As a long-term
Insurance policyholder, or prospective policyholder, you have the right to the
following information:
1.
The Intermediary (Insurance broker representative) dealing with you must at the
earliest reasonable opportunity disclose:
- Name, physical and postal address and telephone
number
- Legal capacity: whether independent or representing
an insurer or brokerage
- Concise details of relevant experience
-
Insurance products that may be sold
- Insurers whose products may be marketed
- Indemnity cover held - Yes/No
- Shareholdings in insurers if 10 % or more
- Name of insurers from which the intermediary
received 30% or more of total commission and remuneration during the past
calendar year.
(The intermediary must be able
to produce proof of contractual relationship with and accreditation by the
insurers concerned).
2.
Your right to know the impact of the decision you elect to make:
- The intermediary or insurer dealing with you must
inform you of:
- The premium you may be paying
- The nature and extent of benefits you may receive
- If the benefits are linked to the performance of
certain assets
- How much of the premium will go towards the benefit?
- To what portfolio will your benefits be linked?
- The possible impact of this purchase on your
finances
- The possible impact of this purchase on your other
policies (affordability)
- The possible impact of this purchase on your
investment portfolio (affordability)
- The flexibility of changes you may make to the
proposed contract
- The contract terms of the product you intend to
purchase
(It is very
important that you are quite sure that the product or transaction meets your
needs and that you feel you have all the information you need to make a
decision).
3.
Your right when being advised to replace an existing policy:
You may not be
advised to cancel a policy to enable you to purchase a new policy or amend an
existing policy, unless:
- The intermediary identifies the policy as a
replacement policy
- The implications of cancellation of the policy are
disclosed to you such as :-
- The influence on your benefits under the old
policy.
- The additional costs incurred with the
replacement
- The insurer who issued the original, will contact you.
- You are advised to discuss the matter with its representative.
4.
Your right to be informed by the Insurer:
The insurer will
forward you documentation confirming policy details, which will also include:
- The name of the insurer
- The product being purchased
- The cost in Rands of the Transaction and
specifically:
- a.) The loadings, if any;
- b.) The initial expense; and
- c.) The amount of commission and other remuneration
being paid to the intermediary
-
In the case of policies with an
investment element, the ongoing expense and any other fees or charges
payable.
The summary in
terms of section 48 of the Long-term Insurance Act, 1998
The contact number and address of the complaints and compliance officers of the
insurer.(The insurer may disclose the above information on a generic basis with
additional policyholder specific disclosure).
5.
Your right to cancel the transaction:
In most cases, you
have a right to cancel a policy in writing within 30 days after receipt of the
summary contemplated in section 48 from the insurer. The same applies to
certain changes you may make to a policy. The insurer is obliged to
confirm with you whether you have this right and explain how to exercise
it. Please bear in mind that you may not exercise it if you have already
claimed under the policy or if the event, which the policy insures you against,
has already happened. If the policy has an investment component, you will
carry any investment loss.
6.
Important Warning
It is very important that
you are quite sure that the product or transaction meets your needs and that
you feel you have all the information you need before making a decision.
It is recommended that you discuss with the intermediary or insurer the
possible impact of the proposed transaction on your finances, your other
policies or your broader investment portfolio. You should also ask for
information about the flexibility of any proposed policy.
Where paper forms are required, it is advisable to sign them only once they are
fully completed. Feel free to make notes regarding verbal information,
and to ask for written confirmation or copies of documents.
Remember that you may contact either Long-term Insurance Ombudsman or the
Registrar of Long-term Insurance, whose details are set out below, if you have
any concerns regarding a product sold to you or advice given to you.
CONTACT DETAILS
Compliance Officer: Adv. D. Opperman B.A. LLB (UNIV. of Natal)
Cert.Comp.Man
3 Brabham House, Garlicke Crescent, Ballito
Tel:
032-946 2921
Fax: 032-946 2225
E-mail: info@nationalcompliance.co.za
FAIS
OMBUDSMAN
Postal Address : P.O.Box 74571, Lynnwood Ridge, 0040
CUSTOMER CARE DIVISION
0860FAISOM (0860 324
766)
Tel: +27 12 470 9080
Fax: +27 12 348 3447
E-mail: info@faisombud.co.za
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