Terms of Business - Online
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS
In this agreement the following definitions shall apply:
API Licence: the application programming interface licence granted by the Company to the Intermediary and, if applicable, subject to the additional API Schedule terms attached.
Business: the relevant general insurance policy.
Commission: commission, fees, or other remuneration payable to the Intermediary as a result of the General Insurance policies placed through the Source™.
Company, We, Us: Source Insurance Limited trading as Source Insurance of Global Reach, 2nd Floor, Wing A, Global Reach, Dunleavy Dr, Cardiff CF11 0SN.
Client(s): the person or persons receiving a quotation or applying for a General Insurance policy from the range of products available through the Source™ from time to time.
Data Protection Legislation: Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA), the EU General Data Protection Regulation, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, the Telecommunications (Lawful Business Practice) (Interception of Communications) Regulations 2000 (SI 2000/2699), the Electronic Communications Data Protection Directive 2000/58/EC, the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 and all applicable laws and regulations relating to processing of personal data and privacy, including where applicable the guidance and codes of practice issued by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (in each case as may be amended, replaced or updated from time to time).
FCA: The Financial Conduct Authority (and any successor).
FSMA: the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 as amended from time to time.
General Insurance: shall have the same meaning given to it by article 3(1) of the Regulated Activities Order.
Insurer(s): shall have the same meaning given to it by the Financial Conduct Authority Handbook.
Intermediary, You, Your: a financial adviser or broker who promotes, introduces, advises and/or arranges General Insurance policies on behalf of Clients.
Master Agent: The primary company bound by these terms and conditions, who will be a firm or an individual who employs or appoints individual intermediaries in order to procure General Insurance policies on behalf of clients.
Network: shall have the same meaning given to it by the Financial Conduct Authority Handbook, namely a firm or an individual who appoints individual intermediaries, as Appointed Representatives, to procure General Insurance policies on behalf of clients.
Premium: in relation to each General Insurance policy sold, all sums paid by the Client(s) for the General Insurance policy (including insurance premium tax).
Regulated Activities Order: The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001.
Source™: the software system that Source Insurance Limited have made available to the Intermediary for producing quotations and facilitating applications for the general insurance policies that are made available through the system from time to time. For clarity, this definition includes all software systems provided by Source Insurance Limited that meet this definition, including but not limited to the “online” system, and any subsequent re-branding.
Terms: these terms and conditions together with any schedules annexed.
APPLICATION OF TERMS
2.1 These Terms set out the basis upon which Company will accept Business from duly authorised or exempt Intermediaries registering to use Source™ and duly accepted by Us to sell General Insurance policies through agencies held by Us, whether facilitated by the software system or by alternative means. By using Source™, You are agreeing to be bound by these Terms and any subsequent amendments to same.
GENERAL CONDITIONS
3.1. The Intermediary shall be the agent of its Clients regarding all aspects of business (including Business) transacted except in so far as is necessary to give effect to the responsibilities of the Intermediary to the Company as set out in these Terms or in any other associated document.
3.2. The Intermediary warrants that it has full authority from the Client and has had all necessary official regulatory and other authorisations under all applicable legislation including the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, the Financial Services Act 2023, and the Data Protection Legislation and or any other legislation relevant to the placing of Business on behalf of the Client and all incidental and consequential acts, operations, and events.
3.3. The Company reserves the right at its discretion not to accept Business from the Intermediary. This right is not limited in any way by such contractual arrangements that the Company may have entered into with an individual intermediary via Network or Master Agent.
3.4. The Intermediary shall indemnify the Company against any loss, claim, damage or fine sustained by the Company because of the Intermediary acting outside or in breach of the provisions of any of these Terms or any applicable law or regulation.
3.5. You shall have an obligation to Us to disclose any conviction (excluding driving offences) not treated as spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, whether relating to You or Your Client.
3.6. The Intermediary will, at all times, treat its customers fairly and will, on an ongoing basis, meet and adhere to the FCA’s consumer duty principles and supporting guidance.
3.7. By registering to use Source™, the Intermediary acknowledges that the Company may:
a. carry out a credit reference check on its owners/principals at registration and reserves the right to carry out credit checks on an annual basis thereafter;
b. make checks with the FCA on the Intermediaries registration.
3.8 The Intermediary shall, in accordance with these Terms, notify the Company immediately of any change in its FCA registration, its bank details (as supplied at registration) and/or any other information it supplies to the Customer pursuant to these Terms.
3.9 The Intermediary acknowledges that all rights, title, and interest in any information including images, software code (whether in object or source format), documentation, and other material provided by or made available to use by the Company (Company Material) belongs to the Company. Under no event will the Intermediary use (or permit anyone else to use) such Company Material other than for the purposes of exercising its rights and obligations under this Agreement. The Intermediary acknowledges and accepts that it shall not use, amend, or adapt any Company Material used on its website other than strictly permitted hereunder.
CONDITIONS OF USE
4.1. Once registered with the Company, the Intermediary may, subject to these Terms, produce quotations from the range of Insurers and General Insurance policies quoted on Source™ or alternative facilities as offered by the Company from time to time; and may issue those quotations to members of the public on Our behalf provided that You:
a. ensure that all information pertaining to the Client(s) is entered accurately when producing quotations;
b. enter all relevant risk information accurately when producing a quotation;
c. avoid influencing the Client(s) and making it clear that all the answers or statements are the Client’s own responsibility;
d. ensure that the consequences of non-disclosure, inaccuracies or misrepresentation of material facts are pointed out to the Client(s) by drawing attention to, and explaining, the relevant statement in the proposal form;
e. treat all information supplied by the Client(s) as completely confidential to the Intermediary and the company/companies to which the Business is offered;
f. ensure as far as possible that the General Insurance policy proposed is suitable to the resources, demands and needs of the Client(s) by;
(i) identifying the insurance company;
(ii) explaining all the essential provisions of the cover afforded by the policy, or policies, You are recommending, to ensure as far as possible that the Client(s) understands what they are buying;
(iii) printing out the appropriate Insurance Product Information Document; giving it to the Client(s); drawing attention to any restrictions and exclusions which apply to the policy and drawing attention to the complaints procedure;
(iv) acting with due care and diligence and giving advice only on those insurance matters in which You are knowledgeable and seeking or recommending other specialist advice when necessary;
(v) not withholding from the Client(s) any written evidence or documentation relating to the contract of insurance; and
(vi) always conducting business with utmost good faith and integrity toward the Client(s) and the Company.
4.2 You will ensure that You have disclosed (in the form of any initial disclosure document or such form as the FCA may require) to the Client(s), all relevant facts pertaining to Your status as an Intermediary as required by the statutory regulations applicable to the legal requirements prevailing at the time of the sale. These facts will include, but not be limited to:
a. Your name and address, or the name and address of Your Network where applicable;
b. which categories of service You provide together with a list of insurance companies with whom You conduct business;
c. disclosure of Your statutory status;
d. whether You are providing an advisory or non-advisory service;
e. any fees payable for the advising/arranging service that is being provided;
f. how a Client may make a complaint to You, the Insurer and all such other official bodies as may be relevant;
g. Your FCA registration number, what the Financial Services Register is and how to check it;
h. whether You have a holding, direct or indirect, representing more than 10% of the voting rights of the capital of the Insurer;
i. whether an insurer or parent of an insurer has a holding, direct or indirect, representing more than 10% of the voting rights or of the capital in You, Your firm or Your network.
4.3. You will also disclose to the Client the fact that the Company uses premium funding, via Source Finance, to operate many of the direct debit schemes that are available through Source™. Where payment is made to Us, whether under one of these direct debit schemes or as an annual payment, the premium, and any applicable premium refund is held as agent of the relevant insurance company under a ‘risk transfer’ arrangement. For clarity, the risk transfer arrangements held by the Company are NOT delegated on to the Intermediary.
4.2. Your continued use of Source™ will be conditional upon You entering such accurate information in the user details registry as is required for Source™ to be able to produce an accurate and true initial disclosure document for You to print out and pass to the Client.
4.3 You must notify Us in writing and without delay in the event that You are:
a. no longer authorised by the FCA;
b. no longer permitted by the FCA to carry out the activities anticipated by these Terms;
c. suspended by the FCA or the FCA amends Your authorisations;
d. in breach of any regulatory requirements;
e. in breach of FSMA and / or any other UK legislation;
f. subject of a regulatory investigation, censured, fined or disciplined by the FCA;
COMMISSION
5.1. All matters relating to the payment of commission by the Company and all product and commission disclosure made by the Company and/or the Intermediary shall be governed by the principles and rules of the FCA as amended or replaced from time to time, to the extent that such principles and rules are applicable. The Intermediary accepts and undertakes to comply with those principles and rules as applicable.
5.2. The Company shall pay Commission, in accordance with these Terms, on all Business submitted to the Company and accepted by it and not cancelled by the Client(s) during a “cooling off” or “cancellation” period.
5.3. On acceptance of the Company’s offer of Commission, the Intermediary will be entitled to an amount set at such rates as are published by the Company from time to time.
5.4. The Commission rates payable may be varied by the Company after giving 30 days’ notice. A statement of the rates prevailing from time to time will be available on request.
5.5. In respect of all Business completed by the last day of the month, and provided payment of the Premium due in relation to said Business has been received by the Company whether directly from the Client(s) or via the Insurance Company; Source Insurance shall:
a. remit all Commission due to the Intermediary by BACS transfer into the bank account specified by You in respect of the immediately preceding month on or around the 25th day of the following month where practicable;
b. send the Intermediary a summary report of General Insurance policy sales and Commissions payable where the premium has been received by Source in the preceding month.
5.6. Any changes to the nominated bank account must be communicated to the Company in writing; signed by a principal and on company letterhead.
5.7. No Commission will be payable to the Intermediary if the Intermediary ceases to hold appropriate authorisation or exemption from the FCA (for whatever reason). This includes Commission owing but unpaid as at the date the Intermediary ceases to hold such authorisation or exemption.
5.8. The Company reserves the right to cease paying Commission in the event that any of the Intermediary’s directors, partners or the principal enters into a voluntary arrangement with creditors, have bankruptcy or liquidation proceedings instituted against them, have a receiver appointed over their assets or have been charged with or convicted of an offence involving fraud or dishonesty.
5.9. In the event of a complaint about the Intermediary’s conduct being received and dealt with by the Company, the Company reserves the right to deduct any associated costs (including any financial compensation paid to the complainant) from any Commission that the Intermediary would otherwise be entitled to. The Intermediary also acknowledges that the Company has the right to temporarily withhold payment of Commission whilst any complaint about the Intermediary is being investigated and/or dealt with by the Company.
5.10. In the event of the Client or Intermediary notifying Us that the Intermediary is no longer the agent of the Client, We shall cease to pay the Commission from the point that We receive such notification.
5.11. In the event of the Company withdrawing access to its facilities, or in response to the Intermediary’s failure to meet its responsibilities as set out in these Terms and/or any Agency Agreement with the Company, We shall cease to pay Commission other than any unpaid Commission which is due to the Intermediary at that time.
5.12. The Company’s statement of account (which may be contained in writing, e-mail or direct on-line communication) shall be the prime record of Commission due to the Intermediary, all save in the case of manifest errors or omissions.
5.13. Commission shall be paid to the Intermediary monthly in arrears, but the Company may defer payment of Commission until a total of at least £10, or such other amount as the Company may notify from time to time, is due to the Intermediary.
5.14. The Company will from time to time make such relevant searches and checks in respect of the Intermediary and its owners/principals (including in relation to creditworthiness and regulatory status) as it sees fit.
SET-OFF
6.1 Whenever any unearned Commission (i.e. that proportion of indemnity commission paid in advance of premiums which subsequently fall due and are not paid) or other sum of money shall be recoverable from or payable by the Intermediary, under any agency account with the Company, regardless of the type of business such account is held for, the same may be deducted from any sum then due or which at any time thereafter may become due to the Intermediary under any other agency account with the Company. If this results in a negative balance, immediate reimbursement shall be required from the Intermediary. In the event of the Company not receiving reimbursement from the intermediary within 30 days, the Company may instruct a 3rd party collection agency to retrieve the debt. Exercise by the Company of its rights under this clause shall be without prejudice to any other rights or remedies available to the Company under these Terms, or otherwise at law or in equity.
DOCUMENTATION
7.1. In accordance with all applicable laws and regulations and accepted market practice, the Intermediary must pass on immediately, without amendment, any documentation which is either supplied by the Company for the benefit of or completion by the Client or provided by the Client in relation to the General Insurance policy.
7.2. The Company reserves the right to send communications directly to the Client.
7.3. The Intermediary must produce to the Company, on demand, such records, books, and accounts and in such manner and form as the Company may reasonably require in connection with Business effected with the Company.
DATA PROTECTION
8.1 The Company will process data on behalf of the Intermediary.
8.2 In order to carry out all the duties required under these Terms, both the Company and the Intermediary will be Data Controllers. For clarity, the Company is registered as a Data Controller on the Information Commissioner’s Office register.
8.3 Information about how the data provided to Us will be used and which third parties it may be passed to is set out in Our Privacy Policies for brokers and for policyholders.
8.4 Some or all the information supplied to the Company will be held on computer and paper. This information may be accessible by third parties who carry out administration functions on behalf of the Company. If this happens the data provided will remain confidential and will not be used for any purpose not covered within these Terms.
PROHIBITION OF CROSS-SELLING TO CLIENTS
The mechanisms embodied in Source™ are designed to facilitate the cross-selling of General Insurance policies by the Intermediary through the agencies held by the Company.
9.1. The Company confirms that the information provided to Us by the Intermediary for the purpose of arranging General Insurance policies for their Client(s). Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the Intermediary acknowledges and accepts that, subject to relevant Data Protection Legislation, the Company shall be entitled to promote, market, sell and otherwise such information for its own benefit.
9.2. Without prejudice to any obligations of confidentiality it may have, where either party has access to information which is personal data, as defined in the DPA, because of the arrangements contemplated by these Terms it shall:
a. comply and ensure that all its personnel comply with all their respective obligations under the Data Protection Legislation;
b. keep such information secure;
c. not export such information outside the UK or European Union without consent; and
d. allow the other party or its authorised representatives such access to premises, systems and records containing such information as is necessary to ensure compliance with this clause.
USE OF ELECTRONIC SERVICES
10.1. Use of the services available to Intermediaries on the Company’s Internet websites shall be subject to these Terms and any on-line terms and conditions notified to the Intermediary by way of the said services or by any other means.
10.2. Email communications are not necessarily secure and may be intercepted or changed after they are sent. The Company does not accept liability for any such changes.
TRAINING, MONITORING & COMPLIANCE SUPPORT
11.1. For the avoidance of doubt, while the Company will make available its compliance and compliance monitoring facilities to the Intermediary, it does not take any responsibility for the acts or omissions of those Intermediaries as they pertain to compliance with the regulatory regime prevailing from time to time for the General Insurance policies transacted through the Source™.
11.2. The Intermediary accepts and undertakes to comply with those principles and rules of the FCA or relevant regulatory body to the full extent that such principles and rules are applicable to the General Insurance policies being sold.
11.3. The Intermediary shall at all times conduct itself in line with the standards of best practice at point of sale specified in the prevailing regulatory guidelines issued by the FCA and/or other such bodies as become relevant. The Intermediary shall ensure compliance with all applicable regulations and standards relevant to the transaction, as amended or replaced from time to time.
11.4. The Company shall be granted full access to the Intermediary’s premises at any time during normal business hours for the purposes of monitoring or investigating the Intermediary’s compliance with the prevailing regulatory requirements as may apply at the time in question. To this end, access shall be granted to all files, documents and other records relating to insurances affected under these Terms, whether stored in physical or electronic format; along with the right to make copies of any such records.
PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY COVER
You shall obtain and maintain in force at all times, professional indemnity insurance in accordance with the requirements of the FCA and any subsequent relevant regulatory regimes. The policy shall indemnify you against losses from claims made against you;
12.1. for breach of duty in connection with the Business by reason of any negligent act, error or omission; and
12.2. in respect of libel or slander or in Scotland defamation, committed in the conduct of the Business by the insured, any employee or former employee of the insured, and where the Business is or was carried on in partnership, any partner or former partner of the insured;
12.3. by reason of any dishonest or fraudulent act or omission committed in the conduct of the Business by any employee (other than a director of a body corporate) or former employee (other than a director of a body corporate) of the insured;
and against claims arising in connection with the Business in respect of:
12.4. any loss of money or other property whatsoever belonging to the insured or for which the insured is legally liable in consequence of any dishonest or fraudulent act or omission of any employee (other than a director of a body corporate) or former employee (other than a director of a body corporate) of the insured; and
12.5. legal liability incurred by reason of loss of documents and cost and expenses incurred in replacing or restoring such documents.
The Professional Indemnity cover outlined in the clauses above shall offer levels and limits of cover as required by the FCA or other applicable prevailing regulatory body; and shall apply to all instances involving General Insurance Business conducted through the Agencies held by the Company and facilitated by any of Source Insurance Limited’s software systems.
VARIATION
13.1 The Company reserves the right to vary these Terms, including the Agency Agreement, subject to 7 days notice being given to the Intermediary, except in circumstances where changes in the rules of a relevant regulatory organisation or any applicable law are such as to require the changes to these Terms to take effect earlier than that date, in which event such changes shall have effect on such earlier date and notice of variation shall be given as soon as reasonably practicable. Such variation shall not affect contracts in force or proposals for contracts received by the Company before the variation to these Terms takes effect.
TERMINATION
14.1. Without affecting or restricting the general powers of the Company, these Terms may be terminated at any time by either party after 14 days written notice to the other party so that no new Business shall be placed with or accepted by the Company.
14.2. These Terms may be terminated by the Company with immediate effect so that no new Business shall be placed with or accepted by the Company, and without liability on the Company’s part, by written notice to such effect to the Intermediary on the occurrence of any one or more of the following:
(i) Any material breach by the Intermediary of any of the previous contained within these Terms;
(ii) Misconduct or neglect on the part of the Intermediary which is or could be prejudicial to the Company’s business or reputation.
(iii) Revocation or suspension of the Intermediary’s authorisation by any relevant regulatory body.
(iv) Cessation or suspension or intended cessation or suspension of the Intermediary’s operation.
(v) Litigation or reconstruction involving the Intermediary including (without limitation of the foregoing) bankruptcy, dissolution, administration, winding up or seizure of assets.
14.3. Any termination of these Terms by the Company shall be without prejudice to any other remedies that the Company may be able to pursue against the Intermediary including remedies that the Company may be able to pursue against the Intermediary in respect of accrued rights under these Terms.
14.4. The Intermediary shall keep the Company advised in writing of any facts known to it within the scope of 13.2(i) to 13.2(v) above.
CONSEQUENCES OF TERMINATION
15.1. Consequent to the Company having given notice of termination to the Intermediary in accordance with Clause 14 above, or having received notice of termination of Agency from the intermediary or cancellation of subscription to the Source Insurance, for any reason other than retirement, the Intermediary shall:
(i) cease any and all promotion of the Company’s products;
(ii) repay all sums then and subsequently outstanding to the Company;
(iii) be entitled to any unpaid initial commission and forfeit entitlement to all other commission, including renewal commission, falling due after the date of termination.
(iv) continue to indemnify the Company against any and all liability which may result from a complaint about the intermediary’s conduct in connection with any policy sold through the Source™. In the event of a complaint about the intermediary’s conduct being received and dealt with by the Company, the Company retains the right to deduct any associated costs (including any financial compensation paid to the complainant) from any commission that the intermediary would otherwise be entitled to.
APPLICABLE LAW AND JURISDICTION ETC.
16.1. These Terms of Business shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.
16.2. Any failure or delay by the Company or the Intermediary to exercise or enforce any rights under these Terms and/ or in law shall not be deemed to operate as a waiver of any such rights nor prejudice their enforcement in any way.
16.3. Neither the rights nor the obligations of the Intermediary may be assigned, transferred, sub-contracted or otherwise disposed, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the Company.
16.4. This statement supersedes all other communications, representations or warranties relating to the subject matter hereof which may have been made prior to the date hereof.
16.5. The parties do not intend that any term of this statement should be enforceable as a result of the Contracts (Right of Third Parties) Act 1999 by any person who is not a party to this Agreement, except where specifically stated to the contrary.
RESPONSIBILITY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
17.1 Subject to cause 16.3, neither party shall be liable to the other under these Terms for any loss of revenue, profits, anticipated savings, goodwill or indirect or consequential loss or damage.
17.2 Source Insurance shall be responsible for the Source™ and any shall be responsible to the Intermediary for any loss, liability or expense the Intermediary may suffer or incur in relation to the operation of the Source™ as contemplated in these Terms except in relation to any representations or warranties the Intermediary makes in relation to the Source™.
17.3 Clause 16.1 shall not apply to loss or damage arising out of or in connection with death or personal injury or fraudulent misrepresentation.
17.4 Both parties agree that these exclusions and limitations of liability in these Terms are reasonable.
FORCE MAJEURE
18.1 Neither party will be liable to the other party for any breach of it’s obligations under these Terms resulting from causes beyond it’s reasonable control (an “Event of Force Majeure”). If a default due to an Event of Force Majeure shall continue for more than 31 working days then either party shall be able to terminate these Terms without further liability.
ENTIRE AGREEMENT
19.1 These Terms set out the entire agreement and understanding between the Company and the Intermediary with respect to the subject matter of these Terms. These Terms supersede all previous Terms, arrangements and understandings between the Company and the Intermediary (whether oral or written) with respect to the subject matter of these Terms, which shall cease to have any further force or effect, provided that this clause shall not exclude any liability for, or remedy in respect of, death or personal injury or fraudulent misrepresentation.