Cancel Affinity: The Right Way

How to cancel your Affinity insurance broker relationship in new zealand

What Affinity is and why cancellation matters

Affinity operates as an insurance broking service in New Zealand, acting as a middleman between you and insurance providers. Understanding what Affinity does will help you cancel smoothly and protect your underlying insurance policies during the transition.

How Affinity works as your broker

When you engage Affinity, you hire a broker to represent your interests and liaise with insurance companies on your behalf. Your Affinity adviser arranges insurance policies, provides advice, manages renewals, and handles claims support. This relationship is governed by a Terms of Engagement document specific to you.

This distinction matters critically when you decide to cancel. Terminating your relationship with the broker does not automatically cancel your underlying insurance policies. Your policies remain active unless you actively cancel them directly with the insurers. Therefore, you must plan your exit carefully to avoid coverage gaps or unexpected renewals.

The difference between cancelling your broker relationship and your insurance policies

Many people confuse these two separate actions. Cancelling Affinity ends your broker relationship only. Your insurance policies continue with their respective providers until you or the insurer terminates them separately. This means you could be paying Affinity commissions while also managing policies independently, or you could lose coverage inadvertently if you do not coordinate the transition properly.

As a result, your cancellation strategy must include notifying both your broker and your insurers of the change. Tocancel recommends documenting which policies you hold, with which insurers, before you send any cancellation notice to Affinity.

Common reasons to cancel your Affinity relationship

Your decision to cancel should reflect your current needs and circumstances. Here are the main reasons customers end their broker relationship.

When cancellation makes sense

• You've found a more competitive broker offering better rates or service quality
• You prefer managing policies directly with insurers to reduce broker commissions
• You're unhappy with claims handling, responsiveness, or renewal management
• Your circumstances have changed and you need different coverage or providers
• You're moving overseas or consolidating insurance services elsewhere
• You want to reduce complexity by handling everything yourself

Reasons to keep your Affinity relationship

• Your broker handles renewals and claims on your behalf, saving you time and effort
• Expert advice on coverage gaps, policy suitability, and risk management
• A single point of contact for multiple insurance needs across different providers
• Potential access to products and rates not available if you approach insurers directly
• Administrative support that simplifies your insurance management

Your legal rights when cancelling your broker

New Zealand consumer law protects your right to cancel broker services and protects you from unfair contract terms. Understanding these rights empowers you to cancel confidently.

Consumer protections under new zealand law

Your legal position is governed by the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 and the Fair Trading Act 1986. These laws mean your broker must provide services with reasonable care and skill. If Affinity has failed to do so, you may have grounds to cancel without penalty and claim compensation.

The Consumer Guarantees Act requires that services are delivered with due care and skill, and are fit for purpose. If your broker failed to renew your policy on time, misadvised you on coverage, or failed to process claims promptly, you have a statutory claim. The Commerce Commission enforces the Fair Trading Act and investigates unfair contract terms or misleading conduct.

In practice, this means you can cancel for service failure and dispute any early termination fees or exit charges. Tocancel advises that you document all instances of poor service before you contact your broker to cancel.

Your right to cancel without penalty

If you signed a Terms of Engagement document that includes an exit fee or early termination charge, New Zealand law scrutinises whether that clause is fair. Courts have found that excessive or unreasonable exit fees are unenforceable under the Consumer Guarantees Act. You have the right to challenge them.

If your broker refuses to release you without payment, or if they demand fees that seem disproportionate to the actual loss they have suffered, you can lodge a complaint with the Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman (IFSO). The IFSO is independent and can order your broker to waive fees if they find the charges were unfair.

How to cancel your Affinity broker relationship

Affinity requires written notice to terminate your broker relationship. You have several channels to send this notice, and each method has specific requirements to protect your cancellation record.

Finding your correct Affinity contact details

Affinity is a trading name used by multiple insurance broking firms across New Zealand. To cancel correctly, you must first identify your specific Affinity adviser or company, then send written notice to the correct address. This step prevents your cancellation from being lost or delayed.

Check your insurance documents, broker statement, or initial engagement letter for the full registered name and contact details of your Affinity adviser. You can also search the Companies Register at companies.govt.nz to verify the registered business name and address. Tocancel recommends verifying contact information before sending any cancellation notice, because incorrect routing will delay your exit.

Step-by-step cancellation process

1. Gather your insurance policy documents and identify all active policies managed by Affinity
   • List the insurer name, policy number, and renewal date for each policy
   • Take a screenshot or photo of your latest broker statement showing all active policies
2. Locate your Affinity broker's registered office address and email address
   • Check your Terms of Engagement letter or broker statement
   • Search the Companies Register (companies.govt.nz) if contact details are unclear
3. Prepare a written cancellation notice in plain language
   • State clearly: "I wish to cancel my broker relationship with Affinity effective [date]"
   • Include your full name, policy numbers, and account reference
   • Keep a copy for your records before you send it
4. Send your cancellation notice by email with read receipt enabled (preferred method)
   • Email to the adviser's email address listed in your documents
   • Type the subject line: "Cancellation of Broker Relationship - [Your Name]"
   • Request delivery and read receipt confirmation
5. Follow up in writing by registered post if you do not receive acknowledgment within 5 working days
   • Post your cancellation letter to the registered office address
   • Keep the tracking number and proof of delivery
   • Send a follow-up email referencing the postal tracking number
6. Contact each insurer directly to arrange policy continuity or transfer
   • Do not rely on Affinity to notify insurers on your behalf
   • Confirm renewal arrangements so you do not lose coverage
   • Request written confirmation of your new arrangement

What happens to your insurance policies after you cancel

Cancelling your broker relationship is separate from cancelling your insurance policies, and this can be confusing. You must take deliberate steps to protect your coverage during the transition.

Protecting your policies during the transition

Your insurance policies do not automatically cancel when you cancel Affinity. However, renewal notices may no longer come through your broker, and you become responsible for managing renewals directly. This means you must contact each insurer individually to confirm they have your correct contact details.

Contact your insurers directly within one week of cancelling Affinity. Request that they send all future correspondence, renewal notices, and policy documents directly to you. Confirm your email address, phone number, and postal address with each insurer. This action prevents coverage lapses or missed renewals.

Managing future renewals without a broker

Once you cancel Affinity, you manage renewals directly with each insurer. This means you receive renewal notices directly, compare quotes yourself, and contact insurers to negotiate terms. Some customers find this saves money because they shop around; others find it time-consuming. Either way, you must stay organised and set calendar reminders for renewal dates.

Tocancel recommends creating a simple spreadsheet listing each policy, insurer, policy number, and renewal date. Set phone or email reminders 30 days before each renewal so you have time to shop around or request updated quotes.

Refunds, exit fees and what you may be owed

You may be entitled to refunds or credit depending on your cancellation date and the terms of your engagement with Affinity.

When you can claim a refund

If you cancel mid-year and have prepaid broker fees or commissions, you may be entitled to a pro-rata refund for the unused portion of the year. Your Terms of Engagement should specify how fees are calculated and whether refunds are available on early termination.

If your broker failed to provide services as promised (for example, failed to renew a policy on time or provided poor advice), you can claim compensation under the Consumer Guarantees Act. The amount depends on the loss you suffered. You do not need to accept the broker's first offer; you can negotiate or escalate to the IFSO if your claim is refused.

Challenging exit fees

If Affinity demands an exit fee or early termination charge, ask them to justify it in writing. Under the Consumer Guarantees Act and Fair Trading Act, the fee must be proportionate to their actual loss. An exit fee of several hundred dollars for a mid-year cancellation is often unreasonable, especially if you are paying a percentage of premiums renewal.

If you believe the fee is unfair, write to your broker in plain language: "I dispute this exit fee as unreasonable and disproportionate to your actual loss. I am prepared to refer this to the Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman if we cannot resolve this." Many brokers will waive or reduce the fee rather than face IFSO intervention.

Common mistakes to avoid when cancelling Affinity

Cancelling a broker relationship can feel daunting, but a few common missteps can create headaches or coverage gaps. Here's how to avoid them.

Mistakes that delay your cancellation

• Sending cancellation notice verbally or by phone only, with no written record
• Failing to identify the correct registered name or address, so your notice reaches the wrong person
• Not keeping copies of your cancellation letter, email, or proof of delivery
• Assuming your broker will notify insurers on your behalf without verifying they have done so
• Cancelling the broker relationship but leaving policies in place without confirming renewal arrangements with insurers
• Not setting reminders for upcoming policy renewals, resulting in missed opportunities to shop around

Mistakes that cost you money

• Accepting an exit fee without questioning whether it is fair under consumer law
• Not asking for a pro-rata refund of prepaid fees when you cancel mid-year
• Switching insurers without shopping around or comparing quotes first
• Allowing a policy to lapse during the transition, leaving you uninsured
• Paying commissions to Affinity while also managing policies independently

Comparison table: staying with Affinity vs. managing insurance independently

Cancellation checklist for your Affinity broker exit

Use this checklist to ensure you cancel Affinity correctly and do not miss any critical steps. Tocancel has created this to help you stay organised during your transition.

• Gather all insurance documents and list active policies with their insurers and policy numbers
• Search the Companies Register to confirm your Affinity broker's registered name and address
• Prepare a written cancellation notice using plain language and your correct details
• Send cancellation notice by email with read receipt enabled to your broker's email address
• Keep screenshots of the sent email and read receipt confirmation
• If no acknowledgment within 5 days, send the cancellation letter by registered post
• Contact each insurer directly within one week to confirm they have your updated contact details
• Request that insurers send all future renewals and correspondence directly to you
• Ask your broker in writing whether you are owed a pro-rata refund or credit
• If an exit fee is demanded, request written justification and challenge it if unreasonable
• Create a spreadsheet of all policies, renewal dates, and insurer contact numbers
• Set calendar reminders for upcoming renewal dates (ideally 30 days before each renewal)
• Follow up with your broker one week after cancellation to confirm the relationship has ended
• Request written confirmation from Affinity that they will no longer manage your policies
• Keep all cancellation correspondence and broker confirmations in a file for your records

After you cancel: next steps and protection

Cancelling is only the first step. After you submit your notice, you must verify that the transition is complete and your coverage remains uninterrupted.

Verification steps after cancellation

Within one week of sending your cancellation notice, you should receive an acknowledgment from Affinity. If you do not, follow up by phone and document the conversation. Ask the broker to confirm in writing that your relationship has ended and they will no longer manage your policies.

Contact each insurer separately and confirm they have you listed as the direct client, not through Affinity. Request that they remove Affinity from your policy and send all future correspondence to your personal email and address. This action prevents renewal notices from going astray or being intercepted by your former broker.

If Affinity refuses to release you or disputes your cancellation

If your broker claims you cannot cancel, demands an unreasonable fee, or ignores your cancellation notice, you have a clear escalation path. Write to Affinity a second time stating: "If I do not receive written confirmation of cancellation within 5 working days, I will lodge a complaint with the Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman and consider legal action to enforce my consumer rights."

Then lodge a formal complaint with the IFSO (Ombudsman Services Limited, Level 4, 120 Queen Street, Auckland 1010, or online at ombudsman.nz). The IFSO is free, independent, and has the power to order your broker to release you and pay compensation if they have behaved unfairly. Tocancel recommends this approach because it signals serious intent and often prompts the broker to cooperate immediately.

How tocancel helps you take control

Cancelling your insurance broker relationship does not have to be confusing or adversarial. You have clear legal rights, a structured process to follow, and independent protections if things go wrong. Tocancel has helped thousands of consumers cancel service relationships and negotiate fair terms by understanding their rights and following a documented approach.

By following the step-by-step process in this guide, you will cancel Affinity correctly, protect your insurance policies during the transition, and challenge any unfair exit fees. Your broker relationship should serve your needs, not trap you. If Affinity no longer provides value, you have the right to leave and manage your insurance independently or with a better broker. Document your cancellation, stay organised, and escalate to the IFSO if you encounter resistance. Tocancel's mission is to empower you to make that choice confidently.

Affinity contact information and resources

To cancel your Affinity broker relationship, you must identify your specific adviser or company and send written notice to the correct address. Use these resources to locate the right contact details.

Finding your Affinity broker's contact details

Check your Terms of Engagement letter, broker statement, or latest policy document for your adviser's name, email, and registered office address. If you cannot find these details, search the Companies Register online (companies.govt.nz) using the business name. This ensures your cancellation notice reaches the correct person and office.

If you are unsure which Affinity company manages your policies, call your insurance provider directly and ask for the name and contact details of your broker. Your insurer's records will show the broker responsible for your policy. Once you have confirmed the correct address, send your cancellation notice by email with read receipt, and follow up by registered post within 5 days if you do not receive acknowledgment.

Escalation contacts if Affinity refuses to cooperate

If your broker fails to acknowledge your cancellation within 5 working days, or if they refuse to release you without justification, lodge a complaint with the Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman immediately. The IFSO is free and independent, and they can compel your broker to cooperate. Tocancel recommends this approach because it is faster and cheaper than legal action, and the Ombudsman has a strong track record of enforcing consumer rights against brokers who attempt to trap customers.

Cancelling your Affinity relationship is your right under New Zealand consumer law. You do not need permission, and you do not need to accept unreasonable fees or delays. Follow the documented process, keep records of all communications, and escalate to the IFSO if your broker resists. Tocancel's community has successfully cancelled thousands of service relationships by standing firm on their rights and documenting every step. You can do the same.