What term describes the act of selling new policies to replace existing ones without advisement?

The act of selling new policies to replace existing ones without proper advisement is best described as "twisting." Twisting occurs when an insurance agent persuades a policyholder to cancel their existing insurance policy and replace it with a new one, often for the agent's personal benefit, such as earning a commission. This practice is problematic because it can leave the policyholder without adequate coverage or in a worse financial situation, especially if the new policy does not serve their needs as well as the old one.

Twisting is particularly scrutinized in the insurance industry because it can involve a lack of transparency and failure to inform the insured about the potential drawbacks of switching policies. Agents are generally required to provide clear information about policies to ensure that clients understand what they are signing up for, making the act of twirling unfair to customers who may not be aware of all the implications.

In contrast, other terms such as fraud refer to deliberate deception for personal gain, churning describes the practice of excessively trading or replacing policies primarily to generate commissions, and substituting might imply changing policies more generally without the connotation of deceptive practices involved. Therefore, twisting specifically captures the unethical nature of selling new policies to replace existing ones without appropriate advisement.