The Insurance Council of British Columbia has stopped short of ordering financial sanctions in a case where an agent refused to share his client notes and applications with his supervisors, conducted unlicensed activity while in between supervisors and missed filing requisite paperwork.
Sulakhan Singh Dosanjh was instead ordered to complete remedial coursework and pay the council’s investigation costs.
First licensed in November 2020, Dosanjh was first investigated in response to a complaint made by his supervisor to the insurance council in November 2022. In the complaint, the agent asked to be removed as Dosanjh’s supervisor after he refused to provide any applications for her review. The complaint also alleged that Dosanjh did not complete proper paperwork or follow procedures.
It was discovered that the agent sold 11 policies while his license was inactive. In two instances life insurance replacement declaration (LIRD) forms were not completed for replacement policies. On one occasion, the licensee prepared illustration documents for the client after the insurance application was already submitted. Two supervisors told the council that Dosanjh did not submit to supervision by providing paperwork and client documentation for their review.
When asked why a supervisor had not signed off on certain policies, Dosanjh claimed that he tried to communicate with his supervisor – the one making the complaint – but told investigators that no response was given. The complaining supervisor, meanwhile, had already provided screenshots between herself, the licensee and the licensee’s daughter who helped with his business, showing her requests for the applications and client notes. One message noted that it had been more than four months since the documents were requested.
Although the council gave Dosanjh the opportunity to further make his case by providing proof that he made an effort to reach his supervisor, the agent has not provided any additional evidence or information to support his claims.
In determining a penalty, the insurance council said the agent’s cooperation was a mitigating factor. That his commissions were also clawed back for the policies sold while his license was inactive was also determined to be a mitigating factor. “Council found it aggravating that the licensee’s misconduct was an ongoing issue rather than an isolated issue, as both AJ (Dosanjh’s supervisor prior to the one who complained) and the complainant advised that the licensee was not providing insurance documents for review,” the intended decision in the case states.
In addition to paying the council’s investigation costs totalling $2,496.25, Dosanjh must also complete the Council Rules Course for life and/or accident and sickness insurance course and the Compliance Toolkit: Know Your Client and Fact Finding course from Advocis.
Dosanjh is also required to be supervised by a qualified agent for one year of active licensing.
