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INSURANCE                           value declaration

Why do I need Insurance?

Having selected Dawson Moving & Storage (Australia) Pty Ltd to perform your removal the question is often asked, “Why is insurance recommended?” 

The plain facts are that whilst every care is taken with your belongings things can go wrong and accidents do sometimes happen. There are a wide variety of unforeseen circumstances that can occur for which we will not be liable. 

You are free to select any Insurance Company you wish to assist you with arranging adequate cover whilst your possessions are being moved and/or stored. 

Dawson Moving & Storage (Australia) Pty Ltd as part of our complete removal services will provide the specialized Customer Goods in Transit and Storage Insurance Policy you may require. Our policies have been designed to comply with the Financial Services Reform Act 2001, in which we are authorized representatives for Aldridge & Street A Division of Cowen (Vic) Pty Ltd (AFSL 245658) a licensed insurance broker. We have over 70 years experience of moving and storing our customers’ possessions and offer the most comprehensive cover available today. 

Full Cover “All Risk” :-

            Provides you with protection against loss or damage to your possessions whilst in transit.

Compensation is paid to you for any item lost or irreparably damage. Restoration is effected of any damaged item or compensation is paid for such damage. 

Restricted Cover “FCO” :-

            Provides you with cover only against loss or damage as a direct result of a specific event being fire, flood, collision or overturning of the vehicle carrying your possessions. Compensation is based on the market value of the insured items.

Storage Cover :-

            An extension to you Transit Policy is automatically arranged where your removal requires storage. This ensures that your possessions are protected against the same risks as your Transit Policy provides whilst in storage. Premiums are charged at a weekly rate as detailed in our quotation and are billed to you with your monthly storage account. 

The full Terms and Conditions of Insurance are detailed in the Product Disclosure Statement, the Financial Services Guide and the Policy wording, which you should read carefully and if unsure of any of the provisions seek further advice from our office or representative. 

You should use the Insurance Declaration Form to calculate the value of your property to be insured and remember to make note of any items of a particularly high value e.g., antiques, works of art, precision equipment, curios, plate collections or the like which exceed $500.00. Some items such as jewellery (including watches), money (cash or coins). stamp collections, personal paperwork, documents of value and precious stones cannot be insured. 

It is important that you insure your property for its true total value, as if you declare a lesser sum and the property is undervalued any claim may be adjusted on the same basis or proportion that the actual value bears to the insured value. For example if your property is valued at $40,000 and you declare the value to be $20,000 you would only receive 50% of any claim. 

The transit insurance premiums which would apply for your particular relocation are as follow :- 

Full Cover “All Risk”       at $27.50 Interstate          per $1,000 of declared value.

                                          $11.00 Local                per $1,000 of declared value. 

Restricted Cover “FCO” at  $  8.80 Interstate          per $1,000 of declared value.

                                          $  5.50 Local                per $1,000 of declared value. 

 If storage insurance is required :- 

(a) Full Cover                 at           $  1.32 per $1,000 of declared value per week.

(b) Restricted Cover      at            $    .55 per $1,000 of declared value per week.

 Once you have decided on the type of cover and total sum insured simply return the Value Declaration Form  to us together with the signed copy of the contract (if this has not already been done). 

We will then prepare your Certificate of Insurance so that your possessions are fully coved prior to your moving day.

Dawson Moving & Storage (Australia) Pty Ltd

Po Box 9200 Scoresby Vic 3176  Phone 03 9763 0222  Fax 03 9764 0183

Authorised Representative No. 276226  

CUSTOMERS’ GOODS IN TRANSIT AND STORAGE INSURANCE

POLICY WORDING          value declaration 

This insurance will be arranged on your behalf by Dawson Moving & Storage (Australia) Pty Ltd as an authorised representative of insurance brokers, Aldridge and Street a Division of Cowden (VIC) Pty Ltd (AFSL 245658) 

DEFINITIONS  In this policy the following words have the meaning set out below:

Removal Company - Dawson Moving & Storage (Australia) Pty Ltd

Customer - Persons or entities who contract with the removal company to remove and/or store their goods. 

Customers’ Goods - Physical property which a customer has asked the removal company to move and/or store including household goods and personal effects of every description including antiques, works of art, jewellery, vehicles, boats, and trailers; and office and factory contents of every description including computers and all ancillary equipment, plant and machinery. 

Transit - All conveyances by road and/or rail and/or air and/or vessel to and from ports and or places anywhere in Australia or the world. Transit commences when goods are first moved and/or uplifted within the house, office or factory by the removal company for the purpose of transit and ceases when the goods are last moved by the removal company after delivery to their final destination or such other place as the receiver may instruct. Transit includes packing/unpacking of goods by the removal company at uplift or delivery and any storage which is incidental to the transit. 

Storage - Any storage of customers’ goods at the customer’s request in an authorized warehouse or compound by the removal company prior to, during or after transit. 

INSURERS This insurance is provided by the following insurers: CGU Insurance Limited (ABN 27 004 478 371 AFSL 238291)- insures Australia wide storage perils of fire, lightning, aircraft, earthquake, storm and tempest, flood, water from fixed pipes or systems, riots, strikes and civil commotion, explosion and impact damage. Associated Marine Insurers Agents Pty Ltd (ABN 41 006 104 007 AFSL 235383) as agent for and owned by Zurich Australian Insurance Limited (ABN 13 000 296 640) – insures all other transit and storage risks

RISKS COVERED Where the customer has requested the removal company to insure the customer’s goods, depending on the risks and period of cover and basis of settlement selected by the customer and shown in the certificate of insurance, this policy insures the customer’s goods as set out below: 

Full Cover  insures all risks of loss or damage to the insured goods during transit from any external cause including accidental damage during packing, loading and unloading by the removal company or its representatives. However, regardless of which cover the customer selects, goods packed by the customer are insured only for restricted cover. 

Restricted Cover insures loss or damage to the customer’s goods during transit resulting from:

·          fire and explosion;

·          lightning, flood;

·          overturning and/or derailment of conveyance;

·          collision of vessel, aircraft or conveyance;

·          crashing or forced landing of aircraft; stranding, sinking, or contact of vessel with any external object other than water;

·          entry of water into any vessel, hold, container liftvan or place of storage. 

Additional Risks Covered 

In addition to the risks set out above, this policy insures the customer’s goods for loss or damage caused by or as a result of:

·          war (sea and air transit risks) and strikes, riots and civil commotions in the terms of Institute of London Underwriters’ Clauses current at the time of shipment; and

·          General Average and Salvage Charges adjusted or determined according to the removal contract and/or the governing law and practice, which are incurred to avoid or in connection with the avoidance of loss from any cause other than those excluded elsewhere in the policy. 

BASIS OF SETTLEMENT Depending on the Basis of Settlement selected by the customer and shown in the certificate of insurance, if loss or damage occurs as a result of an insured risk, the insurer will pay, up to the declared value of any item (and subject to the restrictions set out below):  

Replacement Cost  In the event of damage, the reasonable cost of repairs or restoration. For any items totally lost or destroyed, full replacement cost provided that such items are no more than 7 years old or have been specifically declared and valued on the insurance declaration or removal contract.  Regardless of which Basis of Settlement is selected, the insurer will only pay market value for the following items: goods more than 7 years old or which have not been declared; computers and computer accessories; clothing; motor vehicles, boats and trailers. 

Market Value  In the event of damage, the reasonable cost of repairs or restoration. For any items totally lost or destroyed, their replacement cost less a reasonable allowance for age, condition, wear and tear and depreciation.  

Office or Factory Goods, including Plant and Machinery  For office and factory goods, including plant and machinery, the insurers will only pay: the lesser of the market value and the declared value of the goods at the time of loss; and agreed charges for insurance, packing and freight. 

Pairs and Sets Where one or more articles in a pair or set (including lounge suites) are lost or damaged, the policy only covers the lost or damaged part or parts. The insurers will not pay more than a proportionate part of the insured value of the pair or set without reference to any special value which they may have as a pair or set or depreciation or loss of value. 

Antique Furniture For antique furniture, the insurers will only pay the reasonable costs of repair and will not pay any depreciation or loss of value caused by the loss or damage. 

Co-insurance If the declared value of the goods is less than 80% of their actual value at the time of the loss or damage, the amount of the claim will be adjusted in the same proportion as the declared value bears to 80% of the actual value. 

Excess The removal company must pay the first $2,000 in respect of any one claim under this policy. The customer must contribute the Customer Excess shown in the removal contract. 

EXCLUSIONS FROM AND LIMITATIONS ON COVER

Motor Vehicles  This policy does not cover motor vehicles while they are being driven under their own power unless they are being driven by an authorised representative of the removal company for the purpose of loading or unloading.

Valuables This policy does not cover loss or damage to any antique, curio, piece of jewellery, plate, precious object, work of art, medal, money, coin, stamp, collection of items, fur, piece of precision equipment or professionally packed carton by the removal company the value of which exceeds $1000 unless specifically declared on the list of items to be insured or on the removal contract.  

Owner Packed Cartons Non-delivery of owner packed cartons is limited to $500.00 unless an itemized valued list of contents is supplied prior to the commencement of the transit. 

Other Excluded Risks

This policy does not cover loss or damage or expense caused by:

·          delay, loss of use of property or any other form of consequential loss of any description;

·          confiscation or detention by customs or other official or authorities;

·          wear and tear, moths, vermin, infestation, normal atmospheric or climatic conditions, corrosion, contamination or deterioration;

·          inherent vice or nature of the subject matter or vibration; mechanical, electrical or electronic breakdown or derangement of goods where there is no external evidence that an insured event has occurred;

·          nuclear risks which means the use, existence or escape of nuclear weapons materials or ionizing radiation from or contamination by radioactivity from any nuclear fuel or nuclear waste from the combustion of nuclear fuel. 

Terrorism Exclusion This policy excludes any loss, damage, liability or expense arising from terrorism and/or steps taken to prevent, suppress, control or reduce the consequences of any actual, attempted, anticipated, threatened, suspected or perceived terrorism. For the purposes of this clause, terrorism means any act(s) of any person(s) or organization(s) involving the causing, occasioning or threatening of harm of whatever nature and by whatever means or putting the public or any section of the public in fear in circumstances in which it is reasonable to conclude that the purpose(s) of the person(s) or organization(s) concerned are wholly or partly of a political, religious, ideological or similar nature.

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this policy, it is agreed that this policy covers loss or damage to the subject matter insured caused by any terrorist or any person acting from a political motive, from when the subject matter insured is first moved for the purpose of being conveyed to a destination outside the premises at which loading takes place and ends when the interest insured is last moved in being delivered at the destination, or at any earlier point where the ordinary course of transit is interrupted by the insured. 

CLAIMS PROCEDURES As soon as possible after the happening of any event which may give rise to a claim under the policy, the customer(s) must:

·          Take all reasonable steps to prevent any further loss or damage;

·          Note details of any loss or damage on the removal company’s inventory and/or condition report;

·          Contact The Claims Officer at Dawson Moving & Storage (Australia) PTY LTD

·          Within 3 days of receipt of the goods, lodge a written claim with the removal company (using any form provided by the removal company). 

The customer must not authorise the repair or replacement of the lost or damaged goods without the consent of the removal company or the insurer.  

The removal company or the insurer, at its expense, may appoint a loss assessor to inspect damaged goods.

The removal company may settle claims under this policy under instructions from the insurer. If the claim is for more than the amount detailed in the excess, the removal company must send to the insurer the inventory and/or condition report, removal contract and full details of the items lost or damaged. 

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Premium The amount payable by the customer for this insurance may be varied provided the customer receives one month’s prior notice of any change. 

Duty of Disclosure Before entering into a contract of general insurance with an insurer, the insured has a duty, under the Insurance Contracts Act 1984, to disclose to the insurer every matter that the insured knows, or could reasonably be expected to know, is relevant to the insurer’s decision whether to accept the risk of the insurance and, if so, on what terms.

The insured has the same duty to disclose those matters to the insurer before any renewal, extension, variation or reinstatement of a contract of general insurance.

The duty however does not require disclosure of matters:

·          That diminish the risk to be undertaken by the insurer;

·          That are common knowledge;

·          That the insurer knows or, in the ordinary course of his business ought to know;

·          As to which compliance with the duty is waived by the insurer. 

Non Disclosure  If the insured fails to comply with the duty of disclosure, the insurer may be entitled to reduce its liability under the contract in respect of a claim or may cancel the contract. If the non-disclosure is fraudulent, the insurer may also have the option of avoiding the contract from its beginning. 

Goods and Services Tax If the insured is liable to pay goods and services tax (GST) in respect of any goods, services or other supply which are the subject of a claim under the policy the insurers will pay the insured for that GST liability. However:

Where the insurers make a payment under this policy for the acquisition of goods, services or other supply the insurers will reduce the amount of the payment by the amount of any input tax credit the insured is or will be or would have been entitled under the Goods and Services Tax Act 1999 in relation to that acquisition whether or not the acquisition is actually made.

Where the insurers make a payment under this policy as compensation for the acquisition of goods, services or other supply the insurers will reduce the amount of the payment by the amount of any input tax credit the insured would have been entitled to under the Goods and Services tax Act 1999 had the payment been applied to acquire such goods, services or supply.

Privacy The insurer collects personal information for the purpose of providing insurance products, services, processing and assessing claims. The insured can choose not to provide this information, however the insurer may not be able to process its requests.

The insurer may disclose information it holds about the insured to other insurers, an insurance reference service or as required by law.  In the event of a claim, the insurer may disclose information to and /or collect additional information about the insured from investigators or legal advisors.

The insured may contact the insurer if it wishes to update or access the information the insurer holds about it or if it does not wish to receive any marketing material directly from the insurer (such as special offers and discounts). 

Financial Services Guide  (FSG)    value declaration

Dawson Moving & Storage (Australia) Pty Ltd can assist you to obtain insurance to protect your goods while they are in transit or storage. This is because we are an authorized representative of Aldridge and Street a Division of Cowden (VIC) Pty Ltd (AFSL 245658), a licensed insurance broker. 

This Financial Services Guide describes the insurance services that Dawson Moving & Storage (Australia) Pty Ltd can provide to you. It also covers the charges for those services, your rights as a client and how any complaints you may have will be dealt with.

How we can help with your insurance

We hold a Customer Goods in Transit and Storage insurance policy. On your behalf, we can arrange for this policy to cover you. Alternatively, you can obtain insurance from an insurance company of your own choice. 

If you ask us to arrange Customer Goods in Transit and Storage insurance, we will give you a Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). This will describe the main features of the policy. You should read the PDS to decide if the policy suits your needs, objectives and financial situation before you decide whether to obtain it because we cannot advise you about your insurance needs.   

If you need advice or your insurance needs are different from the cover available in our policy, we can refer you to Aldridge & Street who will be able to assist you.

How we are paid  For arranging for you to be insured under our policy, we receive the difference between the amount you pay us for your insurance and the cost of the premium we pay for the policy (which is based upon our annual turnover) and the amount we pay for claims under $2,000. The amount you pay us is based on the value of the goods we are removing or storing on your behalf. 

Our staff who arrange your insurance are paid a salary. They do not receive a bonus for arranging insurance for you.  

In addition, Aldridge & Street received a commission of 0-20% for arranging our policy. They do not receive any amount when we arrange for the policy to cover you.

Complaints and disputes about our services We are a member of the Australian Furniture Removers Association (AFRA). AFRA handles all complaints or disputes about our services. Contact the Executive Director at AFRA.

AFRA may be contacted at:                        Unit 6/7 Packard Avenue,

BAULKHAM HILLS NSW 2153

Telephone:  (02) 9659-5300

Fax:             (02) 9659-5311

If AFRA does not resolve the complaint to your satisfaction, you can refer it to Insurance Brokers Disputes Limited. For further information about IBDL, contact them directly on 1800 064 169.

Aldridge & Street a Division of Cowden (VIC) Pty Ltd  holds Australian Financial Services License number 245658 and can be contacted on 03 9867 7663This FSG was prepared on 01/02/2004

Customer Goods in Transit and Storage

Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)  value declaration

 This Product Disclosure Statement provides information about the main features of Customer Goods in Transit and Storage Insurance  

Why should I take out insurance?

Regardless of any contractual rights you may have against your Removal Company, there are many circumstances where they will not be liable to make good any loss or damage to your goods, for example where the goods are damaged as a result of an accident that is not the Company’s fault. 

Customer Goods in Transit and Storage insurance can assist to fill this gap 

Who to contact about your policy

Your first point of contact about the policy should be your Removal Company. If they cannot answer your enquiry, you can contact Aldridge & Street by telephone, email, facsimile or letter.

Insurer

A number of different insurers have combined together to provide the insurance in the Customer Goods in Transit and Storage Policy.  

The first $2,000.00 of the policy is insured by your Removal Company.

Above this amount, the risks of fire, lightning, aircraft, earthquake, storm and tempest, flood, water from fixed pipes or systems, riots, strikes and civil commotion, explosion and impact damage while the goods are in storage are insured by CGU Insurance Limited (ABN 27 004 478 371 AFSL 238291) of 181 William Street Melbourne Vic 3000 and the rest of the transit and storage cover is insured by Associated Marine Insurers Agents Pty Ltd  (ABN 41 006 104 007 AFSL235383) as agent for and owned by Zurich Australian Insurance Limited (ABN 13 000 296 640) of 495 Collins Street Melbourne Vic 3000. 

Significant features and benefits of the policy

You may select from a number of alternative types of cover available under the policy for loss or damage to your goods. 

Type of Risks - Full Cover insures you for most risks of loss or damage to your goods. However, Restricted Cover only insures you for accidental loss or damage which occurs as a result of:

·          Fire, explosion, lightning, and flood

·          Overturning and/or derailment of conveyance

·          Collision of vessel, aircraft or conveyance

·          Crashing or forced landing of aircraft

·          Stranding, sinking, or contact of a vessel with any external object other than water

·          Entry of water into any vessel, hold, container lift van or place of storage 

Basis of Settlement - Under Replacement Cost cover, if your goods are lost or totally destroyed, you receive the new replacement cost provided the goods are less than 7 years old. Under Market Value cover, you only receive the current market value of the goods. If the goods are damaged, both covers will cover the reasonable cost of repair. 

Limits and exclusions from cover

The table below summarises the limits on the covers provided. 

 Cost of the policy

The amount you pay for the insurance depends on the value of the goods being removed or stored.

Other factors which determine the premium include:

·          The type of insurance selected by you (market or replacement value, transit or storage)

·          The distance the goods are transported or period for which the goods are stored

·          The insurance cover selected (all risks or only specified risks.

The amount you pay includes any stamp duty and GST.

Our quotation for your transit insurance is firm. Your Removal Company will give you one month’s notice of any change in the storage insurance rate. 

How do I select the amount to be insured?

It is important that you insure your goods for their full value. This means that you should tell us about the:

·          New current value for Replacement Cost Cover (with no allowance for depreciation)

·          Replacement cost less an allowance for depreciation for Market Value Cover. 

If the declared value of the goods is less than 80% of their actual value at the time of the loss or damage, the amount of the claim will be reduced in the same proportion as the declared value bears to 80% of the actual value. 

How you pay for the insurance

The premium will be shown on the quotation for your Contract for Removal and Storage which your Removal Company will provide to you before your goods are removed. When you accept the quotation, your Removal Company will invoice you 

You pay for transit insurance when you pay your removal charges. Your Removal Company will invoice you for storage insurance at the same time as the storage charges.

Excess

The amount that you receive for a claim will be reduced by $100.00. This is known as an excess. 

Conditions  Some conditions apply to your policy. Full details are set out in the policy wording. The significant conditions are summarized below: 

Duty of disclosure - When you apply for insurance we rely upon the information you provide to decide whether to insure you, and anyone else to be covered, and on what terms. If you do not answer all questions honestly we may reduce or refuse a claim, or cancel the policy.  

Cooling off – You may return the insurance contract up to 20 days after the date of the invoice for the removal, storage and insurance (the cooling off period). However you may not return the insurance contract after the commencement of the work.

To return the contract, notify the removal company within the cooling off period. Any premium paid will be returned. The notification can be made by telephone or posted to the address detailed on the removal contract or invoice. 

What do I do if I need to make a claim? The policy wording has detailed instructions about how to make a claim.  

Complaints and disputes about the policy If you have a concern, complaint or dispute about the policy which involves a claim, contact the Executive Director at AFRA on (02) 9659-5300.They will try to resolve your problem immediately. If they are unable to do so, you can request that your problem be considered by their internal dispute resolution process.  

Send mail to anne@dawsonmoving.com.au with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 07/22/09