Combined Power

You have entered into a contract of insurance with Inter Partner Assistance SA and a separate contract with HomeServe to arrange and administer the policy. This document represents the entire agreements of the parties on the matters in question, which will be subject to English Law, and the parties submit to the non–exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts.

Please read this document carefully, we do not wish you to discover after an incident has occurred that you are not insured. If you have any queries, please call HomeServe on 0800 783 0951.

DEFINITIONS RELATING TO THE INSURANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Certain words within your terms and conditions or your policy summary have a particular meaning, shown below. Each time we use one of these words it will have the same meaning:

1. You /your: the permanent occupier of the property as recorded on your policy documents and your spouse/partner and family who live with you.
2. Inter Partner Assistance SA/we/us/our: Inter Partner Assistance SA, The Quadrangle, 106–118 Station Road, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 1PR, United Kingdom. Registered No. FC008998.
3. HomeServe: HomeServe Membership Ltd, Cable Drive, Walsall, WS2 7BN, registered in England no. 2770612.
4. Property: The private dwelling, garage and domestic outbuildings (excluding sheds, greenhouses, non–permanent structures and garden areas) all within the property boundary at the address shown on your policy documentation. It must be your permanent home and owned and solely occupied by you and your family as a private residence with no business use.
   Flats, maisonettes, mobile homes, bedsits, and let and sub–let properties are not covered. Council and housing association tenants will not need this service.
5. Domestic electrical wiring: The permanent 240 volt electrical supply system within the property supplying electrical power including wall sockets, switches, bulb sockets and fuseboxes, all beyond the electricity company's supply meter.
6. Domestic electrical appliances: Any electrical equipment powered by a removable electrical source.
7. Breakdown and/or failure: Sudden and unforeseen electrical malfunction of the domestic electrical wiring or mechanical malfunction of the domestic gas central heating system which renders the system inoperable or when one or more radiators are not working.
8. Emergency/ies: Sudden and unforeseen damage to the domestic electrical wiring which immediately:
   1. exposes you to a risk to your health; or
   2. creates a risk of loss of or damage to the property; or
   3. makes the building uninhabitable.
9. Emergency repair(s): repair work by an approved engineer authorised by Inter Partner Assistance SA to identify and/or eliminate the emergency.
10. Beyond Economical Repair: The point at which we estimate that the cost to repair your boiler exceeds its value (based on the scale of valuations according to age and boiler type).
11. Domestic gas central heating system: The central heating boiler contained within and supplying your property, fired by natural gas (excluding warm air heating) from the appliance isolating valve, including all manufacturer's fitted components within the boiler together with the pump, motorised valves, cylinder thermostat, time, temperature and pressure controls, radiator valves, pipework, feed and expansion tank and primary flueing. The maximum permissible output of your private domestic gas fired boiler is 60 kW/hr.
12. Exclusion period: To prevent claims for pre–existing problems (and therefore to reduce premiums), in your first year of cover, there is an initial 14 day period when you are not covered in relation to the domestic electrical wiring. For gas central heating an initial 28 day period when you are not covered applies. This only applies to the new elements of your cover. The date from which you are able to make a claim is shown on your Policy Summary under 'period of insurance'. Providing you renew before the expiry of your policy, the exclusion period does not apply after your first year of cover.

COST OF COVER

1. The cost of cover is the total amount you pay as detailed in your policy documentation, which consists of the Arrangement and Administration Fee of £27.00 and the premium. The Arrangement and Administration Fee is the amount you pay for arranging and administering the cover, and the premium is the amount you pay for the insurance contract. These arrangements do not affect the amount that you pay for your cover or the service that you receive. References to "Combined Power" and "Cover" in all documents include services within both contracts.
2. Your policy premium will be reviewed upon renewal. Any claims made will also be considered within the review. Any amendments to the policy premium will be confirmed on your Policy Summary approximately 28 days before the expiry of your cover.

ADMINISTRATION TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This cover is arranged and administered for you by HomeServe Membership Ltd, Cable Drive, Walsall,
WS2 7BN.

1. HomeServe will arrange and administer your insurance cover and agree service standards for the delivery of the cover provided by the insurance. If the insurance does not provide the cover you need, you should return your Policy Summary to HomeServe at the FREEPOST address shown below (see number 6) within 28 days of the policy start date and your premium will be refunded in full, provided no claim has been made. Please note that your statutory cancellation rights, which run for 14 days and begin at the end of the exclusion period (if applicable), are included within this 28 day period.
2. The minimum period for which you may hold this policy is 12 months. HomeServe will arrange for collection of policy premiums in accordance with your instructions. If you fail to make a payment on the due date, your policy will be suspended immediately and during this period you will not be covered. HomeServe will notify you in writing within 5 working days if you fail to make a payment. If you do not pay in full within 30 days of the due date, your policy will be cancelled. Any outstanding payments will be requested and upon receipt of cleared funds your cover will restart.
3. HomeServe reserve the right to cancel this policy by giving you at least 7 days notice at your last known address. If HomeServe cancel the policy, HomeServe will refund your premium for the remainder of the current policy period shown on your Policy Summary, unless a claim has been made.
4. HomeServe will contact you in writing before your policy expires to arrange renewal of your policy. HomeServe reserve the right to refuse renewal of any individual HomeServe policy..
5. You are responsible for informing HomeServe of a change of your address so that cover can be transferred to your new property. Please phone 0800 783 0951 to advise HomeServe of your new address or write to the FREEPOST address shown below (see number 6).
6. If you have a complaint relating to an administrative matter, please phone 0800 783 0951 or write to Freepost RLYC–LXAL–GEEH, Customer Relations Department, HomeServe, Cable Drive, Walsall, WS2 7BN. In the unlikely event that you are not satisfied with the response from HomeServe, you can ask us for details of the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).

INSURANCE TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The insurance is underwritten by Inter Partner Assistance SA who are a wholly owned subsidiary of AXA Assistance SA and part of the worldwide AXA Group.

Inter Partner Assistance SA is authorised by the Commission Bancaire, Financiere et des Assurances (CBFA) in Belgium (their regulatory arm) and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) here in the UK.

What is covered?

Section A – Electrical Emergency and Breakdown Cover

1. If you suffer a breakdown and/or failure of your domestic electrical wiring at the address on your terms and conditions, you should call us on the 24 Hour Claims Number on your Policy Summary. We will then:
   1. advise you how to protect yourself and the property immediately
   2. organise and pay up to £2,000 (including VAT) on your behalf for an approved engineer to repair or remedy the breakdown and/or failure of the domestic electrical wiring.
2. Our liability to pay for such repairs shall apply to the permanent electricity supply system beyond the electricity company's supply meter, which has failed or broken down for reasons other than a failure of external public services to the property.
3. The cover limit stated in Section A includes the cost of call–out, labour, materials and VAT. The maximum amount we will pay under this policy, arising from any one event is £2,000 including VAT. This excludes any hotel accommodation payments.
4. In the event of total failure of the domestic electrical wiring within your property caused by an electrical emergency covered by your policy, if an approved engineer does not arrive at your property within 2 hours of notification, HomeServe will refund your policy premium in full. If you feel that this applies to a claim you have made under this policy you should call HomeServe on 0800 783 0951 or write to Freepost RLYC–LXAL–GEEH, Customer Relations Department, HomeServe, Cable Drive, Walsall, WS2 7BN.

Section B – Breakdown and/or failure of the Domestic Gas Central Heating System

1. If you suffer a breakdown of your gas fired domestic central heating system at the address on your terms and conditions, you should call us on the 24 Hour Claims Number on your Policy Summary. We will then:
   1. advise you how to protect yourself and the property immediately;
   2. organise and pay on your behalf for the call–out, labour, parts, materials and VAT involved in repairing or remedying the breakdown and/or failure of the gas fired domestic central heating system.
2. In the event that a part needs to be ordered to rectify the breakdown best endeavours to source this part in the quickest available time will be made. In the event that the part takes over 72 hours from the first engineer's visit a payment of £30 will be made towards alternative heating.
3. We reserve the right to pre–screen all boilers and we will not cover your domestic central heating boiler if it is not in good working order, if parts are not available or your boiler does not meet our eligibility criteria. We may arrange and undertake outbound telephone questionnaires, in a number of cases, to pre–screen against our eligibility criteria.
4. If any recommended remedial or maintenance works notified during the breakdown/failure (if requested) are not carried out within 28 days or your domestic central heating boiler does not meet our eligibility criteria (for example if spare parts are no longer available), we will suspend this element of cover (i.e. Section B).
5. In the event of the boiler being found beyond economical repair cover, a £200 contribution will be made towards the replacement of the boiler and this element will then be suspended until such time as you have arranged for:
   1. a new boiler to be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and industry standards; and
   2. you have notified us of the above and we have accepted cover to recommence.

Section C – Hotel Accommodation

If your property becomes uninhabitable for a period of time in excess of 48 hours as a result of an event covered by Section A (Electrical Emergency and Breakdown Cover) and no alternative accommodation is available, we will reimburse hotel costs up to £500 (including VAT).

The following applies to all sections of cover:

1. All permanent repairs are guaranteed for as long as you choose to remain a HomeServe Combined Power customer. A permanent repair is only carried out if it's as cost effective as an emergency repair.

General Conditions:

1. Claims must be made via the 24 Hour Claims Number by you or a person calling on your behalf at the time of the emergency, breakdown and/or failure. We will not cover the costs of work carried out by contractors not authorised by us in advance. Any gas leaks MUST in the first instance be reported to the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.
2. In order for us to verify your cover, when calling, please have your policy number ready to quote. The engineer may also ask you to produce your Policy Summary when they arrive at your property.
3. This policy is for homeowners only. Retail, commercial and other premises used for business are not eligible for this cover.
4. If any loss, damage or expense covered under this policy is also covered by any other insurance or maintenance contract, you must provide us with full details of the other contract. We will not pay more than our fair share (rateable proportion) of any claim.
5. You must co–operate with us in obtaining reimbursement of any costs we incur under the terms of this cover, which may have been caused by the action of a third party, against whom you have a legal right of action.
6. Details of you, your insurance cover and claims will be held by us for underwriting, processing, claims handling and fraud prevention subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998.
7. We may change any of the terms upon which we provide this insurance to you, including the underwriting risks, the level of cover, or any other term whatsoever. Where this change benefits you, we will make the change immediately and notify you of the change within 28 days. In all other cases we will write to advise you of the change at least 28 days prior to any change taking effect.

What is not covered?

1. Inter Partner Assistance SA provides the services and benefits described in these terms and conditions for the period of insurance shown on the enclosed Policy Summary. But there are conditions and exclusions which limit your cover. Please read them carefully to ensure this policy meets your needs.

EXCLUSIONS

Section A – Electrical Emergency and Breakdown Cover

1. The following are excluded from cover:
   1. the replacement of light bulbs, decorative and fluorescent tube light fittings, fuses in plugs, transformers controlling single low voltage light fittings, or any other routine electrical maintenance tasks;
   2. electrics which are connected to a pump to a swimming pool, pond, water feature or fish tank, whether inside or outside the property;
   3. control wiring of burglar alarms, telephone wiring, smoke detectors, doorbells, electrical garage door systems and electrical gates;
   4. wiring and electrics which are not permanent;
   5. wiring and electrics situated outside or mounted on the external surface of any building, with the exception of wiring to permanent security lighting and security lights or garden lighting mounted on the main dwelling (excluding detached garages and outbuildings);
   6. wiring and electrics within sheds, greenhouses and other non–permanent garden structures;
   7. wiring or anything connected to satellite dishes, radio and television aerials, their fittings and masts.
   8. domestic electrical appliances, portable and fixed heating or energy efficiency management systems;
   9. immersion heaters, with the exception of the permanent fixed wiring to the immersion heater, which is covered.
   10. any 3–phase electrical systems (including wiring, sockets and switches).
   11. Inter Partner Assistance SA shall not be liable for:
   12. any item not forming part of the domestic electrical wiring;
   13. the resetting of circuit breakers, where it is not associated with permanent repair work and where it can be reset by you;
   14. any adjustment required to the timing and temperature controls of heaters or Economy 7 timer switches;
   15. any fixtures including wiring and earthing where its replacement is only necessary as a result of changes in legislation or health and safety guidelines;
   16. any electrics which are not permanent and/or are situated outside the private dwelling, such as fairy lights. Except wiring to security lighting or permanent garden lighting attached to the property;
   17. control wiring of burglar alarms, telephone wiring, smoke detectors, doorbells and electrical garage door systems;
   18. repair or replacement costs if our contractor is unable to repair the domestic electrical wiring due to its age or poor condition;
   19. the like for like replacement of wall sockets, switches or fittings necessary in repairing or remedying a breakdown and/or failure of the domestic electrical wiring, unless an alternative is supplied by you at the time of our engineers visit;
   20. replacement costs of domestic electrical wiring which needs to be replaced as a consequence of natural wear and tear or gradual deterioration;
   21. costs incurred where you have been advised of the need to carry out permanent repair work to avoid repetitive situations leading to a breakdown and/or failure.

Section B – Breakdown and/or failure of the Domestic Gas Central Heating System

1. The following are excluded from Cover:
   1. replacing the central heating boiler or appliance;
   2. repair/replacement of the hot water cylinder (leaking hot water cylinders will be drained and isolated)
   3. repair/replacement of radiators (leaking radiators will be drained and isolated)
   4. the cold water supply tank, its feed and outlet;
   5. the domestic water supply from the hot water cylinder or gas appliance, to and including the taps;
   6. combination cylinders, elson tanks, thermal storage units, unvented hot water cylinders or their controls;
   7. separate gas heaters providing hot water;
   8. LPG fuelled boilers and dual–purpose boilers (e.g. Aga, Rayburn);
   9. underfloor heating;
   10. maintenance or replacement of fan convector and heated towel rails;
   11. descaling and any work arising from hard water scale deposits or from damage caused by aggressive water or sludge resulting from corrosion. Signs that work is needed may include a noisy boiler, sludged up pipes or poor circulation;
   12. any gas appliance for example, cookers and gas fires (with the exception of gas fires forming part of a back boiler);
   13. solar panels and any associated pipework;
   14. combined heat and power systems.
2. Inter Partner Assistance SA shall not be liable for:
   1. any item not forming part of the domestic gas central heating system;
   2. the domestic gas central heating system if it is beyond economical repair (see What is Covered? Section B, no. 4);
   3. a breakdown and/or failure, when it has previously been identified by an engineer (during a breakdown or service) that remedial/maintenance work is required to prevent a future breakdown and/or failure of your domestic central heating system. Such remedial and/or maintenance work will need to be carried out at your cost (see Section B – Breakdown and/or failure of the Domestic Gas Central Heating System No. 3);
   4. costs incurred where you have been advised of the need to carry out permanent repair work to avoid repetitive situations leading to a breakdown and/or failure;
   5. normal day–to–day maintenance of the domestic gas central heating system at your property, for which you are responsible. This includes the descaling of central heating pipes, adjustment to the timing and temperature controls of the domestic gas central heating system, venting (bleeding) of radiators, the addition of corrosion inhibitors, or payment for the replacement of items within your property, which will gradually wear out over a period of time;
   6. replacement of parts of the domestic gas central heating system which need to be replaced as a consequence of natural wear and tear, gradual deterioration or corrosion;
   7. the domestic gas central heating system in the event of spare parts not being available after a reasonable search of stockists;
   8. any defect or failing which may be attributed to the original design of the domestic gas central heating system or appliances;
   9. any part of the domestic gas central heating system (including pipes and ducts) which are too difficult to access safely, for example, safe floor boarding and/or lighting is required within loft spaces, or any part of the domestic gas central heating system which is impossible or impractical to maintain because of its position, for example a boiler situated in a confined space, inaccessible due to the installation of fitted units;
   10. any delays caused by our suppliers or their agents in obtaining spare parts that are not immediately available.

APPLIES TO ALL SECTIONS OF COVER

All Emergencies and Breakdowns

1. The following are excluded from cover:
   1. domestic appliances and their associated pipe work;
   2. ground, air and water source heat pump systems;
   3. no water or hot water from your hot water taps;
   4. all pipework, pumps, panels and controls linked to solar panel heating and air conditioning units;
   5. power generation systems including solar panels, wind turbines, air conditioning units and combined heat and power systems and associated controls.

2. Inter Partner Assistance SA shall not be liable for:

1. any event arising from circumstances known to you before the insurance began;
2. any loss in the event of damage occurring where the property has remained unoccupied for 60 or more consecutive days;
3. any costs relating to repair or replacement of pumps including any associated electrics or valves, water softeners, waste disposal units, macerators or any central heating component (e.g. motorised valves, boiler parts etc.);
4. any part of the covered sections which are too difficult to access safely, e.g. where asbestos is present;
5. any liability for consequential loss whether as a result of a defect or malfunction of the covered sections, or arising from any goods, services, arrangements or advice provided by us or any agents acting on our behalf, unless through our or their negligence;
6. any defect, damage or breakdown caused by malicious or wilful action, negligence, misuse, or third party interference including any attempted repair or modification to the covered sections, which does not comply with recognised industry standards;
7. loss or damage arising as a result of disconnection from or interruption to the gas, electricity or water mains services to the property;
8. normal day–to–day maintenance of the domestic electrical wiring at your property, for which you are responsible;
9. the replacement of items that wear out over a period of time;
10. like for like replacements of parts necessary in repairing or remedying the emergency unless an alternative is supplied by you at the time of our engineer's visit;
11. damage caused to the property and/or its contents whilst completing a repair will not be reinstated to the original condition. The engineer will advise if any damage is likely to occur;
12. payment for the restoration of any internal fixtures or fittings (e.g. fitted units, special floor coverings such as wood block or ceramic tiles etc.) removed in the process of conducting the emergency repair;
13. any fixtures including lead piping where replacement is only necessary as a result of legislation or health and safety guidelines, or to meet current best practice;
14. any liability for consequential loss, whether as a result of a defect or malfunction of the domestic electrical wiring or the domestic gas central heating system or arising from any goods, services, arrangements or advice provided by us or any agents acting on our behalf, unless through our or their negligence;
15. costs incurred where you have been informed of the need to do permanent repairs to avoid emergencies and or breakdowns/failures;
16. systems which have not been installed, serviced or maintained in accordance with established practice or manufacturer's instructions;
17. any costs above the cover limit. You are responsible for agreeing and settling these costs directly with the engineer;
18. any loss arising from subsidence, heave of the site or landslip caused by;
    1. bedding down of new structures;
    2. demolition or structural repairs or alterations to the property;
    3. faulty workmanship or the use of defective materials;
    4. river or coastal erosion;
19. faulty workmanship or the use of defective materials by a non–approved engineer;
20. any defect, loss or damage occasioned by fire, lightening, explosion, tempest, flood, earthquake, impact or other extraneous causes;
21. any loss or damage arising as a consequence of:
    1. war, invasion, act of foreign enemies, terrorism, hostilities (whether war is declared or not), civil war, rebellion, revolution, insurrection, coup, riot or civil disturbance;
    2. ionising radiation or contamination by radioactivity from any nuclear fuel or from any nuclear waste from combustion of nuclear fuel, the radioactive toxic explosive or other hazardous properties of any explosive nuclear assembly or its nuclear component.

Inter Partner Assistance SA – a promise of service

We wish to provide you with a high standard of service. Very occasionally we receive complaints which we investigate at once, and every effort is made to resolve them to your satisfaction. If you have a complaint please phone HomeServe on 0800 783 0951 or write to FREEPOST RLYC–LXAL–GEEH, Customer Relations Department, HomeServe, Cable Drive, Walsalll, WS2 7BN.

If your complaint relates to the service you experienced as a result of a claim, and you feel that the matter has not been resolved satisfactorily, you may escalate your complaint to the General Manager of Inter Partner Assistance SA, The Quadrangle, 106–118 Station Road, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 1PR. In the unlikely event that you are not satisfied with the response from Inter Partner Assistance SA, you can ask us for details of the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).