Share

'No-claims bonuses cost the insurance industry, puts consumers at risk'

accreditation
<B>GUNNING FOR THAT BONUS?</B> Consumers would often drive with a damaged car in order to protect their 'no-claim' bonus. <I>Image: iStock</I>
<B>GUNNING FOR THAT BONUS?</B> Consumers would often drive with a damaged car in order to protect their 'no-claim' bonus. <I>Image: iStock</I>

Cape Town  - No-claims bonuses reduce the number of claims from existing insurance clients, and promote the sales of new policies. Surely, this is a win-win for the insurance industry?
 
Not so, says Chris Barry, managing director of Heavy Commercial Vehicle Underwriting Managers (HCV), who warns that no-claims bonuses put many consumers at risk because they do not fully understand the implications of not claiming from their insurers.
 
What’s more, insurers themselves are likely to suffer unintended consequences when industry colleagues employ this marketing scheme.
 
Particularly in the case of third-party claims, where consumers feel someone else is responsible for an accident, they are likely to approach the insurer contracted to the third party rather than their own insurer.

Insurance claims: Know the 'no-claim bonus' fine print 

“When consumers approach the insurer of the person or company ‘responsible’ for the accident in their private capacity, they are not protected by contractual law because their contract is with their own insurer,” says Barry.
 
“Consumers have little understanding that motor claims are not transactions but variations of legal culpability.”
 
As a result, claims staff come under pressure to deal with irate consumers who are not their own clients, arguing about the merits of claims and frequently, unrealistic quantum’s.
 
Barry explains that this is a drain on resources in several ways.
 
“To guard company reputation in the age of social media and online consumer reviews, we are frequently compelled to send our assessors to view vehicle damage even though the vehicle is not covered by one of our policies. We also must assign someone from our claims team to manage communication with consumers – this means they are not spending time assisting clients,” says Barry.

READ: Caught drunk driving in SA? Why insurance claims are rejected

“In addition to the drain on resources, there an emotional impact on employees who must manage consumers who aren’t their clients as they are keenly aware that conflict between consumers and insurers brings the whole industry into disrepute.” 
 
Barry questions fellow insurers that appear to discourage claims from their policyholders using no-claims bonuses. 
 
“Insurers that focus their marketing and sales activity on passively discouraging policyholders from claiming may not actually be able to handle claims when they do occur. The reputational damage caused by consumer perception that insurance services aren’t reliable or trustworthy filters from one provider to the whole industry.”
 
While Barry acknowledges that incentives will always form part of the sales process, he says that insurance policies purchased on the promise of a no-claims bonus encourages poor decision-making, endangering both policyholders and insurers. 
 
“I support industry conversation that results in firm guidelines on the use of this marketing practise, to protect both consumers and insurers from no-claims bonuses,” he says.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE