ABTA has found a way to ensure its members continue to earn commission from insurance after January 1 2009.
From that date, new FSA regulations will come into effect controlling how travel insurance can be sold by travel organisers.
The regulations say travel companies cannot sell insurance unless they are either FSA-regulated themselves, or become an “Introducer Appointed Representative†or “Appointed Representative†of a FSA-regulated company.
Under a new initiative, all ABTA members will be granted “Introducer Appointed Representative†(IAR) status for the ABTASure range of travel insurance policies.
After a simple registration process, they will have access to an ABTASure IAR facility provided by Citybond Suretravel.
ABTA head of finance Mike Monk said: “It is tremendously important that customers do not travel without insurance and our members can and do play a very important role in this.
“I would urge them to obtain IAR status with ABTASure, thereby ensuring their customers are adequately covered and protecting their insurance income.â€
ABTA members can apply online by completing the agent application form on www.abtasure.co.uk
By Bev Fearis
