Should you buy insurance from a corporate agent?

Should you buy insurance from a corporate agent?

Yes, you can buy but you must check that it is not one of the 4261 corporate agents whose licence has been cancelled by IRDA, the regulator.

The following news item is an eye opener for those who have to buy the insurance.
“The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) has said that as many as 4,261 corporate agents, out of the total 7,000 in the country, are not authorized to sell policies from March 31, this year.

The IRDA, which displayed the names of corporate agents that were banned, cautioned the insurance companies and general public not to transact any insurance business through them.

The list of banned agents includes HDFC Bank (General Insurance), Oswal Consultancy, India Bulls Insurance Advisors Pvt Ltd in Mumbai; Prosoft Technologies and Tangent in Bangalore; Rishab Investments and Cosmos Financial Services in Chennai; Pact Brokerage and Atluri Travels in Hyderabad.

"These corporate agencies were due for renewal on or before March 31, 2010 but have not been renewed till date. All these agency licences have been withdrawn," IRDA said in a circular on Tuesday.

According to a senior IRDA official, the policies purchased after March 31 and till date could be valid and the full implications are being worked out.

The business is likely to hit as almost all life and general insurers including Life Insurance Corporation of India engaged these agencies.“

Is it that many of the MLM companies are also affected?

Comments are invited.