During your lifetime, you may take out a number of insurance policies to protect yourself against the risk of financial loss, through loss of your home, income or possessions. Read FIDO's tips about:

• Protecting yourself, your family and your property
• how insurance works
• how to choose an insurance policy that meets your needs
• how to minimise problems with claims
• buying insurance over the phone

This guide is intended to be practical rather than legal. The relationship between insurers and consumers is regulated by laws, particularly the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 and the financial services and markets provisions of the Corporations Act 2001. You should not rely on this guide if a legal dispute arises, but instead seek advice about your particular circumstances. This guide does not deal with:

• workers' compensation
• health insurance
• situations where the insurer is claiming money from you, for example as a result of a motor vehicle accident.

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