The Connoisseur Policy for Collectors

Policy Wording

IMPORTANT
This policy is not valid unless accompanied by a current policy schedule.
The policy is not valid until the first premium is received.

We are pleased to welcome you as a policyholder of Sterling Insurance Company Limited.

Your Connoisseur policy is evidence of the contract which you have made with the Company. The declaration you have made, the schedule and any applicable endorsements and warranties must be read together as one contract.

We will insure you in accordance with the policy terms, conditions, endorsements and warranties in respect of the property as described in the schedule against loss or damage by accidental means occurring during any period of insurance for which you have paid or agreed to pay a premium.

The policy has been prepared in accordance with your instructions - please read it carefully to make certain that it meets your requirements. Connoisseur Policies Ltd will be pleased to provide any further information which you may require.

Please ensure that you notify us of any material change in your circumstances which may affect your insurance arrangements. Failure to do so could invalidate your cover.

Alterations to the cover after the policy has been prepared will be confirmed by the issue of a replacement schedule which you should file with your policy. Please refer to this replacement document and the policy to obtain precise details of the cover currently in force.

John Blundell Managing Director Sterling Insurance Company Ltd

Sterling Insurance Company Limited
Registered Office: Ambassador House, Paradise Road, Richmond upon Thames, Surrey TW9 1SQ

2.

Customer service information

Your Right to Cancel

You have the right to cancel your policy for a period of 14 days from the date your policy begins or from the date you receive your policy document if this happens later. If you do cancel in this period you will receive a full premium refund. If you have made a claim during this period, you must reimburse us for any claims monies paid. If you should wish to cancel this policy, please write to:

Connoisseur Policies Ltd
Suite C, South House
21-37 South Street
Dorking
Surrey RH4 2JZ

Complaints

We aim to provide you with a first class service at all times but should you have the need to make a complaint, please write to:

Connoisseur Policies Ltd and/or Anthony Wakefield & Co Ltd
Suite C, South House
21-37 South Street
Dorking
Surrey RH4 2JZ                              or telephone: 0870 2410142

If the complaint has not been resolved to your satisfaction, you can write to:

The Customer Services Manager
Sterling Insurance Company Limited
50 Kings Hill Avenue
Kings Hill
West Malling
Kent
ME19 4JX                             or telephone: 0845 2711300

If you still remain dissatisfied, you have the right to refer your complaint to:

The Financial Ombudsman Service
South Quay Plaza
183 Marsh Wall
London E14 9SR                      Telephone No: 0845 080 1800
Website address:                      www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

Please note that the Financial Ombudsman Service will normally only consider a complaint once a final decision letter has been issued.

Following these procedures will not affect your legal rights. If you want more information on your legal rights, you should contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau or Trading Standards Officer, or consult your legal adviser.

Financial Services Authority

Sterling Insurance Company Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Our FSA register number is 202012.

Financial Services Compensation Scheme

As we are authorised by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) you also have protection under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) acting as a safety net in the unlikely event that we are unable to pay claims due to insolvency. The FSCS will meet the first £2,000 of your claim in full plus 90% of the balance. Further details of the scheme can be obtained from:

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme
7th Floor
Lloyds Chambers
Portsoken Street
London E1 8BN
                                         Website address: www.fscs.org.uk

Claims Procedure

If you need to make a claim, you can either:

From the moment you or Connoisseur Policies call us, we will take full responsibility for dealing with your claim. When you phone, you will be asked for your policy number and details of your claim.

We will:

- confirm whether the event is covered
- if necessary, arrange for a loss adjuster to contact you immediately
- give you advice on how your claim will be dealt with and any excess you will have to pay.

In most cases you will need to complete a claim form.

If we cannot settle your claim immediately, your claim will be under the personal control of a nominated claims handler who will manage the whole claim and will act as your point of contact. We will give you regular progress reports and settle your claim as fairly and promptly as possible.

Claims Standards

We are committed to providing a first class claims service.

For further claims information please refer to

- the Claims Condition in Section 4
- the Basis of claims settlement in Section 5.

Customers with a Disability

We are able to provide, upon request, a text-phone facility, audio tapes, large print and Braille documentation. Please advise us if you require any of these services to be provided so that we can communicate in an appropriate manner. This service is provided in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

To ensure we maintain a high-quality service, we may monitor or record telephone calls.

3.

Definitions

Any words or expressions listed below will carry the same meaning wherever they appear in the policy, unless stated otherwise

collectable - an inanimate object that forms part of a collection.

collection - an accumulation of inanimate objects gathered for study, comparison, exhibition or as a hobby.

electronic equipment - any computer equipment system or software, or any product, equipment or machinery containing, connected to or operated by means of a micro or data processor chip

endorsement - any variation in the printed terms of the policy

excess - the first part of each and every claim which you must pay

period of insurance - the period stated in the schedule and any further period for which we agree to accept and for which you have paid or agreed to pay a premium

place of residence - the address where you normally reside in the United Kingdom and where your collections are kept

schedule - this provides details of the person or persons insured, the period of insurance, the premium and the property insured and specifies any endorsements and warranties which amend the standard policy wording

territorial limits - Either A) The United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man or B) Worldwide if you have paid the appropriate additional premium. Your schedule will indicate if A) or B) is applicable

warranty - an obligation imposed upon you by way of a clause which may be attached to your policy which requires you to undertake to do or not to do certain things or which relates to the existence or absence of a certain state of affairs. Every warranty attached to your policy must be complied with throughout the period of insurance

we/us/our/Company - Sterling Insurance Company Limited

you or your - the person or persons named in the schedule as the Insured

your family - your spouse, partner, children, parents and other relatives, permanently living with you

4.

General Conditions

Cancellation
You may cancel the policy by giving us written instructions.

We may cancel the policy by sending you seven days notice by recorded delivery letter to your last known address.

In the event of cancellation by you or us, we will return a pro rata proportion of the premium paid in respect of the unexpired term of this policy unless

Changes in risk
You must give immediate notice to us of any change in circumstances which may increase the possibility of loss or damage covered by the policy.

Claims
In the event of a claim or possible claim you must

Compliance with terms
The Company's liability to make any payment under the policy will be conditional upon compliance with the terms and conditions of the policy.

Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act
No person, persons, company or other party who is not named as the Insured in this policy shall have any right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any terms or conditions of this policy. This shall not affect any right or remedy of a third party that exists or is available apart from that Act.

Disputes
Provided that liability under the policy has been admitted, if there is any dispute over the amount to be paid by us the matter may be referred to arbitration in which case the arbitrator will be appointed by the parties concerned according to the relevant statutory provisions in force at the time. In such a case there will be no right of action against us unless an award is made.

Fraud
If any claim is fraudulent in any respect or fraudulent means are used by you or any one acting on your behalf to obtain any benefit under this policy or if any loss or damage is caused by the wilful act of or with the connivance of you or your family all benefits under this policy will be forfeited from the date of the incident giving rise to the claim.

Law applicable to the contract
Under United Kingdom law the parties to the contract have the right to request the law which will apply. In the absence of any agreement to the contrary, English law will apply.

Other insurance
We will not pay for any loss or damage covered under this policy if you are entitled to be paid by any other insurance which covers the same loss or damage.

Reasonable care
You or your family must take all reasonable steps to prevent loss or damage and to maintain the property insured in a good state of repair.

Rights
We are entitled to enter any building or other place where loss or damage to property insured by this policy has occurred and to take possession of and deal with any salvage in a reasonable manner. No property may be abandoned to us.

Subrogation
We may take over and deal with, in your name, the defence or settlement of any claim. We will pay any costs and expenses involved. We may also start proceedings in your name to recover, for our benefit, the amount of any payment we have made under this policy.

Transfer of interest
You may not transfer your interest in the policy without our consent.


5.

Basis of claims settlement

Important note
The sums insured shown in the schedule are not index linked. We recommend strongly that you review the value of your collections regularly and seek professional valuations where necessary.

We will pay for accidental loss or damage occurring at your place of residence, or whilst removed within the territorial limits, to the property insured which belongs to you or your family or for which you or your family are legally responsible.

Following loss or damage that is insured by this policy we will at our option either

We will make a deduction for wear, tear or betterment following loss or damage if the sum insured is inadequate, or when an item is not repaired or replaced.

Pair or set
We will not pay for the cost of replacing any undamaged item or items forming part of a collection other than when the item or items form part of a uniform pair or set within that collection. Where the item that has been lost or damaged does form part of a pair or set, we shall contribute up to an amount equating to 50% of the undamaged item or items forming part of that pair or set.

Depreciation in value
In the event of partial loss or damage to an item we will pay the cost and expense of repair or restoration together with any residual depreciation in value but not more than the sum insured shown in the schedule or, in the case of unspecified articles, the single article limit.

Limits of cover

The maximum amount we will pay in respect of

6.

General Exceptions

We will not pay for

7.

Endorsements

The following endorsements apply only if they are shown in the schedule under the heading 'Endorsements and warranties applicable'

CIE01 Increased excess

The excess of £50 applicable to each and every claim is increased to the amount stated against this endorsement in the schedule.

CIE02 Theft restriction

We will not pay for loss or damage caused by theft or attempted theft from any building unless force and violence is used to gain entry or exit.

CIEO3 Stamp collections

In the event of loss of or damage to stamp collections insured by this policy, the liability of the Company will be based upon the current Stanley Gibbons catalogue value and we will not pay for

CIEO4 Coin collections

In the event of loss of or damage to coin collections insured by this policy, the liability of the Company will be based upon the current Seaby coin catalogue value and we will not pay for

Warranties

The following warranties apply only if they are shown in the schedule under the heading 'Endorsements and warranties applicable'

CIW01 Security warranty

We will not pay for loss or damage caused by theft or attempted theft from your place of residence unless

CIW02 Intruder alarm warranty
(only applicable where 3 or more units of cover have been purchased)

We will not pay for loss or damage caused by theft or attempted theft from your place of residence unless