| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 17/04/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 22 |
| Copyright: Other |
Survey reveals agents’ ignorance of new GISC
TRAVEL agents remain oblivious to what the General Insurance Standards Council stands for and what it is trying to achieve, a survey has revealed.Insurance firm Euclidian said it questioned 52 agents at a roadshow and not one knew what it stood for.
Even more alarming was that only a handful had ever heard of it.
The study, conducted at a roadshow held by the Truly Independent Professional Travel Organisation in Glasgow, followed a bid by the GISCto introduce new laws governing the sale of insurance.
Euclidian managing director Steve King said: “I expected recognition to be low but I didn’t expect it to be zero. I can understand agents perhaps not knowing what GISC stands for but was surprised so few had even heard if it. It was disappointing because this was an issue with far-reaching implications for agents.”
The GISC dropped plans to make it compulsory for agents to join its scheme after pressure from ABTA.
Agents can join it on a voluntary basis although none have yet done so.
Euclidian is now attempting to form its own scheme for its 400-500 agent partners.
In return for a fee, the company will train agents and act as an umbrella organisation.
“In time the Government could force its own regulation on the insurance industry which is something we don’t really want,” said King. “We have to show we can govern it ourselves.”