Forming a Service Contract Provider

Personal Safeguards Group, LLC (“PSG”) assists companies seeking to form a new Service Contract (Extended Warranty) Provider. This includes OEM's, dealers, retailers, marketers and other entities that wish to bring some or all of their programs in-house.

The following offers a very high level definition and overview of the various elements needed to form a new Service Contract Provider. This is by no means a comprehensive view and is only intended to frame out high-level components.

Depending on product type(s) and the location where an entity plans to operate, properly forming a Service Contract Provider may be fairly easy to accomplish with proper guidance. In some cases, a company may simply wish to use an existing Obligor (Service Contract company) and not form their own company.




Seller
This represents the entity actually making the solicitation and sale of a Service Contract. This includes Retailers, Dealers and Marketers.

Obligor
The Obligor (or Provider) is the legal entity that is issuing the Service Contract.

Many states require some form or registration (licensing), form filing for terms and conditions, financial guarantees, officer and/or director biographical reviews and various other requirements. This is not a one time event and ongoing reporting and license renewals exist in many states.

This is on a state by state basis and varies on a product level. Examples include: vehicle service contracts, ancillary auto products, home warranties, consumer appliance and electronics products.

Financial Guarantee
Most states have requirements for how an Obligor (Provider) must provide for the financial guarantee of a Service Contract.

Financial guarantees are intended to protect the Contract Holder from the financial failure of the Obligor (Provider).

Financial guarantees may include cash reserves, bonds, a parental guarantee from an entity with substantial and defined net worth or a service contract reimbursement insurance policy (contractual liability insurance policy).

Click here for a more detailed page on financial guarantees and an example of a state regulatory requirement.

Administrator
The Administrator is the entity providing customer entitlement, claim adjudication and payment of claims.

Some states require registration of the administrator and some form of financial guarantee.

Service Entity
The Service Entity is a company the Administrator utilizes to perform repair or replacement services in fulfilling the obligations of the Obligor in the Service Contract.

Some states require registration of the administrator and some form of financial guarantee.

Contract Holder (Customer)
The actual Contract Holder (or Consumer) that the Service Contract is issued to and who is the owner of the covered product.

Example Process Flow - Click to Enlarge
This process flow shows the various components and steps required to form a Service Contact Provider. This flow includes various options for use of a Contractual Liability Insurance Policy CLIP / Service Contract Reimbursement Insurance Policy SCRIP for satisfying state and lender requirements. Also, the flow shows methods for structures and participation options for reserve funds.

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Click here to build a rate for a service contract or limited warranty by entering a few pieces of information. You can develop a rate using a model similar to how carriers and providers develop rates.