Terms and Conditions
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SUMMARY OF COVERAGE & CONDITIONS
1. WHAT THE VALUATION PROTECTION COVERS
The valuation protection covers all risk of loss or damage to household goods, furniture
and effects - subject to certain provisions and exclusions which are listed below.
The detailed clauses and conditions applicable to the valuation protection are available
on request. Coverage applies from the time the goods are collected from the named
address and continues during the ordinary course of transit until delivered by the
carrier and/or its representatives to the domicile or stored at the named destination.
2. PRINCIPAL PROVISIONS AND EXCLUSIONS
a. The goods must be insured for their full value at destination; otherwise, the
full amount of a claim will not be recoverable.
b. Claims related to articles forming part of a pair or set are recoverable for
only a proportionate part of the value of the pair or set, unless additional coverage
is purchased.
c. Owner-packed goods only. Owner-packed goods are not insured against breakage
or damage. Missing items will be covered only if a detailed list of the contents
of each owner-packed box is submitted prior to shipping.
d. The following items are not covered by the valuation protection: jewelry; watches;
trinkets; precious stones and metals; coins; money; securities; stamps; deeds; documents;
foodstuffs; liquids; medicines; drugs; plants and livestock; and, unless previously
agreed in writing, wines and spirits.
e. The valuation protection excludes claims in respect to:
i. wear, tear, or gradual deteriorations; moth or vermin infestation; rust; mildew;
and/or any process of cleaning or repair
ii. consequential loss of any kind or description
iii. mechanical or electrical breakdown or derangement, unless additional coverage
is purchased
iv. any loss and/or damage occasioned to or by perishable goods, acids, paints,
aerosols, medicines, and liquids of all descriptions included in the consignment
v. loss of value as a result of repairs
vi. loss or damage by climatic or atmospheric conditions
vii. delay, confiscation, or detention by Customs or other officials or authorities
3. STORAGE
In the case of household goods:
- 120 days total at origin and/or destinations. Thereafter the valuation protection
can be extended upon application to the carrier and payment of an additional premium.
In the case of motor vehicles:
- 60 days at origin
- 30 days at destination
NOTE: It is your responsibility to apply for any extensions to the above periods;
an application form is enclosed in this packet
4. MOVING CHARGES
In addition to the valuation protection on the household goods, valuation protection
is offered for charges you have paid to the carrier only in the event of total loss
of the whole consignment.
CLAIMS
In the event of loss or damage, full details of the claim must be provided within
30 days. The actual claim must follow within 90 days. Details of the claim procedure
are shown below.
In the event of a claim, you must notify northAmerican International immediately
and send the following documents:
Claims can either be filled out online via the northAmerican International Web site
or sent via fax or mail to:
northAmerican International
Attn: International Claims Dept.
700 Oakmont Lane
Chicago, IL 60559
Phone: 630-570-3516
Fax: 630-570-3541
DETAILED TERMS & CONDITIONS
PROPERTY COVERED
Household Goods and Personal Effects, Antiques, Fine Art, Automobiles, Boats, Motorcycles,
Campers and Trailers as declared and valued on the Valued Inventory form.
COVERAGE
All risks of physical loss or damage subject to the version of the following London
Institute Clauses Current at the time of commencement of transit:
- Cargo (A), War, Strikes, Classification, Insolvency Exclusion Amendment, Radioactive
Contamination Exclusion. For the purposes of general average contribution and salvage
charges recoverable hereunder, the effects insured will be deemed to be insured
for their full contributory value.
EXCLUSIONS
This valuation protection does not cover:
A. Breakage, scratching, denting, chipping, staining, and tearing of owner-packed
effects, unless directly caused by fire, stranding, sinking or collision or overturning
of transporting land conveyance. Also excluded are claims for missing items of owner-packed
containers, unless an itemized valued list of contents is supplied by the owner
prior to commencement of transit.
B. Loss or damage caused by gradual deterioration; wear; and tear; atmospheric or
climatic conditions; inherent vice; electrical. Electronic and mechanical derangement
are excluded unless additional valuation protection is provided.
C. Jewelry, money and securities are excluded absolutely.
D. Depreciation arising from inadequate or substandard repairs or restoration of
a damaged item.
E. Loss or damage to an automobile while being driven under its own power, except
while on the premises of the port or while being driven by an authorized driver
who is an employee of the freight forwarder or his representative in direct furtherance
of the transit.
F. Loss or damage caused by scratching, denting, or marring of automobiles, unless
the forwarder and the owner both agree and sign a "certificate of condition"
or similar document stating the condition of the automobile prior to shipment and
noting all defects. Also excluded are non-factory installed accessories not specifically
declared and valued for valuation protection and goods packed in autos.
G. Loss or damage caused by radiation or radioactive contamination.
H. In respect of magnetic and/or optical storage devices, subject to policy conditions
and limits, coverage is limited to:
a. Physical loss or damage to the storage devices,
b. Reasonable costs insured in reinstating the data contained within such device,
following physical loss or damage in a) above. The indemnity under this clause is
limited to $150 per any one storage device, excluding claims arising from unexplained
loss of data and/or magnetic disturbance.
GENERAL CONDITION
1. VALUATION CLAUSE: The household goods and personal effects insured must be valued
at the replacement cost at destination as supported by complete valued inventory.
2. Antiques and fine art, automobiles, campers, boats, motorcycles, and trailers
must be valued at their replacement cost at destination, taking into account costs
of duties, shipping, and carriage charges.
3. 100% CO-valuation protection CLAUSE: If you fail to insure for the full replacement
value of goods at destination for your entire shipment, you will be entitled to
recover from Underwriters only the proportion of the loss as the declared value
bears to the total value of the property you shipped.
4. PAIRS & SETS CLAUSE: Where any item is part of a pair or set, Underwriters
will pay only for the actual parts which are lost or damaged. No payments will be
made for articles that are not damaged, unless additional valuation protection is
purchased.
5. DURATION OF TRANSIT CLAUSE: Coverage attaches from the time the household goods
and personal effects and/or automobile and/or other approved items are being professionally
packed and picked up at the residence or business location of the insured for the
commencement of the transit – including customary trans-shipment, if any –
until the insured property is delivered to the final destination. If the goods are
professionally unpacked, coverage is extended to cover the period of professional
unpacking, provided this takes place within 14 days of delivery. Storage coverage
for up to 120 days is included without additional charge if in an enclosed warehouse.
In consideration of an additional premium, Underwriters agree to extend storage
coverage, provided your request and premium are received before the expiration of
the included storage.
6. This valuation protection is subject to the English law and jurisdiction.
7. SUBROGATION CLAUSE: The Underwriters will be subrogated to the extent of their
payment for losses insured hereunder to all the insured's rights of recovery against
any person or organization, excepting the freight forwarder or carrier who issued
this document.
8. OTHER valuation protection: This valuation protection does not cover to the extent
of any other valuation protection, whether prior or subsequent hereto in date and
by whomsoever effected, directly or indirectly covering the same property, and the
Underwriters will be liable for loss or damage only for the excess value beyond
the amount due from such other valuation protection.
9. Underwriters will be entitled to the option to repair or replace any article
lost or damaged (whether wholly or in part) or to pay cash not exceeding the insured
value thereof. Underwriters may require proof of ownership and/or value of any items
claimed missing.
10. Claims on shipment of motor vehicles are subject to a deductible of $150 for
each and every vehicle.
11. CLAIMS NOTIFICATION: In the event of loss or damage which may give rise to a
claim under this valuation protection, immediate notice must be given in writing
to the Claims Center. It is a condition precedent to Underwriters' liability under
this valuation protection that all items lost or damaged are reported within 30
days after delivery or 30 days after scheduled delivery in the event of non-delivery.
Also, it is understood that presentation of claim in its entirety after notice will
be in a timely fashion not exceeding 90 days from the time of such notice.
CLAIMS PROCEDURE
In the event of a claim, you must immediately notify the Claims Department shown
below, and submit the following documents:
- Completed claim form
- Photographs of damaged items
- Estimates for repairs, purchase bills, or similar other receipts
In the event of short delivery of any packages or damage to the packages seen on
arrival, please notify – in writing – the Carrier who made the delivery.
Under no circumstances – except under written protest – should you give
a clean receipt if goods are in questionable condition.
Please send your claim to:
northAmerican International
Attn: International Claims Dept.
700 Oakmont Lane
Chicago, IL 60559 U.S.A.
Tel: 630-570-3516
Fax: 630-570-3541
