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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
• ID Theft
• Accidental, Liquid & Malicious Damage
• Mechanical or Electrical Breakdown
• Worldwide cover
• Airtime Abuse up to £10,000 per claim
• £500 Limit to accessory cover is not dependent on where the accessories were purchased.
• SIM Card

The cost of the policy is dependant on the make and model of phone you purchase (this includes any taxes or additional charges which may apply). The policy is automatically renewed each month, with the monthly payment being taken by Direct Debit. The monthly payment is separate from any payment made to an airtime provider.

Accessories are covered where they have been lost, stolen or damaged at the same time as the phone, or where they are incompatible with a phone replaced as a result of a valid claim.

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 0844 871 0600

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, £9.99, £11.99 or £13.99 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.

ID Theft Covers

• Specialist advice and assistance on how you can reduce your risk of identity theft
• In the event of identity theft occurring to you, you will be covered for a the maximum reimbursement of £50,000 during any 12 month period in respect: Please refer to main benefits section in the PAS leaflet.

The policy excess of £50 is for each mobile phone upon a successful claim and £10 for each mobile phone if the date of incident is more than 6 months after the purchase date of this policy, and/or 6 months has elapsed since the date your last successful claim was accepted

• The policy excess of £50 for each mobile phone upon a successful claim, £10 if the date of incident is more than 6 months after the purchase date of this policy, and a of 6 month has elapsed since the date your last successful claim was accepted.
• Theft of the phone where it has been left visible in an unattended motor vehicle
• Theft of the phone from any unattended building or premises, unless evidenced damage was caused in gaining entry to, or exit from, the building or premises
• Theft or loss where the phone has been left negligently or deliberately in a public place or a place to which others have access
• Theft of, loss of or damage to the phone where it has been passed to someone else other than a family member
• The replacement of any digital content stored in the memory of the phone, or on a hard disk, memory card or other storage media
• Any claim made for the phone where the incident date is during the period of 14 days after you change the phone on cover, unless you have purchased the phone from Phones 4u, where cover will start immediately

ID Theft doesn’t include

• The policy excess of £50 upon each successful claim
• Any goods or services you have been charged for, or that have been obtained or purchased as a result of your identity having been stolen
• Any loss where your identity has not been stolen and fraudulently used
• Any loss of income, costs, legal fees or expenses in connection with any claim not agreed in advance by us
• Any loss arising from business pursuits or theft of a commercial identity

Full details can be found in sections C6, C7 and C8 of the Policy Document.

You have the right to cancel this policy within the first 14 days after receiving these terms by contacting Customer Services on 0844 871 0515*. We will refund your payment, although if a claim has been made during this period, you may be required to pay for the services provided.

Should you need to register a claim, you can do this online at www.policyadmin.co.uk or by telephone on 0844 871 0600.

You must inform the Police (or the relevant local authorities if you are outside of the UK at the time of discovering the incident) within 24 hours of discovering any loss, theft or malicious damage for which you wish to make a claim, obtaining an incident reference number. If the phone is lost or stolen, you must call the airtime provider within 24 hours of discovery to bar the SIM card. Doing this will prevent any further unauthorised calls being made.

You must register a claim with us within 48 hours of discovering an incident, by calling 00844 871 0600*, unless you are outside of the UK at the time of discovering the incident and unable to contact us, you must call us within the shorter of:

i. 48 hours of your return to the UK, or
ii. 30 days upon discovery of the incident

You must complete and return the claim form to us within 14 days of receiving it, ensuring that you have followed the procedure detailed on the claim documentation. When making a claim in respect of identity theft, please follow this simple step:

If you believe your identity has been stolen and/or fraudulently used, you should call us on 0844 871 0600* and follow the procedure detailed in sections E2, E3 and E4 of the Policy Document.

Please refer to section E of the Policy Document.

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 0844 871 0600.

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.