---
title: Helpful Tips
description: "**As a policyholder you are entitled to the following:*** - Details of the intermediary - Details of intermediary’s relationship with the insurer - Copy of the policy/policy summary - Details of the transaction including expenses, assumptions, values, benefits, premiums, loading,…"
url: "https://nfosa.co.za/docs/helpful-tips/"
updated: "2023-12-12"
category: "Ombudsman for Long-Term Insurance / Helpful Tips"
tags:
  - Complaints
---

# Helpful Tips

**As a policyholder you are entitled to the following:***

- Details of the intermediary
 - Details of intermediary’s relationship with the insurer
 - Copy of the policy/policy summary
 - Details of the transaction including expenses, assumptions, values, benefits, premiums, loading, guarantees, exclusions
 - Information about the cooling-off period**
 - Implications of replacing one policy with another
 - Notification from the insurer that a policy has been cancelled
 - Written explanation for repudiation or non-payment of claims

*Applicable to policies sold after 1 July 2001
 **You have a 30-day grace period during which you can cancel the policy or an amendment to the policy

**When taking out a policy of insurance**

- Always complete the proposal/application form yourself
 - Always provide complete and accurate information
 - If in doubt, disclose the information
 - Always read any document before you sign it, including the fine print
 - Read through the policy contract to ensure that it is what you want
 - Keep a written record of your correspondence/dealings with the insurer/intermediary
 - Make sure you are dealing with a trustworthy organisation to avoid “scams” and illegal operators

**When taking out a funeral policy**

- When buying from a salesperson, ask to see their license
 - Where the seller or administrator is a third party funeral administrator, ask for the details of the insurer
 - Read everything on the form including the fine print above your signature
 - When there are questions or declarations about the any life assured’s health, disclose all important information
 - You must be sent a policy or a policy summary when your application is accepted; insist on seeing the document, read it and make sure you understand it; if not, phone and find out what it means
 - You have a 30 day “cooling-off” period after you receive the policy or summary to cancel the policy if you are not satisfied
 - Make sure that your premiums are paid every month on time; it is your responsibility, even if you are paying by debit order or stop order
 - Keep proof of payment of premiums
 - Make sure that any beneficiary nominations are up to date and reflect your wishes
 - When a life assured (the person covered by the policy) dies, the claimant must submit the claim as soon as possible
 - Check in the policy how much time you have to submit a claim; if a claim is submitted late the insurer can refuse to pay the claim
 - If a claim is refused for any reason the insurer or administrator must give you the reasons in writing