TRAVEL agents are still using hard-sell tactics to tie travel insurance to the sale of a holiday although the practice was outlawed more than a year ago, according to the General Insurance Standards Council.
In one case, a Lunn Poly agent told clients they had to buy the multiple’s policy if they wanted to book a holiday then and there, while direct-sell insurer Primary Direct claims it knows of hundreds of instances where agents have refused to confirm a holiday because the clients have not wanted to buy the retailer’s insurance.
Lunn Poly admitted the agent was trying to force clients to buy insurance but claimed it was a one-off. “Action has been taken,” a spokeswoman said.
“This is not Lunn Poly practice and we don’t want our customers served in this way.”
Agents who break the law will be expelled from the GISC, which was set up by the industry to regulate all insurance sales.
Aspokeswoman said:”We have heard reports from consumer groups that this is happening and we consider it to be very serious. If an offender persists they will be suspended or expelled.
“The problem is that agents are highly motivated through commission to make sure clients buy their policies.”