Electronic Market Reform Contract Endorsement (e-MRCE) - Email issues FAQ   
   
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1. Email is not secure and I can not prove it has been received. Surely it is inappropriate for conducting business of this nature?  
   
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2. Can I use my secure email service with any counterparty? Or does that depend on my counterparty having the same secure email service?    
   
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3. As an insurer responding to an endorsement agreement request, do I have to attach the MRCE to the email? Would it be advisable to do so even if not required?    
   
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4. I have heard about digital signatures. Do these form part of the proposal?    
   
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5. What are digital signatures – just a scanned physical signature, or proper electronic digital signatures (“PKI” and all that)?    
   
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6. Can I have different email templates for different classes of business or business units, or GUA/Non-GUA within the Broking House?  
   
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7. How do I know that an email has not been tampered with as this would be easy to do?   
 
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1. It is likely that you are using email already for some of your endorsement business, particularly if you conduct non-London Market business. So, you must be comfortable using it – simply expand its use.
However, if security is still an issue then there are a range of technology solutions that can provide additional security to email.

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2. This will depend on the technology you are using, but there are solutions available that do not depend on your counterparty’s technology
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3. You do not need to attach the MRCE. You can indicate your response in the email message.
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4. The way you use electronic documents will depend on your organisation’s policies, technology capability and individual client requirements. The guidance does not cover this area as it is an individual organisation’s decision.
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5. Although scanned copies of physically signed documents will undoubtedly be used, the term “digitally signed” usually refers to the ability to embed digital evidence in the document that an identifiable person has “signed” the document. This usually includes means to protect the documents from being tampered with.
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6. The templates in the e-MRCE guidelines provide a tried and tested layout that will be recognisable to your counterparties. However, it is accepted that brokers may evaluate how best to utilise these templates for integration with existing systems and procedures.
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7. In cases of intended fraud it is likely that current processes and practices are equally exposed to such fraud as email. Your existing procedures for managing this risk may guide you in addressing this
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