys or any hand or foot propelled watercraft under 5 metres in length, sailboards or surfboards) owned by or in the custody or control of You or Your Family
- the ownership, possession or use of an animal of a dangerous species or specially controlled dog (as defined in the Animals Act 1971 or any other legislation (including subsequent legislation) of similar intent if applicable) and any dog specified under the Dangerous Dogs Act (1991) or the Dangerous Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 or any amending legislation
- any action for damages brought in a court outside the United Kingdom the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man
- death or bodily injury (including disease and illness) to the insured
- a contractual obligation
- the use of firearms other than sporting guns used for sporting purposes
Part B Contents additional cover
Your schedule will show if this extension has been chosen
What is covered
- Accidental loss or damage to contents whilst in the Home.
- House removal
Accidental loss or damage to contents whilst in the course of removal by professional removal contractors from the Home to any new private residence within the United Kingdom or the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
What is not covered
- Legal liability to pay compensation or costs arising from:
- the use of horses for racing, steeplechasing or hunting
- the ownership, use or possession of any caravan or trailer whilst being towed
- Criminal acts
- An assault, alleged assault or a deliberate, wilful or malicious act.
- Accidental loss or damage:
- specifically excluded under Part A - Contents standard cover
- more specifically insured elsewhere in this Policy
- by any gradually operating cause
- by wear and tear
- by chewing, scratching, tearing or fouling by domestic pets
- by rot, fungus, insects or vermin
- caused by or in the process of cleaning, maintenance, repair, dismantling, restoring, altering, dyeing or washing
- by the action of light or any atmospheric or climatic condition
- Mechanical, electronic or electrical breakdown or failure
- arising from depreciation in value or consequential loss
- arising from the cost of remaking any film disc or tape or the value of any information contained on it.
- to computers or computer equipment:
- by erasure or distortion of data
- by accidental erasure or mislaying or misfiling of documents or records
- by viruses
- by contamination
- to food, drink and plants
- to contact lenses
- while the Home is Unoccupied or Unfurnished.
- Accidental loss or damage:
- to money
- to china, glass, porcelain or any other item of earthenware unless packed by professional removal contractors
- to jewellery
- during sea transit
- whilst the contents are in storage
- mechanical, electronic or electrical breakdown or failure
Part C Personal possessions
Inflation protection applies see page 15.
What are personal possessions?
All of the following things are included provided that They belong to You or Your Family or You or Your Family are legally responsible for them and They are mainly used for private purposes.
Personal effects
This means clothes and articles of a strictly personal nature likely to be worn, used or carried and also portable radios, portable TVs and sports equipment. It does not include valuables or money.
Valuables
This means jewellery (including costume jewellery) articles of or containing gold, silver or other precious metals, cameras (which includes video cameras and camcorders), binoculars, watches, furs, paintings and other works of art, collections of stamps, coins and medals.
Money
This means coins and bank notes in current use, postal orders, postage stamps which are not part of a collection, trading stamps, premium bonds, saving stamps or certificates, luncheon vouchers, record, book or similar tokens, money orders, travel tickets including season tickets, petrol coupons, gift tokens, phonecards, prebooked event and entertainment tickets and electronic money cards.
What is the most the Insurer will pay?
The Insurer will not pay more in total than the sum insured shown for personal possessions in Your schedule for any one claim under this section.
NB: The sum insured under this section is included within the sum insured for contents standard cover and is not in addition to it.
The following limits apply:
- for money - £500
- for credit cards - £1,000
- for any one pedal cycle - £500
- for any one Valuable - £2,500
These are the standard limits. If You have increased any of them the revised limits which apply to Your Policy will be shown by Endorsement in Your schedule.
What is covered
- Loss or damage to valuables, money and personal effects belonging to You or Your Family whilst:
- anywhere in Europe, Jordan, Madeira, the Canary and/or Mediterranean Islands and those countries bordering the Mediterranean or
- anywhere in the world for up to 60 days during any Period of Insurance.
The Insurer will not pay more than £1,000 for any one claim following theft from an unattended road vehicle
- Your or Your Family's liability under the terms of any credit card or cash dispenser card agreement as a result of its unauthorised use by any person not related to or residing with You or Your Family.
What is not covered
- The amount of the Excess shown in the schedule.
The Insurer will not pay for loss or damage:- arising from the cost of remaking any film, disc or tape or the value of any information contained on it
- caused by or in the process of cleaning, maintenance, repair, dismantling, restoring, altering, dyeing or washing
- caused by chewing, scratching, tearing or fouling by domestic pets
- caused by rot, fungus, insects or vermin
- caused by any gradually operating cause or wear and tear
- Theft from unattended road vehicles unless contained in locked concealed luggage boot, concealed luggage compartment or glove compartment following forcible and violent entry to a securely locked vehicle
- to items not in the care custody or control of You or Your Family or an authorised person
- caused by theft or attempted theft from an unlocked hotel room
- by depreciation in value or consequential loss
- mechanical, electronic or electrical breakdown or failure
- to watercraft (which includes sailboards and windsurfers) aircraft, caravans, trailers and mechanically propelled vehicles (which includes motorcycles and children’s motorcycles and motor cars, quad bikes and children’s quad bikes) but lawnmowers garden implements and wheelchairs models and toys are covered
- to parts, accessories, tools and fitted radios, cassette players and compact disc players for the things excluded in (k) above
- to any property used for business trade or profession or employment purpose
- by theft of any unattended pedal cycle unless in a locked Building or secured by a suitable locking device to a permanent structure or a motor vehicle
- to any property mainly used for business, trade, profession or employment purposes
- to plants or any living creature
- to documents
- to contact lenses
- where property is obtained by any person using any form of payment which proves to be counterfeit, false, fraudulent, invalid, uncollectable, irrecoverable or irredeemable for any reason
- specifically provided for elsewhere in this Policy
- to computers or computer equipment
- by erasure or distortion of data
- by accidental erasure or mislaying or misfiling of documents or records
- by viruses
- by contamination
- to personal possessions left in Your Home after the Home is left Unoccupied or Unfurnished
- to property more specifically covered by any other insurance
- to lottery tickets and raffle tickets.
- Any loss or claim:
- unless You and Your Family have complied with the terms and conditions of the issuing authority
- due to accounting errors or omissions.
Part D Buildings standard cover
Your schedule will show if this section has been chosen.
What is the most the Insurer will pay?
The Insurer will not pay more in total than the sum insured shown for Buildings in Your Policy schedule for any one claim under 1- 11 and covers 13, 14, 17, 19 and 21. The Insurer will pay in addition amounts due under covers 12, 15, 16, 18 and 20 up to the limits shown.
Inflation protection applies see page 15.
What is covered
Loss or damage to the Buildings by the following causes:
- Storm or flood
- Escape of water from
- a fixed:
- water installation
- drainage installation
- heating installation
- a washing machine, dishwasher, water bed, refrigerator or deep freeze cabinet.
The Insurer will also pay the necessary reasonable costs that You incur in locating the source of the damage including the reinstatement of any wall, floor or ceiling removed or damaged during the search for the leak but the Insurer will not pay more than £5,000 for any one claim.
- a fixed:
- Escape of oil from a fixed oil-fired heating installation including smoke and smudge damage by vaporisation due to a defective oil fired heating installation.
The Insurer will also pay the necessary and reasonable costs that You incur in locating the source of the damage including the reinstatement of any wall, floor or ceiling if removed or damaged during the search for the leak but the Insurer will not pay more than £5,000 for any one claim. - Subsidence or ground heave of the site on which the Buildings stand or landslip.
Damage to Your Home caused by the ground moving is covered whether this movement is downwards due to subsidence, upwards due to heave or sideways due to landslip.
Subsidence is the downward movement of a Building foundation caused by loss of support of the site beneath the foundations. This is usually associated with volumetric changes in the subsoil and is covered by the Policy. Settlement is movement due to the distribution or re-distribution loading and stresses within the various elements of construction. This usually occurs in the early stages of the life of the Building is not normally a continuing problem and is not covered by the Policy. - Theft or attempted theft.
- Collision by:
- aircraft (or anything dropped from them)
- aerial devices (or anything dropped from them)
- road or rail vehicles (or anything dropped from them)
- animals (or anything dropped from them)
- Falling trees or branches.
- Breakage or collapse of:
- satellite dishes
- TV or radio aerials, aerial fittings or masts
- lamp posts
- telegraph poles
- electricity pylons, poles or overhead cables.
- Fire, smoke, explosion, lightning, earthquake.
- Malicious persons or vandals.
- Riot, civil commotion, strikes, labour and political disturbances.
The following covers are included in this section
- Debris removal and building fees Necessary expenses for rebuilding or repairing the Buildings as a result of damage covered by Buildings standard cover for:
- architect’s, surveyor’s, consulting engineers and legal fees
- the cost of clearing debris from the site or demolishing or shoring up the Buildings.
- the cost to comply with government or local authority requirements.
The Insurer will not pay more than 12.5 % of the sum insured for Buildings for any one claim.
- 13 Service pipes and cables
Accidental Damage to:- cables
- drain inspection covers
- underground drains, pipes or tanks providing services to or from the Home and for which You are legally responsible.
The Insurer will also pay the necessary and reasonable costs that You incur in locating the source of the damage including the reinstatement of any wall, drive, fence or path removed or damaged during the search but the Insurer will not pay more than £5,000 for any one claim.
- Glass and sanitary ware Accidental breakage of:
- fixed glass in:
- windows
- doors
- fanlights
- skylights
- greenhouses
- conservatories
- verandahs
- fixed ceramic hobs or hob covers
- fixed sanitary ware and bathroom fittings.
- fixed glass in:
- Replacement of locks
The Insurer will pay for the cost of replacing keys and locks or lock mechanism to:- external doors and windows of the Home
- a safe within or an alarm protecting the Home following the loss of their keys
The Insurer will not pay more than £500 for any one claim.
- Alternative accommodation
While the Home cannot be lived in because of loss or damage covered under this Policy.
The Insurer will pay for:- the reasonable increased cost of alternative comparable accommodation for You, Your Family and Your domestic pets or
- the amount of rent You and Your Family lose.
The Insurer will not pay more than 20% of the sum insured for Buildings for any one claim.
This cover can be found under both the Buildings and contents sections. Where both sections are in force the Insurer will only pay under one section.
- Emergency entry
Loss or damage to the Buildings caused if the fire, police or ambulance service has to force an entry to the Buildings because of an emergency involving You or Your Family. - Occupation by squatters
The Insurer will pay the cost of reasonable comparable alternative accommodation for You, Your Family and domestic pets while Your Home is occupied by squatters.
The Insurer will not pay more than £10,000 for any one claim.
Legal fees necessarily incurred in repossessing Your Home may also be covered if You have selected Family Legal Protection (Part F). This will show on Your schedule. - Contracting purchaser
If You have contracted to sell the Home the purchaser shall have the full protection of Your Policy in respect of the Building up to the date of completion of the purchase as long as the Home is not covered by any other insurance. - Property owner’s liability
Any amount that You or Your Family become legally liable to pay as compensation (including claimant’s costs and expenses) arising from Your ownership (but not occupation except as stated in b below) of the premises which accidental bodily injury (including death or disease) to any person or damage to property.
The Insurer will not pay more than £2,000,000 (including costs and expenses agreed by the Insurer in writing) for any claim or series of claims arising from any one event or one source or original cause.- solely as owner (not as occupier) of the Buildings;
- in connection with any previous private residence which You owned and occupied, and incurred by reason of Section 3 of the Defective Premises Act 1972 or Section 5 of the Defective Premises (Northern Ireland) Order 1975, provided that You had disposed of all legal title and interest at the time of any such occurrence.
If You cancel or do not renew Part D of Your Policy following sale of Your Home the cover provided by paragraph (b) for Your present Home will continue for seven years after this Section expires.
What is not covered
The amount of the Excess shown in the schedule (increased for cause 4). Not applicable to cover 20.
- Loss or damage
- by subsidence, ground heave or landslip
- to gates, hedges, fences, drives or paths
- to radio or television aerials
This may be covered under Part A - Contents standard cover if You have chosen this cover - by frost
- caused by rising ground water levels
- Loss or damage:
- while the Home is Unoccupied or Unfurnished
- by subsidence ground heave or landslip
- by rot of any kind
Damage caused by the escape of water is covered but damage to the items themselves is only covered if an insured cause or cover is operative.
- Loss or damage while the Home is Unoccupied or Unfurnished.
Damage caused by the escape of oil is covered but damage to the installation is only covered if an insured cause or cover is operative. - The first £1,000 of any damage caused by subsidence, ground heave or landslip.
Loss or damage:- caused by normal settlement, shrinkage or expansion
- resulting from coastal or river bank erosion
- arising from construction, structural alteration or repair or demolition
- arising from the use of defective materials, defective design or faulty workmanship
- to boundary and garden walls, terraces, gates, hedges and fences, paths and drives, patios, tennis hard courts, swimming pools unless the Home has been damaged at the same time by the same cause
- to or resulting from movement of solid floor slabs and non-load bearing walls unless the foundations beneath the load bearing walls of the Home are damaged at the same time by the same cause.
- to the Buildings caused by the action of chemicals on or the reaction of chemicals with any materials which form part of the Buildings
- Loss or damage while the Home is Unoccupied or Unfurnished.
- Loss or damage caused by:
- domestic pets
- insects.
-
- The cost of removal if the fallen tree or branch has not caused damage to the Buildings
- loss or damage caused during tree felling, lopping or topping.
- Loss or damage to the items themselves. Certain items may be covered under the Part A - Contents standard cover.
- Smoke damage arising gradually out of repeated exposure.
- Loss or damage while the Home is Unoccupied or Unfurnished.
An Unoccupied Home represents a greater hazard. You should advise Us of any period of Unoccupancy greater than 30 days as this will affect the terms of this Policy. - If it is discovered that the cause is not Accidental Damage then unless one of the other is operative there will be no cover.
-
- Loss or damage while the Home is Unoccupied or Unfurnished
- damage to property that does not form part of the Home.
Remember it is a condition of Your Policy that the property must be kept in good repair at all times.
- The cost of replacing keys and locks to a garage or Outbuilding.
This cover can be found under both the Buildings and contents sections. Where both sections are in force the Insurer will only pay under one section. - Your legal liability to pay compensation arising directly or indirectly from:
- an agreement which imposes a liability on You which You would not be under in the absence of such agreement
- the use or occupation of the Home for any business, trade, profession or employment
- death or bodily injury, illness or disease to any person who is a member of Your Family residing with You or any person under a contract of service
- damage to property belonging to or under the control of You or a member of Your Family permanently residing with You
- death, bodily injury or damage caused by lifts, hoists or vehicles other than motorised gardening equipment
- the cost of rectifying any fault or alleged fault.
- if You are entitled to indemnity under another insurance Policy.
Part E Accidental Damage to the Buildings
Your schedule will show if this extension has been chosen
What is covered
Accidental Damage to the Buildings.
What is not covered
Accidental Damage:
- Loss or damage
- specifically excluded under Part D - Buildings standard cover
- more specifically covered elsewhere in this Policy
- by frost
- by wear and tear or gradually developing deterioration, settlement or shrinkage of the Buildings
- by vermin, insects, fungus, wet or dry rot
- by chewing, scratching, tearing or fouling by domestic pets
- Mechanical, electronic or electrical breakdown or failure
- arising from the alteration or extension of the Buildings or the cost of maintenance or routine decoration
- arising from faulty workmanship, defective design or use of defective materials
- whilst the Home is Unoccupied or Unfurnished.
- occurring whilst the Buildings or any part of them are let or lent.
Part F Family Legal Protection
Your Policy schedule will indicate if You have taken out cover under this Section of the Policy which is arranged by RAC Legal Services and underwritten by RAC Insurance Limited.
Definitions for this section only:
Event/Cause
means the incident or the start of a series of incidents which leads to a claim being made.
Professional Costs
means the fees, expenses, costs and disbursements incurred by or on behalf of You and authorised by Us in pursuing a claim under this Section; and the costs of a third party for which You are either held liable by court order or are agreed by Us.
Legal Proceedings
means pursuit or defence of a claim for damages, specific performance or injunction, either by negotiation or by civil, tribunal or arbitration in respect of any matter covered under this Section of the Policy. The pursuit or defence must be approved in advance by the RAC.
Authorised Representative
means the Solicitors or other qualified experts appointed by Us to act for You in accordance with General Condition 2.
RAC/Us
means RAC Insurance Limited of RAC Motoring Services (RACMS), Company No: 1424399, 8 Surrey Street, Norwich NR1 3NG(registered in England: 02355834) acting through RAC Legal Services.
Territory
means Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
Offer to Settle
means an offer to settle made under Part 36 of the Civil Procedure Rules
Extent of Cover
The maximum amount that RAC will pay for any claim from a single Event or Cause under Paragraph 1 a, b, c, d and 2 to 4 is £50,000. The maximum amount that RAC will pay for any claim from a single Event or Cause under Paragraph 1 e is £10,000. There is no limit on the number of claims in any Period of Insurance.
What is covered
- RAC will indemnify You against the Professional Costs of Legal Proceedings incurred in connection with the pursuit of a claim directly arising from one of the following Events or Causes which occurs within the Territory and within the Period of Insurance:
- an agreement entered into (or allegedly entered into) for the sale, purchase or hire of any goods or services for Your private use including the purchase of the Insured's permanent place of residence. The amount in dispute must exceed £125. The agreement (or alleged agreement) must have been made or renewed within the Period of Insurance. The dispute must not be connected to the Insured's trade, business or profession;
- any physical damage to Your permanent place of residence;
- an accident causing Your death or bodily injury except where the Event or Cause occurs either as a result of alleged medical negligence or as a result of a road traffic accident involving a motor vehicle owned by You or for which You are legally responsible;
- an employment dispute which may or does give rise to You making an application to an Employment Tribunal for Unfair Dismissal as defined in Part 10 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 or by the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 or to any amendments of either of the same. The dispute must arise more than 120 days from the date that the Policy of insurance started;
- the repossession of Your permanent place of residence following occupation by squatters.
- RAC will indemnify You against the Professional Costs of Legal Proceedings incurred in connection with the defence of a claim directly arising from an agreement entered into (or allegedly entered into) for the sale, purchase or hire of any goods or services. The amount in dispute must exceed £125. The agreement (or alleged agreement) must have been made or renewed within the Period of Insurance. The dispute must not be connected to Your trade, business or profession.
- RAC will indemnify You against the Professional Costs arising directly from an in-depth Inland Revenue investigation of Your personal tax affairs commencing within the Period of Insurance unless You should have realised that a claim might occur before the Period of Insurance commenced. The investigation or enquiry must not be dealt with by or transferred to the Special Compliance Office.
- RAC will make a financial payment to You if You are required to attend Jury Service. The amount of the payment will be calculated as follows:
For each working day (meaning a day You would normally attend work) when You are unable to attend work as a result of the Jury Service RAC will make a payment equal to:
1/250th of Your annual salary on the first day of Jury Service if You are employed full time;
or a proportionate payment based on the number of days normally worked by You if You are employed part time.
A deduction from the payment will be made representing the amount You are entitled to claim from the court, tribunal or employer whether or not such amount is recovered.
No payment will be made for the first 10 days of Jury Service. - RAC will indemnify You against the legal fees necessarily incurred by You in repossessing Your Home following occupation by squatters.
The maximum amount payable is £10,000 for any one claim.
What is not covered
- Appeals unless You have notified RAC in writing of Your wish to appeal at least ten working days before the deadline for giving notice of any such appeal expires and the approval of RAC has been obtained.
- Claims and defences which, in the opinion of RAC, do not have a reasonable chance of success or, in the opinion of RAC, there is not a reasonable chance of successfully recovering a large part of the damages awarded. Cover may be refused or discontinued if such prospects do not, or no longer, exist.
- Professional Costs:
- incurred before RAC have confirmed acceptance of the claim in writing;
- exceeding any amount approved by RAC;
- incurred following a payment into court or Offer to Settle by a third party unless RAC have authorised You in writing to continue with the claim after the payment into court or Offer to Settle or You are ultimately awarded or settle for more than the amount of the payment in or Offer to Settle;
- incurred if You withdraw instructions from the Authorised Representative or from the Legal Proceedings unless such withdrawal is approved by RAC;
- incurred in the pursuit of a claim or defence where You act fraudulently or mislead RAC or the Authorised Representative;
- incurred for any expert witness unless previously approved by RAC;
- incurred where You are responsible for unreasonable delay which is prejudicial to the claim or where You fail to give proper instructions in due time to RAC or the Authorised Representative;
- incurred where You pursue a claim without the consent of RAC or in a different manner from that advised by the Authorised Representative.
- Claims against RAC, any company within the same group of companies as RAC, the Insurer or claims by You against any other person covered under this Policy.
- Claims relating to matters for which You are or would, but for the existence of this Policy, be entitled to indemnity under any other Policy.
- Claims directly, or indirectly caused by, contributed to or arising from:
- a any sickness, disease or naturally occurring condition or
degenerative process of the Insured; - any dishonesty or violence by You or any deliberate or criminal act or omission by You;
- any reckless conduct by You;
- subsidence, mining, quarrying;
- patents, copyrights, trademarks, merchandise marks, registered designs, intellectual or artistic property, secrecy and confidentiality agreements;
- libel or slander;
- divorce, matrimonial matters, cohabitation, custody, access, maintenance or affiliation;
- any works by or under the order of any government or public or local authority;
- a dispute between a landlord and tenant;
- a dispute with a rating authority on rateable values.
- a any sickness, disease or naturally occurring condition or
- Your travelling expenses, subsistence allowances or compensation for absence from work.
- Applications for Judicial Review.
Part F Family Legal Protection - General conditions
- To make a claim You must:
- notify Us of the claim in writing as soon as reasonably possible and in any event within 180 days of the Event or Cause leading to the claim;
- commence any Legal Proceedings within the appropriate limitation period;
- in the case of a claim for cover for Jury Service, notify Us immediately on receipt of the Notice requiring Jury Service Attendance, complete and return any claim form within 14 days of completion of the Jury Service and provide Us with such information and documentation as We may reasonably require.
- On receipt of a claim under this section of the Policy RAC will evaluate the claim, advise on the steps You should take to pursue the claim and, where appropriate, appoint an Authorised Representative from RAC or its approved panel of solicitors to pursue the claim by negotiation.
In the event that the claim is not settled by negotiation and proceedings are necessarily issued, You do not have to continue to instruct the Authorised Representative nominated by RAC and may propose another Authorised Representative. - If RAC and You are unable to agree on a suitable Authorised Representative, RAC will ask the Law Society to name a further Authorised Representative. RAC and You must accept the Law Society's nomination. In the meantime, RAC may appoint a Authorised Representative to act on behalf of You to safeguard Your interests.
- During the course of the claim You must:
- co-operate at all times in the completion of any necessary documentation or provision of information and instructions requested either by Us or by the Authorised Representative;
- not do anything which may prejudice Your case or RAC's position in respect of the claim;
- take all available steps to recover the Professional Costs in the Legal Proceedings;
- notify Us of any settlement offer made before accepting it.
During the course of the claim RAC will have the right of direct access to the Authorised Representative.
- RAC have the right to cancel this part of the Policy at any time by sending You 7 days written notice of such cancellation. Any such cancellation shall not prejudice any claim under this part of the Policy occurring before the date of cancellation.
- RAC shall not provide cover under this part of the Policy if You make a false declaration when applying for cover.
- You shall take all reasonable steps to prevent any occurrence which may give rise to a claim under this part of the Policy.
- You shall forward any accounts for Professional Costs as soon as They are received and, if required to do so by Us, shall have such Professional Costs taxed, assessed or audited by the appropriate court or authority.
- RAC may take over and conduct the claim and may, subject to Your interest, settle the claim in Your name.
- Every written notice or communication by RAC shall be sent to You at the last address known to the RAC.
- This Section of the Policy shall be governed by and construed in all respects in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.
Part F Family Legal Protection - if you have any problems
Any enquiry or complaint about the terms of this Section of the Policy may be made to the RAC Legal Services at RAC House, Great Park Road, Bristol, BS32 4QN. If You are not satisfied with the way in which such an enquiry or complaint is dealt with, the matter should be referred in writing to the Director of Legal Services at RAC. An acknowledgement that Your complaint has been received will be sent to You within 5 working days following which Your complaint will be investigated further.
If Your complaint has not been resolved to Your satisfaction within 8 Weeks You have the right to refer the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service at the following address:
Insurance Ombudsman
Financial Ombudsman Service South
Quay Plaza
183 Marsh Wall
London
E14 9SR
The Financial Ombudsman Service is an independent body that arbitrates on complaints about general insurance products. Referral does not affect Your right to take legal action against RAC Insurance Limited.
To make a claim under this section
Please telephone the Legal Helpline on 01454 209516. All letters must be addressed to:
RAC Legal Services
RAC House
Great Park Road
Bradley Stoke
Bristol
BS32 4QN
RI057 (3/04)
RAC Insure is a trading name of RAC Motoring Services.
Registered No. 01424399. RAC Motoring Services (RACMS), 8 Surrey Street, Norwich NR1 3NG.
Policies arranged and administered by RAC Insure and BDML Connect Ltd, both intermediary members of the General Insurance Standards Council. BDML Connect Ltd, Registered No. 2785540. The Connect Centre, Kingston Crescent, North End, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO2 8QL. Calls may be monitored or recorded.


