Agent Signing for an Applicant

[souldeux]

Rick,

Still waiting for you to buy me that plane ticket so that you can take me to Pebble Beach. If you're making that kind of dough off of Chumps, then I'll expect first class.

 

[arnguy]

The simple and direct answer is NO!

It is a sure way to lose your license and be fined by the DOI.

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

Rick...At least you could have given me the quarterly bonuses from UHC and Aetna.

But I do appreciate your honesty...much more than Rick Patin's honesty.
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Rick...at least you could have given me the quarterly bonuses from UHC and Aetna.

 

[Frank Stastny]

Frank,

With all due respect, why wouldn't you believe it? By now you must have some idea of how many agents are doing this in life and health. Of course the guys that are signing health apps for their clients are completely insane.

I had one carrier rep tell me that 50% of the agents were signing the online apps for their clients. The only upside is if they get caught with their pants down, it thins the herd.

You're right. After 16 years nothing an "agent" does should not surprise me.

When I was captive there was an agent working out of that office selling FE and telling the prospect they were purchasing a Med Supp for like $30 per month. He finally had his hat handed to him.

And agents wonder why prospects don't trust them.

 

[Newby]

Is it ever okay, in any state as an Agent to sign an application for your customer/the applicant?

That is called forgery. It's never OK unless the agent is also the insured or the policy owner. Is this a riddle or a trick question?

 

[darnardo]

I believe he is talking about e-signing

Ofcourse pen and ink signing would be out of the question. But this new method could be done easily as long as you are talking with the client in real time...

 

[David C]

Speaking of things agents sometimes do. Our town has had two P&C agents in about ten years who have pocketed premiums and not sent them to the company. One was a well known agent and community leader and the other guy was a long time agent (30+ years).

 

[Norwayguy]

Speaking of things agents sometimes do. Our town has had two P&C agents in about ten years who have pocketed premiums and not sent them to the company. One was a well known agent and community leader and the other guy was a long time agent (30+ years).

That is one reason I like Life & Health as we are not able to accept money directly from the client...ie I can not accept cash for AML reasons and any check etc is made out to the carrier...could you imagine the temptation there might be on the P&C side to use client funds (to just get out of a hole it will only be a couple of days and I'll make good on it). I'm an honest man but it helps to not have the temptation. I also can't understand the type of person that drives to an agents office and pays the agent for their coverage in this day and age when you can pay by phone, auto draft, on the web etc...

 

[Questions]

That is called forgery. It's never OK unless the agent is also the insured or the policy owner. Is this a riddle or a trick question?

not a trick question at all. I just bought a house and my lawyer had power of attorney and signed documents for me.

However, I recently read an article of an agent admitting to signing for an applicant and as a result lost his/her E&O ins. From what I understood, the applicant wasn't aware, but did want the product bound.

I'm assuming it went something like this...Agent asked the questions on the app (over the phone), gave a quote based on the responses; applicant said okay, bind and probably never gave it a thought as to signing an app and just went on about his normal business. Agent signed the app for the customer, bound the policy and went on with his week. The app got brought into a claim (I'm guessing) and the customer said that's not my signature...and so on.

I don't think it was a question of fraud so much as the agent just skipping a (very important) step.

 

[xrac]

When I was with American Income my managing agent was more tham happy to do crooked stuff and to teach the same. I didn't stay there long!