A Melbourne insurance broker has criticised Allianz Australia for limiting free motoring benefits to direct insurance customers.

Allianz is offering 12 months of free roadside assist membership from sister company Mondial to customers who directly buy a new Allianz comprehensive insurance policy before July 31.

The insurer has supported the promotion with heavy advertising in recent weeks, leading Bricher Insurance Brokers MD Glenn Stevens to contact insuranceNEWS.com.au after receiving complaints from his clients.

“I have already received calls from current Allianz clients wondering why I’ve ‘dudded’ them, “ he said. “I find it disappointing that Allianz offers these enticements to the direct market but fails to realise the impact on the brokers who support the company,” he said.

“While I can sell my brokerage skills, many clients will simply look at the bottom line and think that I have not provided them with something they could’ve got better and cheaper direct, rightly or wrongly.”

Allianz spokesman Nicholas Scofield says the advertising campaign is a six-week “pilot promotion to gauge consumer interest in this particular offer”.

“Any similar initiatives in the future will depend on an assessment of the response to the pilot.”