ASIC sues MLC for alleged $17.5m failure

The corporate regulator has commenced civil penalty proceedings in the Federal Court against MLC for allegedly failing to implement appropriate systems and controls that resulted in unpaid insurance benefits, premiums being charged without notice and underpaid refunds. 

ASIC alleges MLC’s conduct led to over $17.5 million in financial harm to over 260,000 customers. 

“Consumers should be able to trust insurers to pay their full benefit in times of need and keep them informed about significant changes to their policies. This case alleges failures by MLC, over many years, to ensure a reliable delivery of basic and everyday insurance services,” said ASIC deputy chair Sarah Court.

In fact, ASIC alleges that from 1999 to November 2020, MLC failed to:

• Pay a life insurance benefit, known as a “rehabilitation bonus benefit”, to 297 eligible customers who were undergoing rehabilitation following an insured injury or disability
• Update its definition of “Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis” in a timely way, resulting in 12 customers suffering from severe rheumatoid arthritis being denied insurance cover and MLC having to update the definition in over 190,000 insurance policies
• Notify over 800 customers that their annual premiums had increased, their premiums were overdue, or that their insurance policies had been cancelled or lapsed
• Fully refund premiums to over 260,000 customers who had cancelled their loan insurance policies or paid out their loans

“Insurers need to make sure they have adequate systems and controls to manage risk and administer their insurance policies correctly. Too often, we are seeing consumers harmed by implementation issues, legacy IT systems and failures resulting from poor governance and culture,” Ms Court said. 

“ASIC will look to take enforcement action to ensure these systems improve.”

ASIC is seeking declarations, pecuniary penalties and other relief from the Federal Court.