Back
Long-term
Short-term
February 3, 2020

A new gateway for insurance complaints

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p><strong>By: Offices of the Ombudsman for Long-Term Insurance and the Ombudsman for Short-Term Insurance</strong></p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p>In an effort to assist complainants who are unsure where to lodge an insurance complaint, a new portal or gateway has been launched.</p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p>The introduction of the additional point of entry for complaints relating to insurance products coincides with the coming into office of a joint Ombudsman for long-term (life) and short-term (non-life) insurance complaints from 1 January 2020.</p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p>Retired Judge McLaren, the current Ombudsman for Long-term Insurance, in addition takes over the adjudicative role in the office of the Ombudsman for Short-term Insurance.  Judge Ron McLaren brings with him a wealth of judicial experience and knowledge in dealing with and resolving insurance disputes.  Edite Teixeira-Mckinon has been appointed by the Board of the office of the Short-term Insurance Ombudsman as Chief Executive Officer of the office of the Ombudsman for Short-Term Insurance and will head up all operations.</p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p>For some time, National Treasury has advocated a self-rationalisation process for the four statutorily recognised voluntary financial services ombudsman schemes, namely long-term insurance, short-term insurance, banking and credit.</p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p>Against the backdrop of changes in the policy and insurance environment, the Boards of both insurance ombudsman schemes made an in-principle decision to enter into a shared services agreement and have a joint Ombudsman for the adjudication of both long-term and short-term insurance complaints.</p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p>The office of the Ombudsman for Long-term Insurance and the office of the Ombudsman for Short-Term Insurance will remain in existence and continue to operate separately within their current defined jurisdictions.</p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p>Judge McLaren said the single port of entry will be a welcome facility for complainants who are uncertain at which office to lodge a complaint. Complainants of both life and non-life insurance can also continue to use the existing entry points. If a complaint needs to be transferred to the other office, it will be a seamless process.</p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p><strong>The portal provides complainants with the following contact points:</strong></p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p><strong>Website:</strong> <a href="http://www.insuranceombudsman.co.za/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.insuranceombudsman.co.za&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1580825671417000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGFmsdwy7l7lBkEgrqyD4hH8Mqhng">www.insuranceombudsman.co.za</a></p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p><strong>Telefax: </strong>       086 589 0696</p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p><strong>Email:</strong>    <a href="mailto:info@insuranceombudsman.co.za">\info@insuranceombudsman.co.za</a></p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p><strong>Share call number:</strong>  0860 103 236</p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

Insurance technology with a difference.

Say goodbye to complex legacy technology, and hello to a different kind of software solution.

Book a demo