SFS Group University Cover

Terms and Conditions of Membership

IMPORTANT NOTE: Data Protection Act

Any information you provide to SFS Group Ltd will only be used for the operation of the insurance that covers you and for internal SFS Group Ltd marketing purposes. It will not be released to any third parties.

SFS Group Ltd follows a confidentiality policy which means that your personal data will be processed fairly and securely in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.

Your personal data will be available only to those who need to see it for the purposes stated above. This may include our Insurers.

Definitions

Accident means a sudden, unexpected event (including being exposed to the weather) which happens during the time of cover and causes bodily injury.

Agreement means an application for cover under SFS University Cover.

Assured means any student who has cover under SFS University Cover.

Bodily injury means a physical injury which is caused by an accident (including illness directly resulting from that physical injury), which results in an Assured's death or disability within 24 months of the date of the accident.

Commencement date means the date requested on the completed Agreement or the date on which a Completed Agreement and the relevant Contribution have been received by SFTS Trustees Limited, whichever is the later.

Contribution means any amount payable for the insurance to be effective.

Insurer means PLUM (Home) Ltd, Equity Red Star, Inter Partner Assistance or any other insurance underwriter chosen by SFS Group Ltd

Laptop means a personal computer that is small and light enough to be operated on the user's lap.

Loss of limb means, in the case of a leg, total and permanent loss or loss of use, of a complete foot or leg. In the case of an arm, total and permanent loss, or loss of use, of a complete arm or hand.

Loss of sight means the permanent and total loss of sight which we will consider as having happened:

• in both eyes, if the Assured's name is added to the Register of Blind Persons on the authority of a fully-qualified ophthalmic specialist; or
• in one eye if, after correction, the degree of sight the Assured has left in that eye is 3/60 or less on the Snellen scale (meaning the Assured can see at three feet what the Assured should be able to see at 60 feet).

Permanent Total Disablement means a disability which totally prevents the Assured from working in a paid job of any and every kind, and which will probably continue for the rest of their life.

Pre-existing condition means a physical or mental disability, or ongoing or recurring medical condition, from which an Assured suffers, which occurred or was known to the Assured before the period of insurance.

General Exclusions

This insurance does not cover death, loss, disability or expense directly or indirectly caused or contributed to, by, resulting from or in connection with:

1. war, riot, invasion, act of foreign enemy, hostilities (whether war is declared or not), civil war, rebellion, revolution, military or usurped power, terrorism, the release or escape of weapons of mass destruction or any other similar event.
   • For the purpose of this exclusion terrorism means an act, or acts, of any person or group committed for political, religious or similar purposes, with the aim of influencing any government or putting the public, or any section of the public, in fear. Terrorism can include, but is not limited to, using or threatening to use force or violence. The people who carry out acts of terrorism can either be acting alone, or acting on behalf of or in connection with any organisation or government.
   • If any part of this exclusion is found to be invalid or we cannot enforce any part of it, the rest will still apply;
2. radioactive contamination from
   • ionising radiation or contamination from any nuclear fuel, or from any nuclear waste arising from burning nuclear fuel; or
   • the radioactive, toxic, explosive or other dangerous effect of any explosive nuclear equipment or part of that equipment.
3. suicide, attempted suicide, intentional self-injury or the Assured being insane;
4. the Assured being under the influence of alcohol or non prescribed drugs or following the abuse of prescription drugs;
5. the Assured taking part in any criminal act.

We will not cover any liability, loss or damage that is also covered by any other insurance.

General Conditions

1. Cover will commence either immediately or from the 1st September following receipt of the completed application form and payment as specified on the application form and certificate of admission.
2. Limit of Indemnity
   • The liability of the Insurer for any loss, theft or damage shall not exceed the sum(s) stated in this document.
3. Claims Procedure
   • It is a condition precedent to the liability of the Insurer that, following any happening likely to give rise to a claim, the Assured shall:
     • a) as soon as reasonably possible notify and confirm in writing to the Insurer through SFS Group Ltd, and, if required, give full details within 30 (thirty) days of the incident together with such information and assistance as the Insurer may reasonably require;
     • b) as soon as reasonably possible and within 24 hours, notify the police following any loss, or damage by theft, attempted theft or malicious damage.
   • For Legal Expenses claims, please telephone the legal advice line on 0870 350 1730. If you do not notify us within 180 days of becoming aware of a potential claim, you will not be covered.
4. Change of Address
   • To ensure continuity of cover, the Assured must notify SFS Group Ltd of all changes of address, including the insured address and the correspondence address. Where the Assured moves from an On Campus address to an Off Campus address during the course of the policy, an additional contribution will fall due as detailed in the brochure.
5. Payment of Contributions
   • Contributions are paid to SFTS Trustees Limited before commencement of the cover and thereafter annually on 1st September.
6. Payment of Benefits
   • In the event of a claim, benefits shall be payable to the policyholder. For students aged under 18 years, the policyholder must be a parent or guardian. In all other cases, the student is the policyholder.
   • In the event of a death claim under the Personal Accident Cover, benefits would be paid to the policyholder for students aged under 18 years and to their estate in all other cases.
7. Evidence for Claims
   • Settlement of any claim under this Agreement is subject to satisfactory proof to the Insurer of such evidence as they may require in relation to:
     • the happening of an event by reference to which a settlement is payable and
     • the title of the person claiming payment.
8. Fraudulent Claims
   • If the Assured shall make any claim knowing the same to be false or fraudulent as regards amount or otherwise, cover under this Scheme shall become void and all claims hereunder shall be forfeited.
9. Cooling Off Period
   • Once your application has been accepted and your insurance documentation issued, SFTS Trustees offer a 14 day cancellation period during which you are entitled to a refund of any premiums you have paid.
10. Cancellation Clause
    • The contract between an Assured and the Trustee may be cancelled at any time by 30 (thirty) days notice to the Assured at their last known address. This contract may also be cancelled at any time by the Assured by writing to SFS Group Ltd In the event of cancellation of a policy before the renewal date, a pro rata refund of the premium will be made provided there are no claims, either accepted or outstanding.
11. Notice
    • Notice shall be deemed to be received if sent by recorded delivery post and properly addressed; or if confirmed in writing by SFS Group Ltd after a telephone call from the Assured.
12. Applicable Law
    • The parties are free to choose the law applicable to this contract. Unless specifically agreed to the contrary, this contract shall be subject to English Law.
13. Complaints
    • Any enquiry or complaint should be addressed in the first instance to the Customer Service Department of SFS Group Ltd at Crossways House, 54-60 South Street, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 2HQ, Tel. 01306 746300.

If you are still unhappy with any issue connected with the handling of a personal possessions claim, then you should direct your enquiry in writing to:

The Customer Liaison Officer
PLUM (Home) Limited
145 Leadenhall Street
London EC3V 4QT

If you are unhappy with any issue connected with the handling of a personal accident claim, please direct your enquiry in writing to:

The Chief Executive
Equity Red Star
52 Leadenhall St
London
EC3A 2BJ

If you are still dissatisfied with any issue conntected with the handling of a personal possessions or personal accident claim, then you should direct your complaint in writing to:

Complaints Department Lloyd's
1 Lime Street
London EC3M 7HA
Tel.: 020 7327 5693
Lloyd's is a member of the Financial Ombudsman Service.

If you are unhappy with any issue connected with the handling of a legal expenses claim, please direct your enquiry in writing to:

Arc Legal Assistance Ltd
Lodge House
Lodge Lane
Langham
Colchester
CO4 5NE

In all communications, you should quote the policy number on your insurance documentation.

Complaints that cannot be resolved by the Complaints Department may be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Further details will be provided at the appropriate stage of the complaints process.

Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)

All SFS University Cover underwriters are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. You may be entitled to compensation from the Scheme if an underwriter is unable to meet its obligations to you under this contract. If you are entitled to compensation under the Scheme, the level and extent of the compensation will depend on the nature of this contract. Further information about the Scheme is available from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (7th floor, Lloyd's Chambers, Portsoken Street, London E1 8BN) and on their website (www.fscs.org.uk).

Legal Structure of SFS University Cover

SFS University Cover is established as a trust for the benefit of its members and its trustee is SFTS Trustees Limited. The Trustee collects contributions, and settles claims with members. To enable the Trustee to settle claims as they fall due, it has chosen to insure its liability with the following:

Personal Possessions: A F Beazley, Lloyd's syndicate 623/2623 under a scheme arranged and administered by PLUM (Home) Ltd.

Personal Accident: Equity Red Star, 52 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3A 2BJ

Legal Expenses: Inter Partner Assistance (Part of the AXA Worldwide Group) under a facility arranged and administered by Arc Legal Assistance Ltd.

SFTS Trustees Limited is a specialist trustee company managed by Lawrence Graham, solicitors, of 190 Strand, London SW2R 1JN, which SFS Group Ltd uses for the collection of contributions and payment of claims.

SFTS Trustees Limited is a company registered in England No. 2538905.

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