Agency Agreements
Groupama Insurances uses Terms of Business Agreements for its agencies
New clauses added to the Groupama Insurance Company Limited TOBA
From 1 November 2011, Groupama is adding two new clauses to its standard TOBA.
Firstly, we have set in place procedures that you must follow when notifying us of a fault claim arising on any policy issued under your TOBA. These prevent you from passing policyholder or third party information to other organisations or from using this data for financial gain.
Secondly, we are placing restrictions on the way you can sell or promote Groupama branded products. We will not allow our standard products to be sold via price comparison websites without our prior written agreement.
You can read about this in latest news and if you have a question you can email us at: toba@groupama.co.uk
Variation to TOBA
TOBA changes - some frequently asked questions
NEW 26 September 2011
We use the services of a third party organisation to take FNOL (first notification of loss) calls from our customers. Is this allowed under the new clauses?
Yes, your appointed organisation can continue acting for you. However, they must follow the terms of the TOBA agreement on all fault claims. We have referred to this type of organisation as 'Intermediary's Agent' within the agreement.
Many of our customers buy Legal Expenses or ULR cover. Where there is a question over who is at fault, do they need your permission to try and make a recovery on such losses?
The terms of the agreement relate to intermediaries or their agents who are taking FNOL (first notification of loss) instructions from a policyholder, not to the policyholders themselves. Where there is uncertainty the intermediary or their agent should deal with the claim as though it was a fault claim.
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Can I talk to some one about placing a Groupama product on a comparison site?
Any such requests need to be discussed and agreed with us. Please email toba@groupama.co.uk and the team will pass your query to the relevant team to consider.
How are emails to toba@groupama.co.uk dealt with?
The email inbox is looked at daily by our Business Services Team. The team will deal with technical agency queries direct, but anything relating to trading with us will be directed to the relevant Key Account Manager or Development Underwriter who will contact you direct.
Why are you preventing the passing on of claimant information?
This restriction in the TOBA only applies to fault claims. We expect policy holders in all circumstances to take steps to mitigate any loss suffered under their policies. We believe that employing the services of any sort of claims management company whose remit is to ‘get the best deal’ for a customer is likely to inflate any claims payment.
The new clauses state that once I am told about a fault claim I must notify you "immediately".What if this is not possible?
We expect all of our brokers to tell us immediately if it is reasonable for them to do so and certainly as quickly as they can.
Will the recent announcement that the Government intends to ban referral fees affect the introduction of the clause restricting the use of data?
No, we do not know when the ban will take effect in law, so it is prudent to proceed with the introduction of this restriction.
What sort of companies do you consider to be ‘claims farmers’?
Any one from solicitors to accident management and medical assessment companies, as well as repairers, hire companies and doctors.
