In British Columbia, it is against the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) policies for agents to conduct insurance transactions for their own vehicles. After reporting an accident with misleading claim information included, the ICBC discovered that Pavitar (Peter) Singh Bagry had processed 15 out of 17 insurance transactions related to a vehicle for which he was the principal driver, and the corporation reported the general insurance salesperson to the Insurance Council of British Columbia.
Licensed since 2013, Bagry was still authorized to represent his agency as of February 2025.
On May 19, 2023, Bagry was involved in an accident. Following the collision, he called colleagues at his agency to ask about the status of his vehicle’s policy. He renewed the policy and reduced the collision deductible from $2,500 to $300. Four days later he reported the claim, saying the accident occurred at 5:45 p.m., half an hour after the vehicle’s insurance had been renewed. (The other driver reported the accident on the day it happened, giving the date and time of loss as May 19, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.)
Bagry was suspended from using the ICBC’s system to conduct Autoplan transactions for 180 days and was ordered to complete its security and privacy course within seven days of being reinstated. (At the time of the investigation, the coursework had still not been completed.) The ICBC also required Bagry to pay $4,505 for the damage caused to the other vehicle prior to being reinstated.
The insurance council, meanwhile, during the course of its investigation, also discovered that Bagry had been criminally charged with assault in September 2023, which he did not report to the insurance council within five business days, as required.
Significant ethical concerns
“Council appreciated that the licensee provided forthright answers throughout the investigation. Nevertheless, his actions in the wake of the May 19, 2023 collision raise significant ethical concerns,” the intended decision in the case states.
Bagry’s cooperation was noted as the most notable mitigating factor in the case. “The most significant aggravating factor, on the other hand, was that the licensee had a significant amount of experience in the insurance industry, having been licensed for over a decade, and as such should’ve known better,” the intended decision adds.
In addition to a one-year suspension of his general insurance license, Bagry was also ordered to pay a fine of $2,500 and investigation costs in the amount of $1,277.50. In both cases the 90 day time period typically allowed for payment was extended to 180 days to recognize Bagry’s current financial situation.
In addition to the suspension and monetary sanctions, the agent must also complete the Council Rules Course for General Insurance Agents, Salespersons and Adjusters and the Ethics and the Insurance Professional course, available through the Insurance Institute of Canada, prior to being relicensed again in the future.
