Code of Conduct for Members

Applicable only to the conduct of business involving products, facilities and services provided to members of Keychoice (hereafter referred to as “the Scheme”) by Software Solutions Partners Limited (hereafter referred to as “the Operator”). The mention or lack of mention within this Code of Conduct (hereafter referred to as “the Code”) of a particular act or omission shall not be taken as conclusive on any question of professional conduct.

1. Business Development
   1. 1.1 Members should support Keychoice’ products and services wherever possible.
   2. 1.2 Keychoice will collate and update specific information concerning member firms annually on the 1st July. Members will assist with the provision of any relevant information upon request.
2. General Conduct
   1. 2.1 Members shall at all times conduct their business with utmost good faith and integrity.
   2. 2.2 Members shall do everything possible to satisfy the insurance requirements of their clients and shall place the interests of those clients before all other considerations.
   3. 2.3 Statements made by or on behalf of members when advertising or marketing in any form shall not be misleading or extravagant.
   4. 2.4 Members will abide by the terms and conditions of their membership, and any code of conduct, of any recognised professional or regulatory body to which they belong.
3. Specific Undertakings
   1. 3.1 In the conduct of their business, members shall provide advice objectively and independently in the best interest of their client.
   2. 3.2 Members will at the request of a client, explain the differences in the relative costs and cover of the principle types of insurance, which in the opinion of the member, might suit a client's needs.
   3. 3.3 Members shall not withhold from the policyholder any written evidence or documentation relating to a contract of insurance without adequate and justifiable reasons being disclosed in writing and without delay to the policyholder. If a member withholds a document from a policyholder by way of a lien for moneys due from that policyholder, he shall provide the reason in the manner required above.
   4. 3.4 Members shall inform a client of the names of all insurers with whom a contract of insurance is placed. This information shall be given at the inception of the contract and any changes thereafter shall be advised at the earliest opportunity to the client.
   5. 3.5 Before any work involving a charge is undertaken, or an agreement to carry out business is concluded, members will disclose and identify any amount they propose to charge to the client or policyholder, which will be in addition to the premium payable to the insurer.
   6. 3.6 Members shall disclose to a client any payment, which they receive as a result of securing on behalf of that client any service additional to the arrangement of a contract of insurance.
   7. 3.7 Members shall have proper regard for the wishes of a policyholder or client who seeks to terminate with them any agreement to carry out business.
   8. 3.8 Any information acquired by a member from his client will not be used or disclosed, except in the normal course of negotiating, maintaining or renewing a contract of insurance or other service for that client, or unless the consent of the client has been obtained or the information is required by a court of competent jurisdictions.
   9. 3.9 In the completion of the proposal form or any other material document, members will make it clear that all the answers or statements are the client’s own responsibility. The client should always be asked to check the details and told that the inclusion of incorrect information may result in a claim being repudiated.
   10. 3.10 Members shall keep a proper account of all financial transactions with a client, which involves the transmission of moneys in respect of insurance or services.
   11. 3.11 Members shall acknowledge receipt of all moneys received in connection with insurance policies and shall distinguish the premium from any other payment included in these moneys.
   12. 3.12 Members shall remit any moneys collected in respect of an insurance contract or other service arising through membership of the Scheme in strict conformity with either the insurer’s or the Operator’s instructions.
   13. 3.13 Advertisements made by or on behalf of members will comply with the applicable parts of the Code of Advertising Practice published by the Advertising Standards Authority, and for this purpose, the Code of Advertising Practice will be deemed to form part of this Code.
   14. 3.14 Advertisements made by or on behalf of members will distinguish between contractual benefits, that is those that the contract of insurance is bound to provide, and non-contractual benefits, that is the amount of benefit which it might provide assuming the insurer’s particular forecast is correct. Where such advertisements include a forecast of non-contractual benefits, members will restrict the forecast to that provided by the insurer concerned.
   15. 3.15 Advertisements made by or on behalf of members will not be restricted to the policies or services provided by one insurer, except where the reasons for such restrictions are fully explained in the advertisement, the insurer named therein and the prior approval of that insurer obtained.
   16. 3.16 When advertising their services directly or indirectly, either in person or in writing, members will disclose their identity, occupation and purpose before seeking information or before giving any advice.

Keychoice is operated by and is a trading style of Software Solutions Partners Limited.