I can count on two hands how many times a client or prospective client asked me to sell them insurance, but with a date of yesterday, so the accident they had today would be covered. Before insurance applications were required to be uploaded through secure internet connections to the insurance company, the industry relied on the honesty and integrity of the insurance agent to properly date and time the binding of a risk. The quarterly newsletter from the State of Oregon blurted out stories of agents caught in such illegal activity as backdating a policy and the fines and other sanctions they received. Now it’s impossible to backdate a policy because the computer time and date-stamps all activity.
When asked, I explained that we both could be fined and even do jail time if I were to backdate a policy to cover an accident. Now, if you ask, I hang up and block your number. If you are an existing policyholder, I will politely ask you to find another agent. I want no part of it.
