What's The Law On Driving with My Phone?

From the 27th of February 2007 it was made an offence to use a mobile phone, or similar device, when driving. With a £60 fixed penalty fine or up to £2,500 upon conviction in court and 3 points on your license. Drivers still risk prosecution (for failure to have proper control) if they use hands-free mobile phones when driving.

By doing any of the following you are breaking the law:

• Holding a mobile phone on your person by any means while driving.
• Holding a mobile phone anytime a car's engine is switched on, even if the car is stationary, whether to make or take calls, send text messages or any other function.
• Causing or permitting anyone else to use a handheld mobile phone while driving.
• Holding a mobile phone while supervising a learner driver.

Exceptions to the law include:

• Dialling 999 or 112 in response to an emergency and cannot stop safely to make a call.
• 2-way radios are not covered by this offence but other devices for sending or receiving data like navigation aids, personal digital assistants (PDAs) or other computer equipment are covered by the offence if they are being held while driving.

How can I still make calls while driving?
You can still use a handsfree kit while driving as long as you are not holding it on your person while the engine is turned on. Handsfree kits include:

• Fully-integrated car kits with cradles
• Easy install, for example - a cigarette lighter or car kits with or without cradles
• Personal handsfree kits
• Bluetooth headsets
• Mobile devices with integrated loudspeakers

Phones4u has a wide variety of in-car solutions available - please visit our accessories page for details.

Phones 4u have compiled a list of safety tips to help you keep your mobile phone as safe as possible.

1. Always activate your phone's security lock and PIN numbers - This will prevent unauthorised calls being made on your phone if it is stolen.

2. Try to avoid using your mobile phone in crowded places - Thieves are known to hang around areas such as busy bus and train stations, as people tend to make calls as soon as they leave the station; so avoid using your phone as soon as you exit. If you do need to do so it is safer to use a hands free device, keeping the phone out of sight.

3. Never leave your phone unattended in a public place or in a vehicle.

4. Make a record of your mobile phones IMEI number - (key in *#06# and the IMEI number will be displayed). This 15-digit number is a unique number given to every mobile phone and will be needed by the police when reporting your phone stolen.

5. Consider security marking the battery and phone with your postcode and street number.

6. If your phone is lost or stolen report it to your network - The network has the facility to bar your phone so it cannot be used to make unauthorised calls.

Mobile phones are used for much more than making calls and sending texts, they contain the contact details of friends and family, task lists for work and reminders about special occasions. How frustrating would it be if this information was suddenly all gone? How long would it take to replace it all?

With storemynumbers ™ you don't have to worry, as you can keep your phone's essential information backed-up in a safe, secure place. It's easier than typing out a spreadsheet and much safer than a piece of paper.

storemynumbers ™ uses technology that allows you to transfer data direct from your mobile phone into a personal, secure web server. Then, should your phone be ever lost, stolen or damaged, you will be able to retrieve all the information you have stored on the web server to your replacement or repaired phone°. Simple!

All this and more for only £1.99 per month, or you can register for 12 months for a one-off payment of £20.

To Buy now or find out more

Did you know that a mobile phone is stolen every minute?*

For your peace of mind, we offer Premierplan insurance EXCLUSIVELY to phones4u customers, on all our pay monthly mobiles.

Take out our Premierplan Insurance and get protection against the following

• Loss
• Theft
• Accidental, Liquid & Malicious Damage
• Mechanical or Electrical Breakdown
• Worldwide cover
• Airtime Abuse up to £10,000 per claim
• Accessories up to £500 if bought in Phones4u
• SIM Card

Depending on the price of your handset, you can insure your phone from as little as £7.99 each month. See below for an overview of what our Premierplan insurance will cover, or click on policy document for full details.

By setting up a Direct Debit, your phone will be insured immediately for your protection. You are under no obligation and can cancel your insurance at any time. Your welcome pack will explain everything you need to know or you can call our Helpline on 0870 900 644

*Source: Mobile News, November 2003.

Phones 4u Limited (FRN 404471) is an Appointed Representative of Policy Administration Services Limited (FRN 307406) who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

The cost of your policy will be either £7.99 or £9.99 per month depending on the make and model of the phone you purchase. The price will be shown to you if you opt to buy insurance at checkout. This policy is automatically renewable each month, with the payment being taken by Direct Debit. The monthly payment is separate from any payment you make to the airtime provider (eg. O2 or Vodafone).

• The cost of replacing your phone as a direct result of loss or theft whilst you are in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands
• The cost of replacing your phone as a direct result of loss or theft elsewhere in the world, providing your phone has been enabled to operate outside the UK
• The cost of repairing your phone (or replacing your phone if it cannot be repaired) where accidental damage, water or liquid damage or malicious damage has occurred
• The cost of repairing your phone (or replacing your phone if it cannot be repaired) where damage has been caused by electrical or mechanical breakdown.
• The cost of unauthorised calls made up to a maximum of £10,000 per claim
• The replacement of your accessories, up to a combined retail price of £500, lost, stolen or damaged at the same time as your phone
• The replacement of your accessories up to a combined retail price of £500 if we have replaced your phone with an alternative model as a result of a successful claim and your accessories are no longer compatible with your new phone.

The policy excess is 50 for each claim.

• The policy excess. The policy excess is 50 for each claim.
• Loss, theft or damage to your phone under the following circumstances:
• whilst in an unattended motor vehicle, unless it is in a secured in a glovebox or locked boot.
• Whilst in an unattended building, unless damage was caused in gaining entry to or exit from the premises
• Where it has been left accidentally or deliberately in a public place or a place to which others have access
• Where it has been passed to someone else

You have the right to cancel your policy within the first 14 days of your contract and will be entitled to a full refund of any insurance payments made by you. Simply call our Helpline on 0870 900 6444. After 14 days you may cancel your policy with immediate effect by calling 0870 900 6444. Any payments you have made until that date will be retained.

Should you need to register a claim, you can do this online at www.policyadmin.co.uk or by telephone on 0870 900 6444.

1. You must register a claim within 48 hours of any incident for which you wish to claim, by visiting our website at www.policyadmin.co.uk or by contacting Customer Services on 0870 900 6444.
2. You must inform your airtime provider and Police within 24 hours of discovering any loss, theft, or malicious damage for which you wish to make a claim, obtaining the appropriate incident number
3. You must complete and return the claim for to us with 14 days of receipt, ensuring that you have followed the procedure detailed on the claim documentation
4. You must return your damaged phone and accessories to us by secure means as described in the claims documentation. The phone remains your responsibility until received by us
5. You must ensure that no-one but the administrators approved agents carry out repairs to, or maintenance of, the phone or accessories
6. You must provide proof of purchase for your phone, if you have replaced it since your policy started
7. You must pay the excesses stated on your certificate when you make a claim

We will always be fair and reasonable when handling your policy or claim. Should there ever be an occasion when you feel we have not provided you with a satisfactory level of service, we would like you to inform us so that we can do our best to solve the problem. We will do everything possible to ensure that your query is dealt with promptly.

The easiest way to contact us is to call our Customer Relations team on 0870 906 3118.

Alternatively you can write to us at the following address:

Customer Relations Department
Policy Administration Services Ltd
PO Box 290
CREWE
CW1 6YF

Please quote your mobile number in all correspondence.