Should I be worried about insurance small print?

I know you should always check an insurance policy carefully before taking it out. But I am Croatian and my English isn’t so good so I am worried that important information will be hidden in the small print.

Stanislav Vouk, Boston

 

It’s true that a proposal can have quite a few Terms and Conditions. But if you start by looking for any asterisks alongside the features of the policy, that means that ‘conditions apply’ which you can then find in the Terms and Conditions. Remember it’s an overriding condition that you must exercise a duty of care at all times. So don’t leave it running while you pop inside or park it and leave the keys in the ignition.

Your insurer/broker should take reasonable steps to ensure you are given appropriate information about the policy in good time and in a comprehensible way so you can make an informed decision on whether it’s suitable for your needs. This applies before and after you buy the product and it includes price. The information given will depend on the customer, the policy’s terms and its complexity.

When speaking to our customers, we discuss the main characteristics of a policy (significant benefits, limitations and exclusions and price). An example of this is when you have a garaging warranty within your policy after agreeing you will keep your bike in a locked secure garage at your home address. If a theft or attempted theft then happens at your home and the bike was left on the drive, your insurer may not pay the claim. 

Answered by; Chris Evitt, Carole Nash