Terms of Business

Who are we?

Polices are arranged and administered by BDML Connect Ltd, The Connect Centre, Kingston Crescent, Portsmouth, PO2 8QL. BDML Connect Limited is an insurance intermediary. Pet Insurance is underwritten by either Fortis Insurance Ltd, Allianz Insurance plc or Axa Insurance Ltd.

Advice

You will not receive advice or a recommendation from us.

Who regulates us?

BDML Connect Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Our FSA number is 309140.
You can check this information on the FSA’s register by visiting the FSA’s Website www.fsa.gov.uk/register or by contacting the FSA on 0845 606 1234. The permitted business of BDML Connect Ltd is arranging general insurance contracts. BDML holds money as agent of the insurer.

Please note that the Financial Services Authority, the Financial Ombudsman Service and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme do not operate in respect of Channel Islands or Isle of Man risks.

Who owns us?

BDML Connect Limited is part of the Capita Group plc.

What to do if you need to complain

Please phone our Customer Service Department on 0870 240 9362 or write to The Quality Team Manager, BDML Connect Limited, The Connect Centre, Kingston Crescent, Portsmouth, PO2 8QL.

Should you remain dissatisfied with our response, you may approach the Financial Ombudsman Service. Full details of our complaint procedure are given in our Policy Booklet, a copy of which is available on request.

Charges

In addition to premiums charged by insurers we make the following charges:

Duplicate Documents £9.00
New Business and Renewal £9.00
All mid term adjustments NIL
Cancellation of the policy within the first 14 days of receipt of the policy documents Provided there has not been a total loss claim, a pro rata refund will be made if you decide to cancel the policy within the first 14 days of the policy.
Cancellation of the policy after the first 14 days of receipt of the policy documents Provided there has not been a total loss claim, a pro rata refund will be made if you decide to cancel the policy.
Other charges that may apply If you are paying your premium by monthly instalments by Direct Debit we reserve the right to apply a charge for any unsuccessful collection of a monthly instalment. This currently stands at £20 per rejected instalment.

Cancellations

Any claim resulting from the death/permanent loss (referred as Total Loss) of the insured animal will result in the immediate cancellation of the contract and no refund of the annual premium will be allowed. The benefits under the policy are not transferable. Upon cancellation of the policy following a Total Loss, where the policy premium is being paid on instalments the outstanding balance is still due and we reserve the right to deduct any outstanding premium from any claim settlement.

Renewal

If you pay your premium by instalments your policy will automatically renew on an annual basis for your convenience. This will be confirmed by us by sending to you your renewal documents detailing the premium payable and the terms and conditions applicable for the renewed policy. If you do not wish your policy to renew, you should return to us the schedule of Insurance and cancel your direct debit or continuous credit card mandate.

Your duty to disclose

It is important that all information you give us verbally or in writing in proposing for, renewing or making changes to your insurance or making a claim is full and correct; and that you tell us about changes such as address etc. Failure to do so could later invalidate your policy or claims made under it, or result in an increased premium or additional terms.

Making amendments to your policy

Need to make any change or correction to your policy please write or telephone our service team. You may give us instructions or raise queries by E-mail at service@bdml.co.uk. Please remember that receipt is not guaranteed and it is your responsibility to confirm that we have received your message. You are advised to check by telephone to ensure that we have received your instructions.

Fraud Prevention and Detection

In order to prevent and detect fraud we may at any time:

  • Share information about you with other organisations and public bodies including the Police:
  • Check and/or file your details with fraud prevention agencies and databases, and if you give us false or inaccurate information and we suspect fraud, we will record this.

We and other organisations may also search these agencies and databases to:

  • Help make decisions about the provision and administration of insurance, credit and related services for you and members of your household;
  • Trace debtors or beneficiaries, recover debt, prevent fraud and to manage your accounts or insurance policies;
  • Check your identity to prevent money laundering, unless you furnish us with other satisfactory proof of identity.
  • Undertake credit searches and additional fraud searches.

Data Protection

For Data Protection Act purposes BDML Connect Limited is the data controller. We will hold and process your personal data for insurance administration and marketing. For this purpose, the information may also be passed to selected third parties, insurers and reinsurers, and may be processed outside the EEA.You understand that all personal data you supply must be accurate. You can ask us for more information about this.At the request of many of our customers and to make managing your insurance more convenient, it is our policy to deal with your spouse or partner who calls us on your behalf, provided they are named on the policy. If you would like someone else to be able to deal with your policy for you on a regular basis please let us know. In some exceptional circumstances we may also deal with other people who call us on your behalf. If at any time you would prefer us to deal only with you, please call us to let us know.

Law applicable to this policy

You and we are free to choose the law applicable to this contract but in the absence of agreement to the contrary the law of the country in which you are resident at the time of the contract will apply. If you are not resident in the United Kingdom, the law which will apply will be the law of England and Wales.

Financial Services Compensation Scheme (‘FSCS’)

The administrators and the insurer are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). You may be entitled to compensation from the scheme if we were unable to meet our obligations. This depends on the type of business and the circumstances of a claim. Insurance advising and arranging is covered for 100% of the first £2,000 and 90% of the remainder of the claim, without any upper limit. Further information about compensation scheme arrangements are available from the FSCS on www.FSCS.org.uk or by telephoning 0207 892 7300.