Our Service and Terms and Conditions

Last updated: June 2025

  1. Acceptance of Terms and Conditions

Welcome to SmarterCover ("SmarterCover", "we", "us", or "our"). By accessing or using our website, services, or submitting your information to us, you ("user", "you", or "your") agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions ("Terms"). These Terms govern your access to and use of our website and services.

Please read these Terms carefully before using our services.1 By accessing our website or using our services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to comply with these Terms. This acceptance occurs by your continued use of the website, or by explicitly agreeing when submitting your information. This acceptance process is designed to be visible and enforceable under New Zealand law. If you do not agree with these Terms, or any part of them, you must cease using our website and services immediately and refrain from using our website.

  1. About SmarterCover and Our Services

SmarterCover provides insurance comparison services. We help connect you with independent financial service providers (like insurance brokers and brokerages, herein also referred to as "Partnered Financial Advice Providers") by matching your insurance needs with the right experts. We connect individuals seeking personal insurance (Life, Trauma, Income, Mortgage, and Health/Medical Insurance) with these Partnered Financial Advice Providers. We collect your information to connect you with Partnered Financial Advice Providers who may offer suitable products or facilitate access to them.

SmarterCover is not an insurance provider and does not provide financial advice. We do not issue policies, handle claims, or make underwriting decisions. Our role is to facilitate introductions to Partnered Financial Advice Providers who operate under a licence issued by the Financial Markets Authority and who specialise in insurance solutions. Any quotes, product information, or subsequent financial advice or recommendations you receive will come directly from a licenced Financial Advice Provider based in New Zealand. If you choose to engage in a financial advice process with a Financial Advice Provider, any advice provided by them will be tailored to your specific situation. A Financial Advice Provider may provide guidance over the phone, via video call, or in a face-to-face meeting.

SmarterCover is not responsible for the advice (or lack thereof), recommendations, or services that you may receive. Your engagement with any Financial Advice, and any decisions you make regarding insurance, are at your own discretion and risk.

2.1. Understanding Your Interaction with Partnered Financial Advice Providers

Once SmarterCover connects you with a Partnered Financial Advice Providers, your subsequent interactions and any decision to apply for insurance will be directly with that adviser. Two primary pathways may be available through the Partnered Financial Advice Providers, which they will clarify with you:

  •     Direct Application Pathway (Execution-Only or No-Advice Basis with your Partnered Financial Advice Providers):
    This refers to a situation where, after being connected to a Partnered Financial Advice Providers through our Services, you choose to proceed with an insurance application based on the initial quote(s) or product information provided or facilitated by that Partnered Financial Advice Providers, without receiving a personalised financial advice service from them for that specific application. In this scenario, you are making your own assessment of the suitability of the product, and the Partnered Financial Advice Providers facilitates the application process based on your self-directed choices. SmarterCover does not participate in this facilitation, nor does SmarterCover provide any financial advice or an execution-only service. The "no-advice" or "execution-only" service is a description of the service that may be offered by the Partnered Financial Advice Providers.
  •     Full Advice Pathway (Personalised Financial Advice from your Partnered Financial Advice Providers):
    This pathway describes a situation where, after being connected to a Partnered Financial Advice Providers through our services, you engage in a comprehensive consultation process directly with that Partnered Financial Advice Providers. The Partnered Financial Advice Providers will typically assess your individual financial situation, insurance needs, and objectives to provide you with personalised financial advice and specific recommendations regarding insurance products. If you choose to proceed with an insurance application based on this personalised advice from the Partnered Financial Advice Providers, the terms of cover or the product itself may differ from any initial quotes you received. SmarterCover does not participate in the provision of this advice; it is provided solely by the Partnered Financial Advice Providers.

Regardless of the pathway chosen for your insurance application, the Partnered Financial Advice Providers who facilitates your application is responsible for providing you with their own comprehensive disclosure documents. This disclosure will clarify, among other things, the specific nature and scope of the service they are providing to you, including whether they are proceeding on a "Direct Application Pathway (no-advice basis)" or a "Full Advice Pathway," in accordance with their obligations as a Partnered Financial Advice Providers. SmarterCover does not provide these disclosures for the Partnered Financial Advice Providers.

  1. Definitions
  •     Personal Information: This means any details that can identify you—like your name, contact information, or any other data that could be linked to you.
  •     Cookies/Tracking Technologies: These are small tools that help us remember your preferences and understand how our website is used.
  •     Service Providers/Partners: These are trusted third parties (such as insurance brokers or brokerages, herein also referred to as "Partnered Financial Advice Providers" as defined in Section 2) who might receive your information so they can contact you about your insurance options.
  1. Your Obligations as a User

You agree to:

  •     Provide accurate, truthful, and complete information when submitting inquiries or otherwise using our services.
  •     Use our website and services only for lawful purposes.
  •     Not engage in activities that could harm SmarterCover’s reputation or interfere with the proper functioning of the website.
  •     Not transmit harmful code, viruses, or malware.
  •     Not collect or track personal information of others without consent.
  •     Be at least 18 years old to use this website and submit an inquiry.
  1. Privacy: Our Commitment and Your Information

This section outlines our practices regarding your personal information and forms an integral part of these Terms. By agreeing to these Terms, you also agree to the practices outlined herein. We are committed to protecting your personal information and being upfront about how we use it, in accordance with the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020.

  •     Our Commitment to Your Privacy:
    Our website operates solely in New Zealand and follows the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020. We handle your personal data with care, and your trust is important to us. We promise to be clear about what we do with your information.
  •     Information We Collect:

○     What You Tell Us: When you fill out our forms to get a quote, we may ask for details such as:

■     Insurance Preferences: What types of insurance you’re interested in (e.g., Life, Income, Mortgage, Trauma, Health/Medical) and whether you already have cover in place.

■     Insurance Details: For Life Insurance (amount of cover); for Income Insurance (annual income, how long you could manage without income); for Mortgage Insurance (mortgage balance, monthly payment details); for Trauma Insurance (amount of cover); for Health Insurance (kind of medical cover, preferred excess).

■     Personal & Health Info: Your age, smoking/vaping status, and any relevant medical history (like heart attack, cancer, stroke, diabetes, or other conditions).

■     Contact Details: Your first name, last name, phone number, and email address.

○     What We Automatically Collect: When you visit our website, we automatically gather some basic information to help improve your experience, such as:

■     Usage Data: Your IP address, browser type, operating system, and the pages you visit.

■     Cookies & Similar Tools: These help us remember your preferences and understand how our site is used. (See "Cookies and Tracking Technologies" below for more details).

○     Info from Other Sources: If you choose to log in with a social media account or another service, we might get some additional details from that service—but only as allowed by their settings.

  •     Cookies and Tracking Technologies:
    We use cookies, pixels, and similar tools to:

○     Recognise you on future visits.

○     Understand how you use our site and improve your experience.

○     Serve you personalised content and ads. You can always manage or disable cookies through your browser settings, though doing so might change how some parts of our site work.

  •     How We Use Your Information:
    We use the information we collect to:

○     Provide Our Service: Create insurance quotes just for you and connect you with independent financial service providers (Partnered Financial Advice Providers) who can offer further advice or facilitate product applications.

○     Stay in Touch: Contact you about your enquiry or follow up with more information related to your insurance needs.

○     Improve Our Website: Learn how visitors use our site so we can make it better.

○     Keep Things Safe and Legal: Help prevent fraud and comply with New Zealand law.

  •     Sharing Your Information:
    We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. Any details you submit on this site will only be used for the purpose of connecting you with a qualified financial adviser (Partnered Financial Advice Providers). Your data will not be shared or sold to third parties beyond this scope. Advisers may contact you via phone, email, or other agreed methods to discuss your insurance needs.
    Sometimes we need to share your data to get you the best service possible:

○     With Our Partners (Partnered Financial Advice Providers): We share your details with independent insurance brokers and brokerages so they can reach out with the right insurance options or facilitate your application.

○     For Legal Reasons: If required by law, we may have to share your information with relevant authorities.

○     Business Changes: In the unlikely event of a merger or sale, your data might be transferred to a new owner. We’d let you know if this ever happens.

  •     Data Security:
    We store your data securely using HubSpot and Pipedrive. HubSpot and Pipedrive cloud services use strong security measures like encryption and regular backups. Although no system is perfect, we work hard to protect your information from unauthorised access and other risks.
  •     Data Retention:
    We only keep your personal information as long as necessary to: provide you with our services, meet legal obligations, and resolve any issues that might come up. After this period, we’ll either delete your data or make it anonymous.
  •     Your Rights Under the Privacy Act 2020:
    You have rights when it comes to your personal information under the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020. These include:

○     Access: You can ask to see the personal information we have about you.

○     Correction: If something is wrong or outdated, you can ask us to correct it.

○     Deletion: In certain cases, you can ask us to delete your data. If you’d like to exercise any of these rights, just get in touch using the contact details below.

  •     Managing Your Information:
    You can update your information or let us know if you no longer wish to receive communications from us or our partners. Many parts of our service let you manage your details directly on our website.
  1. Marketing Communications (Email and SMS)

SmarterCover may send marketing communications via email or SMS (text messages) to inform you about insurance products, special offers, updates, or other relevant information. You will only receive these communications if you have explicitly consented through our opt-in process. You can withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in emails or replying "STOP" to SMS messages. Alternatively, contact us directly at contact@smartercover.co.nz.

  1. Intellectual Property

The content, design, graphics, images, logos, and other materials on this website are owned by SmarterCover unless otherwise stated. Unauthorised reproduction, distribution, or use of any content from this website is prohibited.

  1. Third-Party Websites and Providers

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or refer you to third-party providers (including the Partnered Financial Advisers we connect you with). These links do not imply endorsement or approval of the content, products, or services provided by these third-party sites. We do not control or monitor these websites and are not responsible for their accuracy, relevance, or legality. Your interactions with any third-party provider linked from our site, or to whom we refer you, are solely between you and that provider. SmarterCover assumes no responsibility for the services, advice (or lack thereof), or recommendations provided by Partnered Financial Advice Providers.

  1. Disclaimers
  •     No Financial Advice from SmarterCover:
    Information provided on this website is general in nature and does not constitute personal financial advice from SmarterCover. SmarterCover does not provide financial advice. We facilitate introductions to Partnered Financial Advice Providers. Any quotes, product information, recommendations, or financial advice you may receive will be provided directly by these licensed third-party Partnered Financial Advice Providers. You should always seek professional financial advice tailored specifically to your individual circumstances before making any decision regarding insurance products, or ensure you understand the implications if you choose a no-advice pathway with your Partnered Financial Advice Providers. By using this website and submitting your details, you acknowledge that the information displayed on this site does not constitute financial advice from SmarterCover. As detailed in Section 2.1, the Partnered Financial Advice Providers is responsible for providing their own disclosures regarding the nature of their service to you (whether on a no-advice or full advice basis).
  •     Information Accuracy:
    SmarterCover aims to provide accurate and up-to-date information on insurance options. However, we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information provided by third-party providers or Partnered Financial Advice Providers. While SmarterCover strives to provide accurate and reliable services, we cannot guarantee outcomes based on information provided by Partnered Financial Advice Providers. The displayed results on our site are general indicators based on the limited details provided by users. The final insurance recommendation, if advice is sought, will be determined by the Partnered Financial Advice Providers after a thorough assessment of your situation. SmarterCover does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of insurance comparisons, premium estimates, or product information displayed on the site. Users are encouraged to exercise their own judgment when making decisions based on our services and the information or advice (or lack thereof) received from Partnered Financial Advice Providers.

 

  1. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless SmarterCover, its directors, officers, employees, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including2 reasonable legal fees and costs incurred in defending such claims) arising out of or in any way connected with: (a) your access to or use of our website or services; (b) your breach or violation of any of these Terms; (c) your misuse of the website; or (d) your infringement of any intellectual property or other right of any person or entity.

  1. Modifications to Terms and Services

We reserve the right to update or modify these Terms at any time. When we make changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of3 these Terms and post a notice on our website or notify you via email. Your continued use of our website following the posting of any changes constitutes acceptance of those changes. We may require you to accept the updated Terms before you can continue to use our services. We encourage you to check back occasionally to stay informed.

We also reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of our website or services at our discretion and without prior notice. We shall not be liable for any modifications, suspension, or discontinuation of our services.

  1. No Charges to Consumers

Using SmarterCover is completely free for consumers. You will not be charged for being connected with an adviser through our services.

  1. Adviser Compensation and Remuneration

Partnered Financial Advice Providers who receive leads from SmarterCover may pay a fee to us for the use of our platform and for the introductions we facilitate. These advisers are typically compensated by insurance providers through commissions when policies are placed. The commission structure may vary depending on the insurance provider and product. You have the right to ask your Partnered Financial Advice Providers for full disclosure regarding how they are compensated for their services. Advisers are required to provide you with a disclosure statement, which includes information about their remuneration, upon request and free of charge.

  1. Complaints and Dispute Resolution

If you have a complaint regarding our service or practices, please contact us first at contact@smartercover.co.nz. We will investigate promptly and aim for a fair resolution.

If we are unable to resolve your complaint to your satisfaction directly, we encourage the use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. Before escalating disputes to court, we require that you engage in good faith negotiations with us, and if those fail, that you consider mediation or arbitration as a means to resolve the dispute. This does not prevent you from seeking resolution through other channels if unresolved satisfactorily, and disputes may be escalated as per applicable New Zealand consumer protection laws.

 

  1. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of New Zealand. Any disputes arising from or in connection with these Terms,4 our website, or our services shall be resolved exclusively in the courts of New Zealand.

  1. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision5 shall still be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. The unenforceable or invalid portion shall be deemed severed from these Terms, and such determination shall not affect the validity and enforceability6 of any other remaining provisions.7

  1. Force Majeure

SmarterCover will not be liable for any delay or failure to perform any of its obligations under these Terms if such delay or failure is due to8 an event beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, war,9 terrorism, riots, civil unrest, embargos, acts of civil or military authorities, fire, floods, accidents, pandemics, epidemics, strikes, or shortages of transportation facilities, fuel, energy, labour10 or materials, or cyberattacks or failures of telecommunications or internet service providers (a "Force Majeure Event").

  1. Consumer Guarantees Act 1993

Nothing in these Terms is intended to limit or exclude any rights or remedies you may have under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, where you are a "consumer" as defined in that Act and the services we provide are of a kind ordinarily acquired for personal, domestic, or household use or consumption, except to the extent permitted by that Act.

  1. Fair Trading Act 1986

We are committed to ensuring that our terms are fair and transparent, in line with the Fair Trading Act 1986. We have taken steps to ensure these Terms are necessary to protect our legitimate business interests and are not unfair.

  1. Contact Information

For any questions, concerns, or requests regarding these Terms, your personal information, or our practices, please reach out to us at:

Email: contact@smartercover.co.nz