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Authorised Representatives

There are situations where you may want someone else to access your NICE Insurance policy information or conduct transactions on your behalf. Whether you are caring for an elderly parent, managing family insurance matters, working with a financial advisor, or planning for circumstances where you may not be able to manage your own affairs, NICE Insurance allows you to designate authorised representatives. This article explains the types of authorisation available, how to add or remove representatives, what representatives can and cannot do, and important considerations for protecting your interests.

What Is an Authorised Representative

An authorised representative is a person you formally designate to interact with NICE Insurance on your behalf. Once authorisation is established, the representative can contact NICE Insurance, request information, and conduct transactions within the scope of authority you have granted—without you needing to be present or on the call.

Authorised representatives are different from beneficiaries. Beneficiaries receive death benefits when you pass away but have no authority to access or manage your policy while you are alive. Representatives can access and manage your policy during your lifetime but are not automatically entitled to policy benefits.

When You Might Need an Authorised Representative

Common situations where authorised representatives are helpful include:

  • Family assistance — An adult child helping elderly parents manage their insurance affairs
  • Spouse or partner — Allowing your spouse to handle insurance matters for the household
  • Professional advisors — Financial planners, accountants, or attorneys who manage your financial affairs
  • Busy schedules — Delegating routine insurance management to a trusted family member when you travel frequently or have limited availability
  • Health considerations — Ensuring someone can manage your affairs if you become temporarily or permanently unable to do so
  • Business arrangements — Allowing a business partner or employee to manage business-owned policies

Types of Authorisation

NICE Insurance offers different levels of authorisation depending on how much access and authority you want to grant. Consider carefully which level is appropriate for each representative you designate.

Information Access Only

The most limited authorisation level allows the representative to:

  • View policy details including coverage amounts and terms
  • Receive information about payment status and due dates
  • Request copies of policy documents and statements
  • Enquire about claim status on existing claims
  • Receive general information about policy features and options

The representative cannot make any changes to your policy, initiate transactions, or file claims. This level is appropriate when you want someone to be able to gather information and stay informed, but you want to retain all decision-making authority yourself.

Limited Transaction Authority

This level includes information access plus the ability to:

  • Update contact information (address, phone, email)
  • Change payment methods and set up automatic payments
  • Request policy documents and certificates
  • Make premium payments
  • Enable or disable auto-renewal
  • File routine claims (subject to your policy terms)

The representative cannot make coverage changes, cancel policies, change beneficiaries, or request policy loans or surrenders. This level is suitable when you want help with day-to-day policy administration while keeping major decisions under your control.

Full Transaction Authority

The most comprehensive authorisation level includes all previous authorities plus:

  • Request coverage changes (subject to underwriting approval)
  • Add or remove optional riders
  • File all types of claims
  • Request policy cancellation
  • Request policy loans or partial surrenders (on applicable policies)
  • Change beneficiaries (subject to additional requirements)

Full authority should only be granted to individuals you trust completely, as they can make significant changes that affect your coverage and policy value. This level is typically appropriate for spouses, close family members handling your affairs, or professional fiduciaries.

Power of Attorney

For the highest level of authority, a legal power of attorney can be established. This is a legal document—separate from NICE Insurance's authorisation forms—that grants another person comprehensive authority to act in your name.

Power of attorney may be:

  • General — Broad authority over all your affairs
  • Limited — Authority only for specific matters or time periods
  • Durable — Remains in effect even if you become incapacitated
  • Springing — Takes effect only upon a specified event, such as your incapacity

To act under power of attorney with NICE Insurance, the representative must provide certified copies of the power of attorney document, identification, and may need to complete additional verification. Legal requirements for power of attorney vary, and you should consult with an attorney when establishing these arrangements.

How to Add an Authorised Representative

Adding an authorised representative requires formal documentation to protect against unauthorised access. The process varies depending on the level of authority being granted.

Required Documentation

Document Purpose Provided By
Authorisation form Formally designates the representative and specifies authority level Policyholder (you)
Policyholder identification Verifies your identity as the person granting authority Policyholder (you)
Policyholder registered seal Authenticates your authorisation Policyholder (you)
Representative identification Verifies the identity of the person receiving authority Representative
Representative acknowledgment Confirms representative accepts responsibility Representative

Step-by-Step Process

  1. Obtain the authorisation form — Request the appropriate authorised representative form from NICE Insurance through your online account, at a branch, or from customer service. Different forms may be used for different authority levels.
  2. Complete your sections — Fill in your details as policyholder, specify the policies covered by the authorisation, clearly indicate the level of authority you are granting, and note any limitations or special conditions.
  3. Provide representative information — Include the representative's full legal name, date of birth, address, phone number, email, and relationship to you.
  4. Sign and seal — Sign the form and affix your registered seal. For full transaction authority, your seal may need to be certified with a seal registration certificate.
  5. Representative completes their section — The representative signs acknowledging their responsibility and agreeing to NICE Insurance's terms for representatives.
  6. Submit with identification — Submit the completed form along with copies of both your identification and the representative's identification. Submit by mail or in person at a branch.
  7. Wait for confirmation — NICE Insurance will process the authorisation, verify information, and send confirmation once the representative is registered. Processing typically takes 7 to 14 business days.

In-Person Establishment

For immediate processing or for higher authority levels, consider establishing authorisation in person at a NICE Insurance branch. Both you and the representative can attend together, bringing all required identification and documents. Branch staff can complete the process immediately and answer any questions.

What Representatives Can and Cannot Do

Even with authorisation, there are limits on representative actions designed to protect your interests:

Always Requires Policyholder Direct Action

Certain actions cannot be delegated and must always be performed by you personally:

  • Removing the representative's own authorisation
  • Designating the representative as a beneficiary (conflict of interest)
  • Actions specifically restricted in your authorisation terms

May Require Additional Verification

Even for representatives with full authority, some high-risk transactions may require additional verification such as callback confirmation to you, additional documentation, waiting periods before taking effect, or secondary approval. These safeguards protect against errors and fraud even when legitimate authorisation exists.

Managing Multiple Representatives

You can designate multiple authorised representatives with different authority levels. For example, you might grant information access to several family members while giving full transaction authority only to your spouse. You might authorise a financial advisor for investment-related policies while keeping personal life insurance under your control, or provide limited authority to an assistant for routine matters while reserving major decisions for yourself.

When designating multiple representatives, clearly specify each person's authority level and any policies that each can access. This prevents confusion and ensures each representative knows the scope of their authorisation.

Representative Responsibilities

When someone agrees to act as your authorised representative, they accept certain responsibilities:

  • Act in your best interest at all times
  • Not exceed the scope of authorisation granted
  • Keep your policy information confidential
  • Accurately communicate information between you and NICE Insurance
  • Not use their access for personal benefit
  • Comply with all NICE Insurance terms and procedures

Representatives who violate these responsibilities may have their authorisation revoked, and serious violations may be reported to appropriate authorities.

Modifying Authorisation

You can change a representative's authority level at any time. To increase authority, submit a new authorisation form specifying the higher level, with appropriate documentation. To decrease authority, submit written notification specifying the new limitations. Changes typically take effect within 7 to 14 business days of processing.

Removing an Authorised Representative

You can revoke authorisation at any time for any reason. To remove a representative:

  1. Submit written notification to NICE Insurance stating you are revoking the representative's authorisation
  2. Include your policy number(s), your identification, and your signature and registered seal
  3. Specify the representative being removed by name
  4. Submit by mail, in person at a branch, or through your online account if available

Revocation takes effect upon processing, typically within 3 to 7 business days. The removed representative will be notified that their authorisation has ended. They will no longer be able to access your policy information or conduct any transactions.

Consider revoking authorisation when relationships change (divorce, end of business relationship), the representative is no longer needed, you have concerns about how authority is being used, or the representative has passed away or become incapacitated themselves.

When Representatives Are Automatically Removed

Authorisation ends automatically in certain circumstances:

  • Policy termination — When a policy ends through expiration, cancellation, or claim payout, related authorisations end
  • Policyholder death — Upon your death, representative authorisations end (the policy then transfers to beneficiaries or your estate)
  • Representative death — If a representative passes away, their authorisation ends automatically
  • Court order — Legal orders may terminate authorisation in certain situations

Protecting Yourself

While authorised representatives provide valuable convenience, take these precautions to protect your interests:

  • Choose carefully — Only authorise people you trust completely, especially for higher authority levels
  • Use appropriate levels — Grant only the authority actually needed, not more
  • Review periodically — Regularly review who has authorisation and whether it is still appropriate
  • Monitor your policies — Periodically check your policy status and transactions even if someone else manages them
  • Communicate clearly — Ensure representatives understand what you expect and any limitations on their authority
  • Act promptly — If a situation changes, update or revoke authorisation promptly

Next Steps

If you need to add, modify, or remove an authorised representative, please log in to your NICE Insurance online account to download the appropriate forms, or visit your nearest NICE Insurance branch for assistance. Our staff can help you determine the appropriate authorisation level for your situation and ensure all documentation is completed correctly. Taking time to set up proper authorisation protects both you and those you trust to help manage your insurance affairs.

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