Relatively new agent avoids client, receives $1,500 fine

The Insurance Council of British Columbia has fined Brian Liam Jackson, a former licensee who worked in the industry for under two years, for allowing a client to believe they had insurance coverage when Jackson knew that no such coverage was in place. 

Licensed from November 2019 until he was terminated in August 2021, the former agent did not contact his commercial client after receiving a premium payment, but also after being informed that the property would not be insured because of its location on a flood plain.

After securing a quote using the wrong address, once the new address was applied, it was discovered that the insurer would not provide coverage. After being informed of this, Jackson did not contact the complaining client and no action was taken to secure different coverage.

An agency employee discovered that the offer for insurance had been rescinded more than four months later. Later that month, Jackson attempted to obtain coverage for the property, which was declined. Three months later that agency’s nominee became involved but it still took more than another month for the nominee to direct Jackson to contact the client.

“The former licensee indicated that the policy could not be issued due to a last-minute change in address and postal code,” the council’s intended decision states. “The complainant had concerns about whether coverage was not being provided because of the weather events in the area, as opposed to a change in postal code. The former licensee assured the complainant that it was not related to the fires, it was because the new postal code indicated it was located on a flood plain.” Later that month an evacuation order was issued for the area.

“The agency’s nominee contacted the complainant to advise of the issue with the new address being declined for coverage in September 2020 and confirmed to the complainant there was not coverage in place. This was during the period in which there was an evacuation alert, and no insurance was available to be purchased for properties in the area.” 

The client has since secured coverage with a different company, saying he did not experience any losses or claims during the period of being uninsured.

For his role in the matter, Jackson was fined $1,500.