The Guarantee Company of North America First to Subsidize Insurance Companion Fees for Brokers

TORONTO, ON – The Guarantee Company of North America (The Guarantee) is pleased to participate in the much anticipated release of the Independent Broker Resources Inc. (IBRI) mobile app – Insurance Companion. In addition to their participation, The Guarantee is the first to offer a unique subsidization program to contracted Personal Lines brokers in Ontario who choose to offer the app to their clients. The application is available and promoted to members of provincial insurance brokers associations.  IBRI is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO).

“We strongly believe that by enabling brokers with innovative technology, we can offer clients better customer and claims service. We’re happy to do all we can to support IBRI and Provincial Association member brokers by subsidizing the cost of Insurance Companion,” says Robert A. Dempsey, President and COO, The Guarantee.

Each Provincial Association member broker contracted with The Guarantee for Personal Lines business and offers Insurance Companion to their personal insurance clients will receive a subsidy from the company.  

“Clients using Insurance Companion will experience enhanced claim service. This technology quite simply enables us to respond more quickly and with a more streamlined approach improving our current exceptional level of claim service,” states Frank Faieta, National Vice President, Claims, The Guarantee.

Insurance Companion is free to personal insurance clients and available for download across three different platforms – Android, iPhone and BlackBerry.

“The Guarantee was quick to request a unique offering for their brokers when they heard we were developing a mobile app,” says Paul Taylor, Vice President, IBRI. “The additional claims functionality for Guarantee insureds allows them to provide an additional level of claims responsiveness, and the subsidy allows association member brokers to participate without straining their wallets. The broker can provide roadside electronic accident reporting for all their clients, and be assured of a direct claims response for their Guarantee policy holders.”

The app gives personal insurance clients the peace of mind knowing that their broker’s contact information is always close at hand. Furthermore, Insurance Companion also features:

– A homeowner claim reporting tool that reduces response time.

– A home inventory upload function that allows clients to email pictures and descriptions of high value items to their broker.

– An auto accident reporting tool that helps drivers capture key information, should they ever experience an accident.

– A GPS assistance resource that directs users to the nearest collision reporting centre.

About The Guarantee Company of North America

The Guarantee Company of North America (The Guarantee) is a leader in specialty insurance within the North American marketplace providing insurance products supported by a depth of knowledge and expertise, to niche segments including the construction industry, corporate programs and customized personal insurance.

2012 marks the 140th Anniversary of The Guarantee, a major milestone that symbolizes the company’s ability to manage client risk, as well as its commitment to long-term relationships with international reinsurers; while at the same time effectively supporting and servicing the independent broker and agent distribution channel.

Operating and servicing clients across Canada and throughout the United States, our Canadian head office is in Toronto, Ontario and the U.S. head office is located in Detroit, Michigan. Licensed in all provinces and 50 states, The Guarantee is well positioned to provide localized service while offering multi-national products to target and fulfill the unique needs of its clients.

For additional information about The Guarantee and their full range of products and services, please visit www.gcna.com.

About the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario

The Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO) is a voluntary membership organization serving the interests of more than 10,800 independent insurance brokers across the Province of Ontario. Working together, we are able to build and maintain a business environment that allows individual brokerages to thrive. For more information, visit www.ibao.org.

Independent Broker Resources Inc. is a corporation focused on providing products and services to support the independent property casualty insurance broker and their related business partners in Canada.  For more information regarding their product offerings, contact Paul Taylor, Vice President at ptaylor@ibri.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Dean Bast, Vice President Marketing & Business Development National Vice President Guarantee Gold® 416-223-9580 ext. 1295   dbast@gcna.com