In today’s digitally interconnected world, information sharing is not just an administrative step but a safeguard for fairness, transparency, and fraud prevention in the insurance industry. Your Pineapple policy includes an Acknowledgement of Information Sharing clause, which outlines why and how your personal and insurance-related data may be shared.
Understanding this helps you see how the process benefits both you and the wider insurance community.
Why Information Sharing is in the Public Interest
Pineapple highlights that the sharing of insurance information between insurers (including credit information) is in the public interest. Here’s why:
Fairer Underwriting: By accessing a fuller picture of an applicant’s risk profile, insurers can set more accurate premiums. For example, someone with multiple undisclosed claims at other insurers might otherwise pay too little compared to their actual risk.
Better Risk Assessment: Industry-wide data makes it easier to spot trends and understand risks specific to certain areas (e.g., increased hijackings in Johannesburg).
Fraud Prevention: Fraudulent claims cost insurers (and honest policyholders) millions each year. Sharing information helps identify repeat fraudsters and prevents them from exploiting different insurers. This ultimately keeps premiums more affordable for everyone.
How Your Information May Be Used and Shared
When you take out a Pineapple policy, you acknowledge and consent that certain information you provide (or that’s provided on your behalf) can be:
Stored in shared databases accessible to other insurers.
Used for underwriting decisions, i.e., deciding whether to insure you and at what terms.
Used in claim assessments, i.e., validating and settling claims accurately.
Disclosed to other insurance companies or their appointed agents if it relates to risk or claim investigations.
Cross-checked against legal or industry databases (e.g., the Insurance Crime Bureau, credit bureaus) to confirm its validity.
Example: If you report a stolen cellphone to Pineapple, that claim may be checked against shared databases to ensure it wasn’t also claimed for with another insurer.
Your Consent and Its Boundaries
By accepting your policy terms, you consent to Pineapple obtaining and sharing information for underwriting and claims purposes. But there are safeguards:
Purpose Limitation: Your information will only be used for its primary purpose (insurance) or secondary purposes directly related to it. It cannot be sold off for unrelated marketing without your explicit consent.
POPIPA Compliance: Pineapple must comply with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). This gives you rights such as:
Accessing your personal data.
Requesting corrections or deletions.
Objecting to certain types of processing.
Lodging complaints with the Information Regulator (www.justice.gov.za/inforeg/index.html).
Why This Benefits You as a Policyholder
Less Fraud = Lower Premiums: When fraudulent claims are reduced across the industry, insurance providers don’t have to hike premiums as much.
More Accurate Premiums: You pay a fair premium that reflects your real risk, not someone else’s dishonesty.
Smoother Claims: Verification through shared databases can often make claims faster because insurers don’t have to “start from scratch.”
Information sharing in insurance is never about invading your privacy. We’re more concerned about keeping the system fair, transparent, and sustainable. By participating, you help build a safer, more trustworthy insurance environment that benefits every honest policyholder.
*The information provided here is for informational purposes only. For the full terms and conditions, please consult your policy wording.