Guides · Problem-solving guide
What Is Centriq Life, and Who Does It Underwrite?
All Guides contactsWhen to escalate
Direct answer
Centriq Life Insurance Company Limited is a licensed South African life insurer, FSP 7370, owned by Santam. You rarely buy from it directly. Centriq is a cell captive insurer: other brands sell funeral, credit life, legal and similar policies under their own names, and Centriq is the licensed insurer that carries the risk behind them. That is why many people first see the name on a policy schedule and ask “what is Centriq Life?”. If your policy says it is underwritten by Centriq, the brand that sold it to you is still your first point of contact. Everything below was read on centriq.co.za, santam.co.za and the brands’ own documents on 22 September 2026.
ContactDetails.co.za is an independent guide. We are not Centriq or any of the brands named here, and cannot look up a policy.
The two Centriq companies
| Company | FSP number | What it insures |
|---|---|---|
| Centriq Life Insurance Company Limited | 7370 | Life insurance, such as funeral cover and credit life |
| Centriq Insurance Company Limited | 3417 | Non-life insurance, such as legal expenses and short-term cover |
Both are licensed by the Prudential Authority under the Insurance Act of 2017. Centriq Life was incorporated in 1943. Centriq’s own PAIA manual states that its holding company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Santam Limited, and Santam in turn is part of the Sanlam group. Check your policy schedule to see which of the two Centriq companies covers you, because a complaint or ombud case must name the right one.
How cell captive insurance works
A cell captive lets a business offer insurance to its customers without holding its own insurance licence. The business owns a ring-fenced “cell” inside Centriq, created through a separate class of shares, and refers insurance business to it. Centriq describes the result plainly: the policyholder sees the brand, not the insurer. Its partners range, in its own words, from retail groups to funeral and church schemes, union representation and employee groups.
For you, this means three things:
- The brand handles day-to-day servicing. Quotes, premium collection, policy changes and claims usually run through the brand or its administrator.
- Centriq is the insurer on the contract. Centriq’s FAQ states that being insured through a cell captive does not affect your rights against the insurer.
- Your debit order usually shows the brand, not Centriq. For example, Legal and Tax says its statement reference reads “LEGAL&TAX”. If you cannot identify a debit order, ask your bank which company collected it, then contact that company.
Who is underwritten by Centriq Life?
Centriq does not publish a full client list. These brands state in their own documents that Centriq underwrites some or all of their cover:
- The Unlimited. Its legal pages say many of its products are underwritten by Centriq Insurance or Centriq Life, and its 2025 product documents name Centriq Life as the insurer. See our Centriq Life and The Unlimited contact details page.
- Legal and Tax Services. Its funeral document says legal expense insurance is underwritten by Centriq Insurance (FSP 3417) and funeral benefits by Centriq Life (FSP 7370).
- Envirosure. It states that its insurance products are underwritten by Centriq Insurance, and that your policy schedule confirms the specific insurer.
- Elevate Life. Its disclosure document says its policies are underwritten by Centriq Life. That document is dated October 2020, so confirm against your current schedule.
- The Capitec funeral plan, in transition. Capitec’s 2025 interim results describe its funeral plan as underwritten by Centriq Life. In March 2024 the Competition Tribunal conditionally approved Capitec Life taking over this business, so newer Capitec policies may sit with Capitec Life. Your policy documents say which.
Some books also move away from Centriq. In 2025 Centriq published notice that credit life and funeral policies written through the National Debt Advisors cell, administered by Assured Life, were to transfer to Old Mutual Alternative Risk Transfer, subject to Prudential Authority approval. If you received a transfer notice, the letter names your new insurer.
Who to contact about a Centriq policy
- The brand or administrator named on your policy, for claims, cancellations, premiums and changes.
- Centriq itself, if the brand does not resolve a complaint. Centriq says it acknowledges complaints within 24 hours and responds within 14 days.
- The National Financial Ombud Scheme (NFO), if Centriq’s answer does not resolve it. The NFO handles life and non-life insurance complaints.
- The FAIS Ombud, if your complaint is about the advice you were given when the policy was sold, rather than the insurer’s decision.
| Organisation | Contact |
|---|---|
| Centriq switchboard | 011 268 6490, info@centriq.co.za |
| Centriq claims complaints | complaints@centriq.co.za |
| Centriq complaints about advice | faiscomplaints@centriq.co.za |
| Centriq address | The Oval, Second Floor, West Wing, Wanderers Office Park, 52 Corlett Drive, Illovo |
| National Financial Ombud Scheme | 0860 800 900, info@nfosa.co.za |
| FAIS Ombud | 012 762 5000, info@faisombud.co.za |
Centriq’s full contact list, including the fax number, is on our Centriq Life contact details page.
Is Centriq Life legitimate?
Yes. Centriq Life holds a Prudential Authority licence as a life insurer, and is part of the Santam group. S&P has assigned Centriq Insurance a zaAAA South African national scale rating. Being legitimate does not mean every product sold under its licence suits you, though. If you do not recognise a policy, ask the brand for the policy schedule and the date you agreed to it before paying further premiums.
The scam to watch for
Because Centriq’s name appears on so many policies, it is easy for a fraudster to claim to be “from Centriq” and ask for banking details to “process a refund” or “update a policy”. Centriq does not sell directly to the public in the usual case, so an unexpected call in its name deserves suspicion. Phone the brand on your policy document, or Centriq on 011 268 6490, yourself. Never share an OTP or banking PIN with a caller.
Frequently asked questions
What is Centriq Life?
A South African cell captive life insurer, FSP 7370, owned by Santam. It underwrites policies that other brands sell under their own names.
Who owns Centriq?
Santam Limited. Centriq’s PAIA manual states that its holding company is a wholly owned Santam subsidiary, and Santam is part of the Sanlam group.
Why is Centriq Life on my policy when I bought from another company?
The company you bought from sells the product, and Centriq is the licensed insurer behind it. This is normal under a cell captive arrangement.
How do I claim on a policy underwritten by Centriq?
Claim through the brand or administrator named on your policy. Contact Centriq only if a claim complaint is not resolved, on complaints@centriq.co.za.
Where do I complain if Centriq rejects my claim?
After Centriq’s own complaints process, go to the National Financial Ombud Scheme on 0860 800 900 or info@nfosa.co.za.