Ref: Information Letter 3/2014 (LT&ST)

FINANCIAL SERVICES BOARD

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

LONG-TERM INSURANCE ACT, 1998 (ACT 52 OF 1998)

SHORT-TERM INSURANCE ACT, 1998 (ACT 53 OF 1998)

Addressee:	Long-term and short-term insurers	File:	10.41.1.7.2; 10.41.2.7.2
Issue date	17/10/2014	Reply date	-	Information Letter	3/2014(LT&ST)
Status	ISSUED	Subject:	Key Findings: Complaints Management Thematic Review

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1. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

1.1

The purpose of this information letter is to share the key findings of the thematic review undertaken by the Insurance division of the Financial Services Board during April to June 2014 in respect of complaints management processes of insurers.

1.2

The key findings document is attached hereto.

1.3

The purpose of sharing the key findings is to encourage insurers to assess the effectiveness of their complaints management process and, where necessary, effect improvements or enhancements to complaints handling methodologies.

1.4

The key findings will inform —

1.4.1

future supervisory conduct of business reviews; and

1.4.2

planned amendments to the Policyholder Protection Rules issued under section 62 of the Long-term Insurance Act No. 52 of 1998 and section 55 of the Short-term Insurance Act No. 53 of 1998, respectively.

Insurers are encouraged to consider the key findings together with the proposals contained in the Financial Services Board’s Discussion Document on Customer Complaint Management by regulated financial institutions, aligned to the Treating Customers Fairly framework (the “Complaints Management Discussion Document”), to be published on the website.

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2. AVAILABILITY AND INFORMATION SHARING

This Information Letter is available on the website (www.fsb.co.za) of the Financial Services Board.

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REGISTRAR OF LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM INSURANCE