Post - 2010-11-11
Articles in this issue
Advantage withdrawal causes concern to rivals
AA Insurance has expressed disappointment at Hastings Insurance Service's announcement that its major insurance partner, Gibraltar-based Advantage, is to cease writing external business.
Towergate considers legal action over staff defections
Towergate is mulling legal action over a team of former employees that have left its Hertfordshire operation to join a local rival.
Insurers must fight public sector 'disabler' reputation
Zurich Municipal has urged the public sector to consider its long-term risk management plans in light of the impending government spending cuts.
High net worth - distribution: Defending their niche
Following reports in Post that the mid and high net worth markets have been experiencing an increase in competition and downward pressure on rates, Ralph Savage discusses what reaction this has elicited from insurers and brokers in terms of their…
Career path & CSR: Premium Credit charity climb
Sales staff at insurance finance provider Premium Credit have raised £10 000 for charity after ascending 5200ft as part of the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge.
News analysis - RSA's emerging markets strategy: On the way up
The major UK insurance groups are currently setting out their stalls with regards to emerging markets. Mairi MacDonald met up with RSA's Paul Whittaker and Paul Holmes in Dubai to get the lowdown on its plans for this sector.
Career path & CSR: Nash founder's return
Carole Nash made a return to the motorcycle insurance broker she founded to help celebrate its 25th birthday.
Commercial property - valuations: Wide of the mark
With recent figures suggesting as many as 77% of buildings are currently underinsured, Rachel Gordon investigates the root causes and potential solutions.
Career path & CSR: CII and FSSC sign agreement to boost industry skills strategy
The Chartered Insurance Institute is to advise the Financial Services Skills Council on skills and training in the general insurance sector, after the bodies signed a memorandum of understanding.
La Playa heads stateside to target $3m premium
Niche broker La Playa has targeted $3m (£1.8m) premium in the first year of business for its newly opened New York office.
Warning over PI cost rise
Insurers could see personal injury costs rise due to a government review of 'discount cost rates' on compensation.
League table reveals top fraud cities
Birmingham, Liverpool, and Manchester saw the most fraudulent activity in Q3 2010, according to the Insurance Fraud Bureau.
In series - property claims: Everybody's talking
Word of mouth is still the most effective way to retain or gain market share, argues James Grant and, with the rise of social media, more emphasis should be placed on keeping current customers happy.
Underwriting Service Awards 2010
Post is proud to introduce the Underwriting Service Awards 2010, an awards evening rewarding excellence and achievement in underwriting.
Clients switch as PwC lines up 50 bids for Rok
More than 50 interested parties are in the running to purchase all or part of beleaguered building repair firm Rok, administrator Pricewaterhouse Coopers has revealed.
Postbox: Claims is about people and process
The 'In Series' property claims article in 4 November issue was of great interest and raises some important areas of debate around the use of technology in the claims process.
Legal update - NHS funding: The right to free care
A Primary Care Trust recently argued that a woman injured in a road accident was not eligible to receive NHS care due to winning a payout from her insurer. Glyn Jones explains the facts and implications of this case.
News analysis - Lord Young report: Sense of anticipation
David Smith gives an insurer's view of Lord Young's report, and finds there is a great deal that the public and private sectors can unite behind.
Power Place boss confident of 1000 brokers by 2011 close
Power Place chief executive Matthew Reed has outlined plans to double its broker numbers to 1000 in 2011, as the firm looks to handle £60m gross written premium by the end of this year.
Interview - Ray Cox: True Brit
Brit may have taken its time in naming a new UK CEO, but now Ray Cox is in place he tells Jonathan Swift he is eager to build on his forerunner's legacy.
Website Review: Elephant
In the latest in its ongoing series for Post, web performance specialist Gomez casts a critical eye over Elephant's website.
Editor's comment: Rok's troubles raise issues
The news this week that building firm Rok had filed for administration will certainly have raised some questions among the insurance fraternity.
Mitie seeks partners for one-stop building claims service
Building maintenance firm Mitie is in talks with prospective partners and potential clients in a bid to establish an all-encompassing property repair network.
Ireland gets tough on boards with new code
The Central Bank of Ireland has ruled that the "buck stops" with companies' boards of directors amid publication of a new set of corporate governance practices.
Motor increase is not a 'market failure'
The increase in motor insurance premiums is problematic without being a "market failure" according to the British Insurance Brokers' Association.
View from the top: Rising to the challenge
It's no secret insurers are generally seeing continued pressure on the bottom line. A combination of reduced volumes, reduced investment returns and high claims costs have made trading profitably a challenge.
MIB loses dispute over motorcycle RTA claims
A personal injury solicitor has hailed a victory for motorcyclists against the Motor Insurers' Bureau, after successfully appealing for damages.
Ruling clarifies 'double jeopardy' threats
A recent High Court ruling that will mean fewer claims reach the Financial Ombudsman Service could spell good news for insurers, according to a law firm.
MoJ confirms plan to widen RTA process net
The government has confirmed plans to extend the road traffic accident claims process to a broader range of personal injury and low value clinical negligence claims by April 2012.
RBSI leaves door open for further reserving
Royal Bank of Scotland Insurance has not ruled out the need for further personal injury claims reserving after setting aside another £100m during the third quarter of the year.
In series - property claims: I'm sticking with you
Insurers have sometimes been criticised for not doing enough to retain existing clients. Sam Barrett investigates how advances in property claims handling are helping to address this cost-efficient issue.
RBSI seals EXL Indian outsourcing deal
Royal Bank of Scotland Insurance could offshore more than 300 back office roles to India after launching a consultation with more than a thousand staff last week.
Aussie giant Wesfarmers stalks Barbon in UK push
Wesfarmers is poised to become the latest Australian financial services giant to make a serious play for the UK market with a sizable acquisition.
North of the Border: costs of proceedings — applying for security
Article 25.12 of the Civil Procedure Rules allows a defendant to apply for security for costs of proceedings. An application must be supported by sufficient evidence.
Heath Lambert to support wind farms
Stirling and London-based wind farm developer Carbon Free has appointed Heath Lambert to supply it with risk services.
Postscript - 10 years ago: Helphire case comes close to end
Looking through Post’s back catalogue paints a unique picture of more than 150 years of insurance news, as this highlight from 10 years ago reveals.
Postscript - 30 years ago: Christopher Moran Group suspended
Looking through Post’s back catalogue paints a unique picture of more than 150 years of insurance news, as this highlight from 30 years ago reveals.
Penny Black's insurance week
The first day at a new job can certainly be stressful, what with new colleagues and a host of new challenges.
Postscript - Personal injury dispute set to run on
Looking through Post’s back catalogue paints a unique picture of more than 150 years of insurance news, as this highlight from five years ago reveals.
Ink in ‘unique’ position with rebrand
Giles-owned Ink Underwriting Agencies has rebranded as Ink Insurance in a move to become a one-stop shop for smaller brokers struggling to place business with insurers.
Post Magazine – 11 November 2010
The latest issue of Post magazine is now available to subscribers as a digital and interactive e-book.