Post - 2011-01-13
Articles in this issue
Post Magazine – 13 January 2011
The latest issue of Post magazine is now available to subscribers as a digital and interactive e-book.
Postbox: Apil hits back
With regards the article 'Claimant community blamed' () the development of a specific mesothelioma pre-action protocol was made redundant by modification of the disease and illness protocol.
Career development & CSR: Beetison lands Plantec employee award
Claims management company Plantec Holdings has named transport supervisor David Beetison as its 2010 employee of the year.
Assurant latest to target PPI market
Assurant Solutions has unveiled two new payment protection insurance products that will be underwritten at the point of sale.
News analysis - Aggregators: Running out of steam?
Motor rates may be stalling but Tom Cooper pinpoints growth strategies to safeguard comparison site expansion.
Aon joins the online SME scramble with MGA tie up
Aon has launched its first online quote-and-buy facility for the SME market after joining forces with managing general agent CFC Underwriting.
MP plans 'dramatic changes' for motor
Road safety minister Mike Penning MP has vowed to step up government efforts to tackle the rising cost of motor insurance.
Postscript - 30 years ago: European insurance launched
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.
'Divorce insurance' seems likely if new law is binding
A new market in 'divorce insurance' could blossom if a Law Commission consultation leads to pre-nuptial agreements becoming legally binding.
Norgrove quits after just months
Travelers Ireland vice president Ken Norgrove has left his role with the insurer, within months of joining from RSA.
Risk update - Health foods & supplements: A healthy risk
Forecasts suggest the global food supplement market could be worth $90bn by 2013. Shaun Randell examines the opportunities and risks insuring this market can bring.
Law report: Iceland supermarket wins appeal over basket trip
This law report has been contributed by national law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer.
Ex-Columbus MD Linney launches new personal lines intermediary Ancile
Travel claims and assistance provider One Group has set its sights on launching new direct travel insurance brands after setting up a separate intermediary to manage its consumer business.
Induced accidents are only small part of fraud problem
Policyholders staging or inventing road accidents to file fraudulent claims by far outstrip 'crash-for-cash' fraud — where an innocent policyholder is induced to collide with a fraudster's car, according to Keoghs.
View from the top: 2011: a case of déjà vu?
I have started 2011 with a strong sense of déjà vu as my colleagues in our claims teams deal with our customers' problems arising from the recent extreme weather conditions. I recall that January 2010 was much the same following another spell of bad…
IFB and Met team up to tackle spectre of ghost broking
The Insurance Fraud Bureau has joined forces with the Metropolitan police to launch an education programme aimed at communities that have recently fallen foul of ghost broking activities.
Director fined for ignoring fraud attempt
A former director of Surety Guarantee Consultants has been fined £25 000, after the Financial Service Authority found he had "turned a blind eye" to some colleagues' efforts to defraud two London market insurers out of more than £2m.
Law report: After-the-event policy wording means insurer loses case
This law report has been contributed by national law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer.
Google adwords tool alters insurance search rankings
Car insurance-related terms accounted for more than half of all online searches for insurance in October, totalling more than 885 000 searches.
Career development & CSR: Benchmark study puts HR practices under microscope
HR directors are being urged to take part in a benchmarking study comparing human resources practices across the industry.
Postscript - 50 years ago: Case for loss over foundering
Looking through Post’s back catalogue paints a unique picture of more than 150 years of insurance news, as this highlight from 50 years ago reveals.
Law report: Protective gloves were not of a high enough standard
This law report has been contributed by national law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer.
Legal update - surveyors: Fighting back
As lenders attempt to claw back shortfalls in their security, Robert Crossingham explains how surveyors and their insurers are fighting the banks at their own game.
Uncertainty over Australia flood losses
The scale of the flood losses in Australia remains uncertain, following further devastation from flash floods in the city of Toowoomba.
Keelan Westall hails second in-house claims move
Aviva has granted Keelan Westall the authority to process and settle Aviva claims in-house, for amounts up to £2500 net of the excess. The Barbon-owned, Hampshire- based company already has a similar arrangement in place with Zurich.
2011 tipped to finally see an upturn in Lloyd's M&A action
Takeover speculation among Lloyd's insurers look set to continue throughout 2011, after Canopius kicked off the year with an approach for rival Omega.
Interview - Karen Ellis: One's formula for success
With the management buyout of motor sport specialist Ellis Clowes & Company from THB, Karen Ellis has certainly made her mark. She talks to Amy Ellis about remaining in pole position in its niche.
Penny Black's insurance week
This week Penny discovered that the forthright chairwoman of the House of Commons transport committee Louise Ellman is well in touch with her inner Jeremy Paxman.
Ageas retail boss hails potential after Devine promotion
Kwik Fit Financial Services managing director Brendan Devine is to manage Ageas' retail division's relationships with its insurer, aggregator and affinity partners, after taking on a new role within the group.
Smith joins Eaga
Former Rok operations director Mitchell Smith has been appointed operational development director with heating and renewable energy firm Eaga.
Lloyds TSB seeks travel underwriter
Lloyds TSB has kicked off a tender process as it considers whether to replace the existing underwriter of its travel insurance products.
Quinn staff told no deal exists with Anglo
Quinn Insurance staff, awaiting news of the firm's future have been told that there is "no Quinn/Anglo proposal" by its joint administrator Michael McAteer.
HNW - film & celebrity memorabilia: No business like showbusiness
The memorabilia sector is a growing market. Veronica Cowan examines why it can be so hard to value items in this burgeoning industry.
Editor's comment: Love is in the air
The theme of romance, marriage and relationship meltdown permeated the insurance market this week.
Data protection & breaches: Breaches of security
The Information Commissioner recently issued huge fines for data protection breaches. Edward Murray reports on additional costs that could well flow from new notification laws.
Legal update - Transatlantic triggers: The same but different
Mark Burton and Don Ramsey examine whether the UK can glean potential solutions from the US as the courts continue to wrestle with the thorny issue of what triggers a disease-related EL policy.
Postscript - 100 years ago: Explosion at Grand Central
Looking through Post’s back catalogue paints a unique picture of more than 150 years of insurance news, as this highlight from 100 years ago reveals.
Claims update: Calculation challenges
The path for a subrogation claim by Air France was cleared when the French court found Continental Airlines responsible for the 2000 Concorde crash. Frédérique Hardy examines the obstacles and challenges inherent in complex recovery actions.
Postscript - Five years ago: Insurers eye Football League claim
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.
RSA appoints Davis
RSA has appointed Marc Davis to the newly created position of commercial distribution director.
Legal update: Whiplash claims: A pain in the neck
With whiplash costs on the rise, despite safer driving conditions, Steve Caffrey questions the role of claims management firms in commoditising claimants.
Brownsword joins Digilog
The former executive chairman of Brownsword Group, David Brownsword, has joined fraud investigation business Digilog as its new chairman.
Career development & CSR: Fancy dress charity drive
More than 100 staff at North West-based Broker Assistance experienced a unique form of management this week, when their chief executive turned up to work in fancy dress.
Winter freeze claims tipped to top £3bn
Insurance claims caused by burst pipes this winter are likely to outstrip the £3bn loss arising from the 2007 UK floods after short-staffed insurers were unable to deal with claims efficiently, according to the managing director of the National Flood…
Lloyd's insurer faces ex-FD's tribunal claims
Former Jubilee group finance director Kate Lewis is set to battle her ex-employer at a tribunal next week.
Postbox: Customer communication key
I read with interest the recent interview with Imran Ahmed and Tony Sault providing insight into a consumer’s perspective of a motor claim and agree with the findings that demonstrate a “notable difference in satisfaction levels” between groups of…
People moves - 13 January 2011
A round-up of people moves and new appointments in the industry, as featured in the January 13 2011 edition of Post.