Telephone Inquiries to Agents Licensing Division

DATE: October 1, 2001 RE: Telephone Inquiries to Agents Licensing Division Effective immediately, this Department is implementing a new procedure for handling telephone inquiries to the Agents Licensing Division. In the Agents Licensing Division, the mutual goal of the Department and industry is the issuance of licenses and appointments in a timely manner. It is the Department's desire to provide sufficient staff to handle the ever-increasing calls, but with the State's current budgetary constraints, it is not possible to hire additional personnel at this time. For that reason, the Department is seeking better ways of time management using its current employees. In the past it has not been unusual for an agent, the agent's manager and a company representative to call the Division inquiring about the same information. This is very time-consuming for the staff and disruptive to the issuance of licenses and appointments. In an attempt to allow the limited staff in this Division an opportunity to process applications for licenses and appointments in a timely manner, it is imperative that telephone calls relating to the approximately 46,000 agents handled by this Division be limited to those that are truly necessary. It is, therefore, necessary for the Department to limit calls regarding agent appointments and agent testing to those of company representatives. Companies should instruct their agents to contact them for assistance and the company representative should make the inquiry to the Department if necessary. The processing time for new applications, renewal licenses and appointments is 3-4 weeks. Please allow 4 weeks to receive confirmation in the mail. We do not mail appointment confirmation notices to agents or companies. This information can now be found on our web site ( www.aldoi.gov ). Registration packets are mailed to those to be tested within 3-4 weeks and notice is posted on the web site. The Agent Licensing Division will accept calls only between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM (Central Time). The telephone number for the Agents Licensing Division is (334) 241-4126. Agents are responsible for renewal of their licenses. They should be the only ones contacting the Department in this regard. Calls from individuals other than the agent will not be accepted. The web site should be used before calling the Department ( www.aldoi.gov ). We appreciate your cooperation in these efforts. ALL INSURERS MUST INFORM THEIR AGENTS OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS BULLETIN. This bulletin supercedes and replaces the bulletin in this regard dated January 9, 1995.