Page 12 - Australasian Paint & Panel magazine Nov-Dec 2021

NEWS
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BRIEFS
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PAINT&PANEL
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2021
WWW.PAINTANDPANEL.COM.AU
ASIC ENQUIRY INTO IAG
IAG ACKNOWLEDGED THE AUSTRALIAN
Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) commenced civil penalty pro- ceedings in the Federal Court of Aus- tralia alleging contraventions of the ASIC Act and the Corporations Act
by IAG’s wholly owned subsidi- ary Insurance Australia Limit- ed (IAL).
The proceedings relate to IAL’s failure to pass on the full amount of discounts to a signifi-
cant number of NRMA home, motor, car- avan and Boat Insurance customers be- tween March 2014 and September 2019.
When IAG identified this issue as part of a review in 2019, the company self-re- ported the issue to ASIC. IAG re- viewed its pricing commitments and promises across its prod- ucts, and identified impacted customers to provide refunds. IAG is working closely with ASIC
through the remediation program.
SUNCORP PAYOUT DENIAL UPHELD
A WOMAN, DISTRESSED BY HER FATHER'S
worsening health, had her car stolen from outside of her house. Although it can not be proven that she left her hand- bag in the car with the key fob inside it, she could have dropped the handbag near the house or in the grounds and Suncorp has refused to settle the claim.
The vehicle was later recovered a few months later with damage on one side, which was quoted at $9,843.67 to repair – the key fob was recovered with it. Sun- corp again refused this claim and the woman went to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority who found in fa- vour of Suncorp.
Suncorp could have offered an ex gra- tia payment (an amount which is not strictly due under the terms of the policy and doesn't admit liability) but did not.
The AFCA report states "The com- plainant says she was advised to with- draw her claim and return the hire vehi- cle as the insurer intended to deny the claim. She says she has been a customer of the insurer for 43 years. She feels its handling of the matter was inappropri- ate and this distressed her.
"I acknowledge the loss of her vehicle and the denial of her claim was difficult. I further acknowledge the situation with her father caused further distress at the time of the loss.
"I am not satisfied the insurer’s ac- tions in denying the claim were unrea- sonable. Based on the provided evidence it informed the complainant at the earli- est opportunity of the likely outcome. The insurer is and was entitled to deny the claim.
PLANT NOW AT IAG
Tim Plant has is now
chief insurance and
strategy officer at IAG.
Plant will be responsible
for group governance
across underwriting,
claims and customer experience, together with developing and driving the implementation of IAG’s strategy.
Plant has 30 years’ experience in the general insurance industry, joining IAG from Zurich where he spent three years as CEO General Insurance Australia and New Zealand.
PLASTFIX
APPOINTS GROUP MANAGER
Plastfix has appointed Greg Preston as the group’s manager ANZ.
Preston is well known
in the Australian collision repair Industry, starting out as an apprentice panel
technician and collision shop manager. hen he began the journey building on his usiness acumen from his time with one
of Australia’s leading insurers to joining some of the leading industry associations.
SANSOM MD OF VW
Volkswagen Group
Australia announced that
Paul Sansom will become
the company's managing
director as of 1 January,
2022. Currently
managing director of Audi Australia a, Sansom succeeds Michael Bartsch, who shortly returns to Volkswagen of America.
From January 1, Volkswagen Group Australia will also include Audi Australia, which Sansom has helmed since 2017. Combined, the Volkswagen Group Australia national sales company will have more than 180 dealers nationwide.
Sansom's automotive career commenced in 2001 as Jaguar's national sales manager in the UK. He joined the Volkswagen Group in 2003, first as a regional brand manager for Volkswagen, then VW's product and planning manager. In 2006, he moved across to Audi where he held the role of aftersales and customer service director, before becoming the sales director.