Sec. 651.162. RETURN OF UNEARNED PREMIUMS AND COMMISSIONS. (a) This section applies only to a premium finance agreement that contains an assignment or power of attorney for the benefit of the insurance premium finance company.
(b) If an insurance contract listed in a premium finance agreement is canceled, the insurer shall return all unearned premiums that are due under the contract directly to the insurance premium finance company before the 61st day after the cancellation date.
(c) The insurer may deduct from the unearned premiums returned to the insurance premium finance company the amount of any unearned commission due from the agent writing the insurance if the insurer notifies the agent to return the unearned commission to the insurance premium finance company. If the agent does not return the unearned commission to the insurance premium finance company before the 91st day after the cancellation date, the insurer shall remit the unearned commission to the insurance premium finance company before the 121st day after the cancellation date.
(d) Notwithstanding Subsections (a)-(c), an agent is liable for the return of unearned commissions on an insurance contract written through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association, or the Texas Medical Liability Insurance Underwriting Association. An agent placing business through one of those plans shall return the unearned commissions to the insurance premium finance company before the 61st day after the date the agent is notified of the cancellation.
(e) An insurer, other than the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association, or the Texas Medical Liability Insurance Underwriting Association, may return the unearned premiums to the producing agent. The insurer remains liable and shall remit the unearned premiums to the insurance premium finance company before the 121st day after the cancellation date if:
(1) the producing agent does not return the unearned premiums to the insurance premium finance company before the 91st day after the cancellation date; and
(2) the insurance premium finance company complied with Section 651.165.
(f) If the insurance premium finance company failed to comply with Section 651.165, the insurer, including the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association, and the Texas Medical Liability Insurance Underwriting Association, may comply with its legal duty to return the unearned premiums due under the insurance contract to the insurance premium finance company by returning those unearned premiums to the producing agent.
(g) If the crediting of return premiums to the account of an insured results in a surplus over the amount due from the insured, the insurance premium finance company shall refund the excess to the insured. If the amount of the excess is less than $5, the insured is not entitled to a refund.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 417 (H.B. 1975), Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
Structure Texas Statutes
Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests
Subtitle E - Premium Financing
Chapter 651 - Financing of Insurance Premiums
Subchapter D. Premium Finance Agreements
Section 651.151. Required Form and Contents of Premium Finance Agreement
Section 651.152. Other Required Contents
Section 651.153. Form of Disclosures
Section 651.154. Consolidation of Increase Attributable to Amendment of Rate Classification
Section 651.155. Responsibilities of Insurance Agent
Section 651.156. Taking of Incomplete Premium Finance Agreement Prohibited
Section 651.157. Perfection of Premium Finance Agreement as Secured Transaction: Filing Not Required
Section 651.158. Prepayment and Refund
Section 651.159. Default Charge
Section 651.160. Power of Attorney
Section 651.161. Cancellation of Insurance Contract
Section 651.162. Return of Unearned Premiums and Commissions
Section 651.163. Assignment of Premium Finance Agreement
Section 651.164. Restrictions on Premium Finance Agreements
Section 651.165. Required Notice of Certain Premium Finance Agreements
Section 651.166. Taking, Receiving, or Charging Unauthorized Amount
Section 651.167. Effect of License Revocation, Suspension, or Surrender on Premium Finance Agreement