UK-based insurance broker Willis Group has come to a financial agreement with New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer to settle charges that it accepted kickbacks from insurance companies.

The third largest insurance broker in the world will use the $50 million settlement figure to set up a fund to be used to reimburse customers who have been identified as having overpaid for insurance services from the company between 2001 and 2004 due to the illegal practices.

The deal falls in line with previously agreed settlements with Aon and Marsh and McLennan, the two largest insurance brokers in the world. Additionally, and as with the other two broker giants, Willis has avoided paying a fine to the Attorney General’s office by agreeing to significantly change its practices.

These changes include making its billing charges more transparent and ending its practice of accepting ‘incentive commissions’ to steer customers to the commission paying insurer instead of the company offering the best product for that customer.