Paymentshield has unveiled a new campaign which targets those mortgage advisers who have previously struggled, for whatever reason, to provide their clients with advice on general insurance and highlight the support now available.

The initiative follows results from a Paymentshield survey of advisers who haven’t submitted a quote for Paymentshield insurance in the last three months. It found that 22% didn’t quote general insurance ‘because they didn’t know the product well enough’, with 16 per cent saying ‘I want to sell [GI] but I don’t have the time’.

James Watson (pictured), sales director at Paymentshield, said: “The reasons we hear for advisers not discussing GI with clients remain the same from year to year. But, with the sales and marketing support available from Paymentshield and other GI providers – along with the different options now available to submit business – there really are no excuses not to.”

Options include personally providing a quote, taking advantage of initiatives such as the Paymentshield Introducer scheme – which allows advisers to refer clients if they don’t have the time or confidence to sell the product themselves – or employing a GI specialist.

Now, Paymentshield is calling for an ‘excuses amnesty’. It’s urging all advisers who have struggled to embed general insurance within their business in the past to reach out and take advantage of the support and guidance available, enabling them to offer general insurance and ensure their clients are properly protected.

Watson added: “For consumers, price is always going to be a key factor in obtaining home insurance, so they can be excused for often going online in search of the cheapest option. But, what I don’t think should be excused is advisers leaving their clients to fend for themselves without a conversation about the importance of quality cover. Allowing clients to source their own general insurance from a comparison site means they miss out on real, quality advice and potentially appropriate cover.”