News

The Pennsylvania Surplus Lines Stamping Office has recently issued a bulletin clarifying certain procedures for completing the 1609 PR Producer’s Declaration. In the bulletin, the PSLA warns producers that the surplus lines licensee is not permitted to alter or complete the signed 1609PR in any way. If changes need to be made to the form, typically because information is missing, then only the producing broker who signed the form may make these changes.

Some of the more common changes that need to be made on a 1609PR form are:

1. Missing declining carrier information including the company representative
2. Missing NAIC numbers of the declining carrier 
3. Missing producer license number 
4. Missing agency license number
5. Missing typed or printed name of the producer signing the form
6. Some or all of the form is illegible (yes, the form may be rejected by the stamping office because they cannot read it and we are not permitted to make it legible for you).

As you know, we are all on a time constraint to make the surplus lines filing within 45 days or a minimum $25 late filing fee will be charged. The PSLA does not consider the filing made until a complete, correct, and legible 1609PR is filed in their electronic database.

Tuscano underwriters will be happy to help you with the names of declining carriers we are contracted with if you do not have 3 carriers of your own (you must provide at least 1 of your own). Just give us a call and we will provide you with the carrier and representative information while you are completing the form. 

While we are permitted to complete the policyholder information on the top half of the form, don’t forget that you must do more than sign the bottom of the form. We must have all of the agency and producer information completed. 

The easy way to remember what you need to do is this - Leave no field blank!

Click here to read the Stamping Office bulletin issued on this subject.