FAQs

1. Who is eligible for this cover?
2. Who underwrites this Mortgage Payment Protection ?
3. What is this Mortgage Payment Protection designed to do?
4. What does Mortgage Start Date mean?
5. Can I have joint cover?
6. What does normal monthly mortgage payment mean?
7. Can I take out this Mortgage Payment Protection if I am borrowing from a relative or other private lender?
8. How long will I be covered for?
9. How much can I insure?
10. How long do I have to wait before this Mortgage Payment Protection covers me for unemployment?
11. Will this Mortgage Payment Protection give me immediate cover if I transfer from another insurer?
12. When does cover end?
13. When can I claim if I am unemployed?
14. When can't I claim if I am unemployed?
15. If I am self-employed are there any restrictions?
16. If I am a contract worker are there any restrictions?
17. Will I be able to claim if I am in receipt of a payment in lieu of notice?
18. When can I claim if I am off work due to Accident / Sickness?
19. Will this Mortgage Payment Protection cover me if I have got a pre-existing medical condition?
20. Does this Mortgage Payment Protection contain other exclusion?
21. How do I make a claim?
22. Can I make more than one claim?
23. Can I change the nature of my claim?
24. What is the cost of cover?
25. Can I cancel this Mortgage Payment Protection?
26. What should I do if I need to complain?
27. Can I transfer my benefit under this Mortgage Payment Protection to another person?
28. How do I pay for this Mortgage Payment Protection?
29. Am I entitled to compensation if the Insurer is unable to meet its liabilities?
30. Is my personal information safe?
31. What is covered if I include Household bills cover?
32. What if I have another question?

1. Who is eligible for this cover?
   UK residents between the ages of 18 and under 63 who are in full-time work (be they full-time, permanent employees, self-employed or on renewable contracts) and working for more than 16 hours a week at the time of taking out the policy. N.B. for full eligibility criteria please refer to Section 1 of the Policy Document.
   
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2. Who underwrites this Mortgage Payment Protection?
   This Mortgage Payment Protection is underwritten by certain Underwriter's at Lloyd's who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Policies are administered by Marketing and Management Services Ltd, MMS. Full information is provided in the Policy Document.
   
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3. What is this Mortgage Payment Protection designed to do?
   This mortgage protection policy is designed to protect your normal monthly mortgage re-payments and bills (where you have selected this cover option), if you are unemployed and/or incapacitated due to accident or illness and therefore unable to work.
   
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4. What does Mortgage Start Date mean?
   This means the date that the mortgage you are protecting under this policy started.
   
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5. Can I have joint cover?
   If two or more people want to be insured then they will need to submit separate applications, where they can cover exactly the proportion of the monthly mortgage payments that they wish, from 1% and 99% all the way to 100% each (so long as all applicants are eligible and the benefit is within the minimum and maximum limits).
   
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6. What does normal monthly mortgage payment mean?
   This means the amount you pay each month to your mortgage lender. If your mortgage allows you to make variable repayments then you should calculate an average figure in order to assess your normal monthly mortgage payment.
   
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7. Can I take out this Mortgage Payment Protection if I am borrowing from a relative or other private lender?
   This Mortgage Payment Protection safeguards only mortgage agreements from a recognised mortgage lender, authorised by the Financial Services Authority. However, we also offer an Income Protection Insurance which can cover your general monthly income. Please follow this link for further details.
   
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8. How long will I be covered for?
   This policy will provide, subject to applicable exclusions and conditions, claims benefits for a maximum of 12 months; provided the insured remains unable to work and the policy End Date has not been reached. Full information is provided in the Policy Document, see Sections 2, 5, & 8 specifically about the duration of cover and claims.
   Want claims to be paid for 18 months? Click here
   
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9. How much can I insure?
   The monthly benefit amount must not be less than £100 or more than £2000 and must not exceed 50% of your gross monthly salary. Full information is provided in the Policy Document, see the definition of 'Monthly Benefit' in Section 2.
   Need cover up to £3,000 or 90% of Net Income? Click here
   
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10. How long do I have to wait before this Mortgage Payment Protection covers me for unemployment?
    This Mortgage Payment Protection has an initial exclusion period of 120 days at the start of the policy during which you cannot make a claim for unemployment. For more information please read the Policy Document, see sections 2 & 5 specifically for information on the 'Initial Exclusion Period'.
    
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11. Will this Mortgage Payment Protection give me immediate cover if I transfer from another insurer?
    Yes, within certain terms and conditions, please see Section 5 of the Policy Document for full details.
    
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12. When does cover end?
    Your cover and entitlement to Monthly Benefit will end automatically as soon as one of the following occurs:
    
    a) You die or;
    b) You retire from Work or reach the statutory retirement age, whichever is the earlier or;
    c) You stop residing or Working in the United Kingdom or;
    d) You do not pay Your Premium on the due date (Premiums received after the due date may at Our discretion, be allocated to continuing the insurance or returned to You) or;
    e) You have no monthly mortgage payments (unless We confirm in writing that cover may continue).
    
    In the event of fraud We may cancel your Policy immediately and no refund of Premium will be given.
    
    You can cancel this Policy at any time by giving the Administrator at least 30 days written notice addressed to the Administrator, MMS of Melbourne House, Melbourne Street, Farsley, Pudsey, Leeds. LS28 5BT
    
    We may cancel this Policy at any time by giving at least 90 days written notice to You at Your last known address. If We do, any premium You have paid for the period after the cancellation date will be refunded. This will not affect any rights to benefits which You may already have under this Policy which arise before the Termination Date. It may become necessary for Us to cancel Your Policy due to:
    - You failing to disclose any material information to Us that is relevant to Your application for this Policy or to any claim;
    - Any actual or predicted legal or regulatory requirement;
    - An unforeseen increase in claims under all policies of the same type issued by Us;
    - An unforeseen event that prevents Us from continuing to provide or the Administrator continuing to administer Your Policy.
    
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13. When can I claim if I am unemployed?
    This Mortgage Payment Protection will allow you to make a claim for unemployment if you meet certain conditions such as: you must be receiving income support, job seekers allowance and be registered as available for work. For full details, please refer to Section 5 of thePolicy Document.
    
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14. When can't I claim if I am unemployed?
    As with all Insurance, this policy contains exclusions which mean that in certain circumstances you will not be able to claim. Please refer to sections 5 & 6 of the Policy Document for full details.
    
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15. If I am self-employed are there any restrictions?
    Yes, unfortunately we do not offer cover to self-employed individuals.
    Click here for cover for the self-employed
    
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16. If I am a contract worker are there any restrictions?
    Yes, if you are a contract worker you should refer specifically to Sections 1, 2 & 5 of the Policy Document for terms relating to contract workers.
    
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17. Will I be able to claim if I am in receipt of a payment in lieu of notice?
    No. Please see the definition of 'unemployed/Unemployment' in Section 2 of the Policy Document
    
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18. When can I claim if I am off work due to Accident / Sickness?
    If you are signed off work due to Accident or Sickness for more than the waiting period then you may be entitled to benefits. Please see Sections 2, 5 & 6 of the Policy Document for full terms and conditions.
    
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19. Will this Mortgage Payment Protection cover me if I have got a pre-existing medical condition?
    If you have a pre-existing medical condition then certain restrictions will apply and the policy may not cover you. Full information is provided in the Policy Document, see the Definition of 'Pre-existing Condition' in Section 1 and also Section 5 relating to Pre-existing Conditions.
    
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20. Does this Mortgage Payment Protection contain other exclusions?
    Yes, as with all insurance this policy contains other general exclusions and limitations. Full information is provided in the Policy Document.
    
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21. How do I make a claim?
    Full information about how to make a claim is provided in the Policy Document. Generally, you should contact MMS on 0113 255 8611 for a claim form.
    
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22. Can I make more than one claim?
    Yes. For full details see Sections 5 & 8 of Policy Document.
    
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23. Can I change the nature of my claim?
    Yes, it is possible to change the nature of your claim between Unemployment and Accident or Sickness. See Section 5 of the Policy Document for full details.
    
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24. What is the cost of cover?
    The cost of cover varies depending on the option for cover you select and your age. Please use our quote page and you will be able to view a quote within seconds.
    
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25. Can I cancel this Mortgage Payment Protection?
    Yes, you can cancel at any time. Full information is provided within the Policy Document.
    
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26. What should I do if I need to complain?
    If you need to complain please refer to Section 12 of your Policy Document.
    
    If your complaint relates to the way in which the policy has been sold, advertised or marketed, you should follow the complaints procedures shown in the Initial Disclosure Document. This is provided both before and after purchasing the insurance.
    
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27. Can I transfer my benefit under this Mortgage Payment Protection to another person?
    No, benefits cannot be assigned to a third party. Full information is provided in the Policy Document.
    
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28. How do I pay for this Mortgage Payment Protection?
    Premiums are payable monthly by Direct Debit.
    
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29. Am I entitled to compensation if the Insurer is unable to meet its liabilities?
    Yes, under this Mortgage Payment Protection you are entitled to receive compensation. See Section 10 of the Policy Document for full information.
    
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30. Is my personal information safe?
    Absolutely. Both Columbus (as the seller) and MMS (as administrators) are committed to maintaining your personal data in accordance with Data Protection legislation and the highest standards of data handling. See Section 9 of the Policy Document for full information.
    
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31. What is covered if I include Household bills cover?
    You can cover any household bills, payable to a defined third party on a monthly basis, such as; mortgage related insurance costs (buildings & Contents, Life cover), TV License, Gas, Water, Electricity, Council Tax.
    
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32. What if I have another question?
    

    For queries about new quotations please call: 0870 899 3361 or email: help@columbusprotect.com

    For queries regarding existing cover please email: customerservice@columbusprotect.com

    For general business-to-business or affiliate enquiries please email: b2b@columbusprotect.com

    Please note, if you are an existing customer with a question or you want to notify us about a claim, you can telephone the administrators of the insurance, MMS on 01132 558 611.

    We will endeavour to respond to your e-mail enquires within 2 working days.

    Please consult the Policy Document for a full explanation of any of these terms and how they apply.

Phone for quote: 012 345 678