Effective 1st September 2021. V 3.0
Eppione Ltd
Phone: +353 (01) 496 6666
Email: info@eppione.com
Website: http://www.eppionebroking.ie
Registered Address: 2 Dublin Landings, North Wall Quay, Dublin 1, D01 V4A3
Company Registration Number: 581702
These Terms of Business set out the general terms on which Eppione Ltd will provide business services to you as a client of the firm. They also contain details of the respective duties and responsibilities of both the firm and you in relation to such services. Please ensure that you read these terms thoroughly and if you have any queries, we will be happy to clarify them. If any material changes are made to these terms, we will notify you at your next renewal or at our next meeting, whichever comes first.
Authorised Status
Eppione Ltd t/a Eppione Ltd, HCC and HealthCareCompare C166903 is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland as an Insurance Intermediary registered under the European Union (Insurance Distribution) Regulations 2018; as an Investment Intermediary authorised under the Investment Intermediaries Act, 1995. Copies of our various authorisations are available on request. The Central Bank of Ireland holds registers of regulated firms. You may contact the Central Bank of Ireland on 1890 777 777 or alternatively visit their website at www.centralbank.ie to verify our credentials.
Statutory Codes
Eppione Ltd is subject to the Consumer Protection Code, Minimum Competency code, Handbook of Prudential Regulations and the Fitness and Probity Standards which offer protection to consumers. These Codes can be found on the Central Bank’s website www.centralbank.ie
Our Services
Eppione is a member of Brokers Ireland. Our principal business is to provide advice and arrange transactions on behalf of clients in relation to life & pensions, general insurance, health insurance and insurance-based investment products. A full list of insurers and product producers with which we deal is available on request.
Fair and Personal Analysis – Definition
The concept of fair and personal analysis describes the extent of the choice of products and providers offered by an intermediary within a particular category of life assurance and general insurance or a specialist area. The number of contracts and providers considered must be sufficiently large to enable an intermediary to recommend a product that would be adequate to meet a client’s needs.
The number of providers that constitutes ‘sufficiently large’ will vary depending on the number of providers operating in the market for a particular product or service and their relative importance in and share of that market. The extent of fair analysis must be such that could reasonably be expected of a professional conducting business, taking into account the accessibility of information and product placement to intermediaries and the cost of the search.
In order to ensure that the number of contracts and providers is sufficiently large to constitute a fair and personal analysis of the market, we will consider the following criteria:
- the needs of the customer,
- the size of the customer order,
- the number of providers in the market that deal with brokers,
- the market share of each of those providers,
- the number of relevant products available from each provider,
- the availability of information about the products,
- the quality of the product and service provided by the provider,
- cost, and
- any other relevant consideration.
Insurance Intermediary Services
We act as a Broker and the the principal regulated activities of the firm are provided on the basis of a fair and personal analysis of the market. For certain products, we offer advice on a limited analysis basis and these are outlined below.
Investment Intermediary Services
We are remunerated by commission for our investment intermediary services.
Insurance based Investment Products
We are remunerated by commission for the advice we provide on our insurance-based investment products
Life & Pensions & Life Wrapped Investments
Fair and Personal Analysis
We provide life assurance and pensions on a fair and personal analysis basis i.e. providing services on the basis of a sufficiently large number of contracts and product producers available in the market to enable us to make a recommendation, in accordance with professional criteria, regarding which contract would be adequate to meet your needs.
Limited Analysis
We provide Combined Cover advice including Decreasing Life Cover; Bill Cover; Specified Illness Cover; Level Life Cover; Whole of Life Cover; Funeral Cover on a limited analysis basis, i.e. providing services on the basis of a limited number of contracts within the market. We provide advice on the following product providers:
- One Plan through Irish Life.
We will provide assistance to you for any queries you may have in relation to the policies or in the event of a claim during the life of the policy and we will explain to you the various restrictions, conditions and exclusions attached to your policy. However, it is your responsibility to read the policy documents, literature and brochures to ensure that you understand the nature of the policy cover; particularly in relation to permanent health insurance and serious illness policies.
Specifically on the subject of permanent health insurance policies, we will explain to you:
- the meaning of disability as defined in the policy;
- the benefits available under the policy;
- the general exclusions that apply to the policy;
- the reductions applied to the benefit where there are disability payments from other sources.
For a serious illness policy, we will explain clearly to you the restrictions, conditions and general exclusions that attach to that policy.
Non- Life Insurance Services
We can provide advice on and arrange products from the following range: household, motor, and general commercial insurance.
Fair and Personal Analysis
We provide general insurance on a fair and personal analysis basis (providing services on the basis of a sufficiently large number of contracts and product producers available in the market to enable the firm to make a recommendation, in accordance with professional criteria, regarding which contract would be adequate to meet your needs).
Limited Analysis
We provide non-life insurance advice on a limited analysis basis, i.e. providing services on the basis of a limited number of contracts within the market for two products. We provide advice on the following product providers:
- Personal Travel Insurance and Car Hire Excess Insurance through Blue Insurance
In some cases, we may be granted authority from an insurance undertaking to conduct tasks on their behalf, for which we will be remunerated. Where we place your business with this insurance undertaking under this authority you will be notified in advance of the placement. We will also offer assistance to you in relation to processing claims on policies taken out with us and in seeking renewal terms on your cover.
To ensure continuity of cover, where you have an existing policy which is due to expire and where we have been unable to contact you, we may put continuing cover in force whilst awaiting your instruction. You will be liable for any premiums payable to the relevant insurer for the period of time between renewal and when we receive your instruction. You have the right not to avail of this service.
Suitability Factors – Investment, Insurance Based Investment Products, Pension Advice
When providing advice, the firm does not consider the adverse impacts of investment decisions on sustainability. The firm will review this approach on an annual basis in June.
Statement of Charges
We may earn our remuneration on the basis of fee, commission and any other type of remuneration, including a non-monetary benefit or on the basis of a combination of these methods. A non-monetary benefit will only be accepted if it enhances the quality of the service to our clients. Where an override commission is received, this will be disclosed to you in general terms. Where we receive recurring commission, this forms part of the remuneration for initial advice provided.
A summary of the details of all arranges for any fee, commission, other reward of remuneration paid or provided to us which we have agreed with product producers is available on our website at: https://eppionebroking.com/charges/
In certain circumstances, it will be necessary to charge a fee for services provided. These are listed below. In other circumstances where fees are chargeable, we will notify you in writing in advance and agree the scale of fees to be charged if different from fees outlined below. Where it is not possible to provide the exact amount, we will provide you the method of calculation of the fee.
Brokerage Fees will be non refundable in the event of policy cancellation.
General Insurance Scale of Fees
- New Business and Renewals for Private and Commercial Motor Insurance: Up to €50
- New Business and Renewals for Household Insurance: Up to €50
- New Business and Renewals for Travel and Car Hire Excess Insurance: Up to €20
- Mid Term Adjustments for the above: Up to €15
- New Business for Health Insurance: Up to €100
- Renewals for Health Insurance: Up to €50
We reserve the right to amend these fees should the complexity of the product require a higher fee. We will confirm and agree this fee with you prior to any increased charge being applied.
Service fees in respect of commercial lines and general insurance may vary depending on a number of variables, the complexity of the case, time expended, risk urgency, seniority of staff involved and amount of commission receivable. The fee chargeable will be based on these variables and will be shown on your invoice.
Investment, Insurance Based Investment Products, Life and Pension Advice
Earnings disclosure in respect of Life Insurance, Pensions and Investments will appear in a product information document. Summary details of these payments will be included in a product information document, under the Customer Information Notice section, which you are legally entitled to receive before an application for a product is completed. These payments are included in the charges of your product. Any ongoing commission shown in the Customer Information Notice will be paid to Eppione as long as we continue to be your Financial Adviser. The full details of the commission Eppione receives for Life Assurance products (excluding Company Pension products) will be included in your Welcome Pack which is issued to you. Details of company pension and bank products’ commission are available upon request. If we act for you on a non-commission basis, we will charge a fee to be agreed with you in advance. The fee will depend upon the complexity of the case, or to reflect value, specialist skills or urgency. If we do this we will provide you with a written estimate of this in advance of providing any business service.
In the event that fees or charges are payable to a third party in connection with arranging or renewing cover, these charges will be disclosed and will be payable by you.
Additional fees may be payable for complex cases or to reflect value, specialist skills or urgency. We will notify you in advance and agree the scale of fees to be charged.
Ongoing Suitability
Investments
Ongoing suitability assessments form part of the service to clients. On an annual basis the firm will issue a client report outlining changes in the services or instruments involved and/or the circumstances of the client.
Insurance based Investment Products
We will provide periodic assessments of the suitability of the insurance-based investment product which we have recommended to you.
Regular Reviews
It is in your best interests that you review, on a regular basis, the products which we have arranged for you. As your circumstances change, your needs will change which may result in you having insufficient insurance cover and/or inappropriate investments. We would therefore advise that you contact us to ensure that you are provided with up to date advice and products best suited to your needs.
Consumers: Duty of Disclosure when completing documentation for new business/renewals and midterm adjustments
Section 14 (1) – (5) of the Consumer Insurance Contracts Act which is effective from 1st September 2021 alters consumers duty of disclosure:
- You are required to answer all questions posed by us or the insurer honestly and with reasonable care – the test will be that of the ‘average consumer’. Average consumer as per Directive No. 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 is reasonably well informed and reasonably observant and circumspect, taking into account social, cultural and linguistic factors.
- Specific questions will be asked. Where you do not provide additional information (after being requested to do so) it can be presumed that the information previously provided remains unchanged.
An insurer may repudiate liability or limit the amount paid on foot of the contract of insurance, only if it establishes that non-disclosure of material information was an effective cause of the insurer entering into the relevant contract of insurance and on the terms on which it did.
Completed proposal forms/statement of fact
Completed proposal forms or Statements of Facts will be provided to you. These are important documents as they form the basis of insurance contract between the insurer and you the consumer. You should review and confirm that the answers contained within are true and accurate.
Commercial Customers: Non-Consumer Disclosure of Information
It is essential that you should bring to our attention any material alteration in risk such as changes of address or use of premises. Any failure to disclose material information may invalidate your claim and render your policy void.
Conflicts of Interest
It is the policy of the Company to avoid any conflict of interest when providing business services to its clients. However, where an unavoidable conflict may arise we will advise you of this in writing before proceeding to provide any business service. A full copy of our conflicts of interest policy is available on request.
Default on Payments by Clients
We will exercise our legal rights to receive payments due to us from clients (fees and insurance premiums) for services provided. In particular, without limitation to the generality of the foregoing, the firm will seek reimbursement for all payments made to insurers on behalf of clients where the firm has acted in good faith in renewing a policy of insurance for the client.
Product producers may withdraw benefits or cover in the event of default on payments due under policies of insurance or other products arranged for you. We would refer you to policy documents or product terms for the details of such provisions.
Complaints Procedure
Whilst we are happy to receive verbal complaints, it would be preferable that any complaints are made in writing. We will acknowledge your complaint in writing within 5 business days and we will fully investigate it. We shall investigate the complaint as swiftly as possible, and the complainant will receive an update on the complaint at intervals of not greater than 20 business days starting from the date on which the complaint is made. On completion of our investigation, we will provide you with a written report of the outcome. In the event that you are still dissatisfied with our handling of or response to your complaint, you are entitled to refer the matter to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO). A full copy of our complaints procedure is available on request.
Investor Compensation
Eppione Ltd is a member of the Investor Compensation Scheme operated by the Investor Compensation Company Ltd (ICCL). The Investor Compensation Act, 1998 provides for the establishment of a compensation scheme and the payment, in certain circumstances, of compensation to certain clients (known as eligible investors) of authorised investment firms, as defined in that Act.
The Investor Compensation Company Ltd. (ICCL) was established under the 1998 Act to operate such a compensation scheme and our firm is a member of this scheme.
Compensation may be payable where money or investment instruments owed or belonging to clients and held, administered or managed by the firm cannot be returned to those clients for the time being and where there is no reasonably foreseeable opportunity of the firm being able to do so.
A right to compensation will arise only:
- If the client is an eligible investor as defined in the Act; and
- If it transpires that the firm is not in a position to return client money or investment instruments owned or belonging to the clients of the firm; and
- To the extent that the client’s loss is recognised for the purposes of the Act.
Where an entitlement to compensation is established, the compensation payable will be the lesser of:
- 90% of the amount of the client’s loss which is recognised for the purposes of the Investor Compensation Act, 1998; or
- Compensation of up to €20,000.
For further information, contact the Investor Compensation Company Ltd. at (01) 224 4955.
Brokers Ireland Compensation Fund
We are also members of the Brokers Ireland Compensation Fund. Subject to the rules of the scheme, the liabilities of its members firms up to a maximum of €100,000 per client (or €250,000 in aggregate) may be discharged by the fund on its behalf if the member firm is unable to do so, where the above detailed Investor Compensation Scheme has failed to adequately compensate any client of the member. Further details are available on request.
Data Protection
Eppione Ltd is subject to the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 and the Irish Data Protection Act 2018.
Eppione is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. We wish to be transparent on how we process your data and show you that we are accountable with the GDPR in relation to not only processing your data but ensuring you understand your rights as a client. The data will be processed only in ways compatible with the purposes for which it was given and as outlined in our Data Privacy Notice, this will be given to all our clients at the time of data collection.
We will ensure that this Data Privacy Notice is easily accessible. Please refer to our website www.eppionebroking.ie If this medium is not suitable, we will ensure you can easily receive a copy by hard copy or e-mail.
Please contact us at dataprotection@eppone.com if you have any concerns about your personal data.
Consumer Insurance Contracts Act 2019
The following sections apply to consumer duties and rights arising out of the Consumer Insurance Contracts Act 2019 which was implemented to protect consumers. Non-Consumer Commercial clients have no duties and rights under this Act, and therefore the following sections do not apply to them.
Cancellation
If you have taken out a life insurance contract, you may cancel the contract by giving notice in writing to us within 30 days after the date you were informed the contract is on cover.
If you have taken out a general insurance contract, and we have not met face to face during the process, you may cancel the contract by giving notice in writing to us within 14 days after the date you were informed the contract is on cover.
If you have taken out a general insurance contract, and we have met face to face during the process, you may cancel the contract by giving notice in writing to the insurer within 14 working days after the date you were informed the contract is on cover.
The giving of notice of cancellation by you will have the effect of releasing you from any further obligation arising from the contract of insurance. The insurer cannot impose any costs on you other than the cost of the premium for the period of cover.
This right to cancel does not apply where, in respect of life insurance the contract is for a duration of six months or less, or in respect of general insurance, the duration of the contract is less than one month.
Post Contract Stage and Claims
You are under a duty to pay your premium within a reasonable time, or otherwise in accordance with the terms of the contract of insurance.
You must notify us or the insurer of a claim within a reasonable time, or otherwise in accordance with the terms of the contract of insurance.
An insurer may refuse a claim made by you under a contract of insurance where there is a change in the risk insured, including as described in an “alteration of risk” clause, and the circumstances have so changed that it has effectively changed the risk to one which the insurer has not agreed to cover.
A court of competent jurisdiction can reduce the pay-out to the consumer where they are in breach of their duties under the Act, in proportion to the breach involved.
Any clause in a contract of insurance that refers to a “material change” will be interpreted as being a change that takes the risk outside what was in the reasonable contemplation of the contracting parties when the contract was concluded.
You must cooperate with the insurer in an investigation of insured events including responding to reasonable requests for information in an honest and reasonably careful manner and must notify the insurer of the occurrence of an insured event in a reasonable time.
If you become aware after a claim is made of information that would either support or prejudice the claim, you are under a duty to disclose it (the insurer is under the same duty).
If you makes a false or misleading claim in any material respect (and know it to be false or misleading or consciously disregards whether it is) the insurer is entitled to refuse to pay and to terminate the contract.
Where an insurer becomes aware that you have made a fraudulent claim, they must notify you advising that they are avoiding the contract of insurance. It will be treated as being terminated from the date of the submission of the fraudulent claim. The insurer may refuse all liability in respect of any claim made after the date of the fraudulent act, and the insurer is under no obligation to return any of the premiums paid under the contract.
Non- Life Claims
If, in respect of the general insurance contract, the insurer is not obliged to pay the full claim settlement amount until any repair, replacement or reinstatement work has been completed and specified documents for the work have been furnished to the insurer, the claim settlement deferment amount cannot exceed:
- 5% of the claim settlement amount where the claim settlement amount is less than €40,000, or
- 10% of the claim settlement amount where the claim settlement amount is more than €40,000.
