Does anyone else feel totally exasperated by the continual changes and demands placed on travel agents when it comes to selling Travel Insurance? No sooner am I getting used to one set of procedures that I'm being told 'all change!' and am being given another set of guidleines. I appreciate the importance of insurance and having the knowledge to pass on the relevant advice to our customers but really, having just re-taken my annual Insurance Assessment yesterday, I feel I could apply for a job at AXA! The content of the assessment modules (and I think there were 15 of them!) are just too detailed, labourious and timeconsuming. Not to mention the monthly reports, observations and shop audits now required of us. Of course it is important that our customers receive a fair service when it comes to insurance but when I look at mobile phone outlets it frustrates me as I can't help but think we get targeted unfairly in travel. Every mobile phone shop I have come across seems to get away with enforcing their monthly insurance premiums (and at far greater costs than any of my travel policies!) by scare mongering their customers. Can someone please just design a simple insurance training that we can all sit once a year, gain a certificate and then be left to concentrate on doing what we do best - sell holidays!
Well said Sara!!! I can't believe the amount of work involved in the modules and then the added pressure of being observed plus there are so many rules and changes I don't feel 100% confident in selling it anymore incase I make an accidental mistake that costs us!!!! I think it's about time the whole insurance process was made simpler so that travel agents can return to their normal duties of selling holidays!!
I wonder if all these changes have made any difference... since the FSA rules came in we have seen a massive increase in complaints about travel insurance from customers.
We only refer and no longer sell insurance, so we get the moans about all the other providers.... also seen an increase in uninsured problems... wonder if insurance sales have fallen?
As with many things it seen regulation for regulation's sake rather than a real wish to help consumers.
Sara, this is a really interesting point you've raised.
I work for Holiday Extras, and as well as providing Airport Parking and Hotels, we also provide a Travel Insurance solution. My background is in Insurance, and before this I worked in a general insurance company. I have worked (and continue to work) closely with the FSA, and understand their regulations for general insurance, and now specifically for the sale of 'connected travel insurance'. You're right that it protects customers, and this is of vital importance, but there are some easy ways of going about this.
Holiday Extras has just been voted 'Best Insurance Provider' for the second year running at the Travel Weekly awards, and we think this is because our solution is so easy for travel agents to use, and deals with many of your concerns. Alongside the obligatory paperwork for the FSA, we have created an online training and testing solution to make things as easy as possible.
This is a simple insurance training that everyone can sit once a year, and then you're ready to sell the holidays. Best of all, it's FREE!
Unfortunately, this training system is only available for our Appointed Representatives, who sell the Holiday Extras Insurance product. If you, or anyone reading this, would like any more information, please feel free to contact us... you can email us on relax@holidayextras.co.uk