RWA Newsletter September 2013 | Page 8

RWA Masterclass Takes Place on Home Turf Join the discussion This month, we held our first free Master Class session in our new Head Office in Blaenavon, South Wales. Robin Wood took to the floor to take the insurance brokers in attendance through the case of Reynolds vs Rossborough and discuss how sloppy insurance broking will only result in claims being turned down and appearances in court becoming more frequent. Much of the Master Class was met with dropped jaws and gasps of disbelief as Robin relayed exactly what the duty of an insurance broker is and how they must go about performing these duties to a professional standard in order to avoid the courts. Helen Newcombe of Watkin Davies Insurance Consultants in Cardiff commented “It was an enjoyable day and I feel the cogs will be turning for some time!”. The Master Class was attended by insurance brokers that have been in the insurance broking industry for, in their own words, longer than they care to mention. However, with all their experience put together, which was well over a hundred years, there were points coming up that were leaving them shocked and a little concerned. Ian Douglas of Douglas Insurance Brokers in Swansea said: “With the day to day demands of every day broking life it is very difficult to prise oneself away from the office and one quite often doesn’t see the wood for the trees. This was an opportunity to look objectively at what we do, away from the distractions of the office. “This was time well spent from my perspective and Robin`s message is a wake-up call for insurance brokers who may choose to bury their heads in the sand on the premise that it can’t happen to them. They rely on a cosy relationship with “partner” insurers to get them out of jail when the proverbial hits the fan, but I fear that in the current climate they may be in for a rude awakening.” Not one of the insurance brokers left the room without having something in their mind that they wanted to see improved in their broking practice. Whether it be minute and note taking, filing, improving client documentation, or implementing stricter processes of sale, they all saw how they could be leaving themselves open to a difficult time in the court room should they, heaven forbid, ever find themselves in that position. RWA Master Classes always promise to leave insurance brokers with a lot to think about and guarantee to give you the tools you need to ensure your insurance brokerage is meeting the standards expected of you. If you would like to attend a Master Class or if you would like to organise a Master Class on your premises please contact [email protected] and I will be happy to help. 8