DriveProtect Key Facts Claim Hotlines Legal Advice Line & Representation at Court 0845 459 7777 or (0800 567 7852) (please make sure you have your DriveProtect Membership number to hand) Email: members@driveprotect.co.uk 1
Legal Advice Line & Representation at Court Caught on Camera? If the Police have asked for details of the driver relating to an alleged speeding offence anywhere in England or Wales: Ring: 0845 459 7777 or 0800 567 7852 Quote Reference: Your DriveProtect Membership Number as found on your Membership Schedule Our Specialist Solicitors will give you advice and, if necessary, legal representation in Court. DriveProtect s panel of solicitors can help, but only if you tell them immediately when you are contacted by the Police and if you follow the advice given to you. 2
IMPORTANT INFORMATION How to cancel your policy You will have one month, commencing when you receive your documents in which to cancel your cover and get all your money back (as long as you have not made a claim). You can cancel your membership at anytime after the first month however you will not receive a refund. To cancel your membership please email members@driveprotect.co.uk Alternatively please telephone 0845 459 7777. Important note; to qualify for a refund within the first month you must within the first month have either emailed cancel@driveprotect.co.uk or telephoned 0845 459 7777 and registered your cancellation. Cancellation of the direct debit alone is not sufficient. How to make a claim: Should you wish to make a claim please use the following contact details: Legal Advice Line 0845 459 7777 (or 0800 567 7852) When making a claim please make sure you have your DriveProtect Membership number to hand. For Loss of Keys you will nee to quote the reference number found on the reverse of your fob or written on the pop out card. How to make a complaint: We hope that you will be pleased with the service provided by Drive Protect Ltd. However, if you have to make a complaint our contact details are: Email members@driveprotect.co.uk Tel: 0845 459 7777 (or 0800 567 7852 to make a complaint direct to our Motoring Solicitors) 3
Legal Advice Line & Representation at Court DriveProtect welcomes careful drivers but even the most careful of drivers may be 'flashed' by a FIXED or MOBILE speed camera. The consequent effect could be the loss of your driving licence and, if a company car user, the loss of your job. DriveProtect s Solution: DriveProtect and our panel of Solicitors will help you to challenge any prosecution that s instigated by the Police if you are caught by a FIXED or MOBILE speed camera, or if you are pulled over for speeding, in England or Wales. (note: DriveProtect Chauffeur Insurance cover applies if caught anywhere in the UK including Northern Ireland and all areas of Scotland). The Benefits: Advice on how to complete the forms sent to you by the Police; Telephone or, if appropriate, face to face meetings with the specially selected Specialist Motoring Offence solicitor to prepare a detailed defence; Legal representation in Court paid for by DriveProtect, subject to a small excess, by our specially contracted and trained Solicitors or Barristers. What You Must Do: Upon receipt of the request for information from the police: Telephone the Solicitors as soon as possible quoting your DriveProtect Membership number which is sent along with your Policy Document at the time of joining. Do not delay as time is of the essence. Please contact them Monday to Friday 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. on 0845 459 9017; Email the information requested by the Solicitor together with a scanned copy of the police request for information form to solicitors@driveprotect.co.uk or fax to 0845 459 9017 quoting the reference DRIVEPROTECT. What DriveProtect Will Do: The solicitor s office is available from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. and they will give you accurate advice always acting within the constraints of the law and in the best interests of you, the Client. If the solicitor is unavailable your details will be taken and a return call made to you by the office within 24 hours or within 24 hours of the next working day. The solicitor will: Plan how to complete the forms to reduce the risk of prosecution; Discuss with you whether you have a potential defence to the speeding allegation; Plan how to maximise your chance of securing your acquittal and help you to plead not guilty by post if necessary; Represent you at court: a) Where there is a defence to the summons or an absolute right to acquittal; b) Where there is an argument for special reasons not to endorse your license or disqualify you because, in the opinion of the solicitor, the circumstances of the case justify such an argument. 4
Legal Advice Line & Representation at Court (continued) UK Law states that you are responsible for your solicitor s fees, but DriveProtect will pay the fees, minus a small excess of: If the alleged offence occurred AFTER you became a Member: 100 including VAT, where representation at court is required. If the alleged offence occurred BEFORE you became a Member: From November 2010, we now offer to represent Members even if you had already received the Notice of Intended Prosecution at the time of becoming a Member. In this instance we will still represent you in good faith with an excess of just 600 + VAT. You must actually join as a Member in order to get this preferential rate but there is no minimum contract. We hope that we will do such a good job for you that you will choose to stay on as a Member. For any future convictions (received after the date you became a Member), the excess for representation at court will be the same as for all Members; 100 including VAT. Important: The excess must be paid to the Solicitors directly before any case preparation work or representation begins. Note: The small excess is designed as a commitment on your behalf so that DriveProtect is sure that you are serious about following through with the Defence and that you will turn up at Court and work with the Solicitors etc. This way we can be confident of allocating defence funds only to Members who will actually follow through with their defence. This excess should be paid direct to the solicitor before any court representation is organised. Conditions and Exclusions: 1 DriveProtect Membership provides representation at Court for Speeding charges as shown above. If you are summoned for other offences, such as drink driving, leaving the scene of an accident, or careless driving then of course you must be responsible for the cost of representation for them. However, as a Member courtesy you will be offered a heavily discounted rate if you choose to use DriveProtect Solicitors to represent you in these matters. Also, the solicitor will be pleased to give you telephone advice on all offences listed above, and any other Driving offences, again as a matter of courtesy for being a member. This advice will be paid for by DriveProtect. 5
Legal Advice Line & Representation at Court (continued) Conditions and Exclusions: 2. DriveProtect originally covered Members for just one court appearance with a Barrister or Solicitor. However it has become apparent that very occasionally the Solicitor or Barrister is required to appear on more than one day at Court on your behalf. With this in mind we have now introduced measures to heavily limit any cost liability to you as a Member. The cost is now limited to 195 including VAT for any additional day that the Solicitor or Barrister is required to attend Court. This is intended to protect you in the rare event of complex cases that run over to more than one day. In the rare event that you need the Barrister or Solicitor on more than one day then the additional daily rate must be paid directly to the Solicitors. All of the additional costs of representation for the extra day will be paid for by DriveProtect, up to an unlimited amount. 3. In any rare or unforeseen circumstances that fall outside the cover for representation, the Solicitor will give you telephone advice on the best course of action as a courtesy for being a Member. This advice will be paid for by DriveProtect. Expert Witnesses or Site Visits: If you decide that you wish to have either an expert witness or site visit then you can either organise them directly yourself or the Solicitor can do it for you. DriveProtect will pay for the Solicitors time in organising them if you so wish. If you require a site visit but do not wish to pay someone to do it on your behalf then you are of course free to conduct it yourself to take any photographs or notes etc. If the Solicitor agrees it is beneficial to have a site visit then they will tell you or the person attending the site exactly what information to gather. DriveProtect does not cover unusual or extraordinary costs that are requested by you, such as an expert witness or a site visit. In the event that you request an expert witness or a site visit to be undertaken by someone other than yourself (i.e. someone who has to be paid) then DriveProtect will pay for the Solicitors time in organising this, but the cost of any fees charged by an expert witness, or person attending a site visit must be paid for by you, the client. Security for Members: All lawyers who are to represent clients are vetted by DriveProtect and are specialist motoring offence solicitors and both they, and their staff, will be subject to regular quality reviews in respect of processes adopted. The quality of case planning, advice given and the quality of representation at court is of paramount importance to us and in the event of any complaint please raise it with the solicitor s firm and also report the matter to DriveProtect. 6