Post - 2011-05-12
Articles in this issue
Technology: Will the cookie crumble?
The revised Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive could see computer cookies swallowed up unless explicit consent is given for their insertion in users' computers when they visit a company's website.
In series: first-party fraud: Credit to the nation
Full credit data checks for insurance are common in the US. Graham Odiam looks at the likelihood UK insurers will wake up to the benefits and start using the practice here.
Career development & CSR: Liberty charity football match
Liberty International Underwriters Europe is hosting a charity football match at league one football team Charlton Athletic's Valley ground on 19 May in a bid to raise £10 000.
BBA rules out PPI appeal as banks plan for payouts
The British Bankers' Association has abandoned plans to appeal a high court ruling, after four of the major banks have set aside money for to compensate mis-selling payment protection insurance.
Reinsurer cat budgets exhausted after Q1
Reinsurers' annual budgets have been exhausted after the major natural catastrophe losses in the first quarter were followed by 150 tornadoes hitting 13 south-eastern US states last month. According to Dominic Simpson, vice president, senior credit…
Endsleigh faces High Court onslaught over claims costs
Endsleigh Insurance faces a £30m High Court showdown with Gibraltar-based Southern Rock and Markerstudy, over its alleged failure to provide "technically accurate" claims handling for the two companies.
Postbox: time to up the ante in fight against fraud?
Graham Odiam's article on 'first-party fraud' touches on a moral dilemma. Insurers have a desire to retain policyholders by providing a good service — both at policy inception and at claim time — but also need to prevent and detect fraud efficiently.
View from the top: positive mental attitude
I believe that commercial organisations of all shapes and sizes can learn a lot from the way athletes continually look to improve their performance in the quest to outperform the competition.
SMEs advised on alternatives
SMEs have been urged to consider alternatives to the purchase of non-compulsory commercial insurance.
Lloyds seeks GI partner to focus on banking
Lloyds Banking Group is expected to seek a joint venture partner for its general insurance business amid strong speculation that it is gearing up to dispose of its Edinburgh-based life and pensions business Scottish Widows.
Post history - 30 years ago: Multi-million pound fire claim fears
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.
Esure Broker launch will be 'third pillar'
Esure has said it will overcome any scepticism from insurers, after unveiling plans to create a dedicated intermediary.
Sponsorship: Olympian ideals
With the London Olympics now only 14 months away, Mairi MacDonald caught up with major UK medal hope Jessica Ennis to talk about preparing for the most significant event of her career, the benefits of corporate sponsorship and the practice of insuring…
Allianz focus on channel lines rather than regions
Allianz Retail has unveiled a new strategy that the business, ultimately, hopes will lead to more cross-selling among its personal lines brokers.
Career development & CSR: Sterling signs up to Aldermanbury Declaration
Sterling Insurance has become the latest insurer to sign up to the Chartered Insurance Institute's Aldermanbury Declaration.
Post history - five years ago: Monument chief quits in two months
Looking through Post’s back catalogue paints a unique picture of more than 150 years of insurance news, as this highlight from 5 years ago reveals.
Energy - small operators: Oiling the wheels
Oil and gas is a high-risk industry and insurance prices reflect this. Gordon Patterson explains why this is a problem for smaller operators and what they can do to ensure they are not priced out of the market.
Sponsorsip - Olympics: Fencing fantastic
Since securing a five-year sponsorship package with Lloyd's insurer Beazley at the beginning of the year, prospects for the British fencing team have never looked brighter. The Beazley deal is valued at £1m and runs until the end of 2015.
Hyperion aims for £200m target by 2014
The development of a general commercial retail broking operation in the UK will play a major role in Hyperion Group becoming a £200m business by September 2014.
Elite threatens ABI withdrawal
Elite Insurance has become the latest legal expenses specialist to threaten withdrawal from the Association of British Insurers over the trade body's support of the Jackson Review.
Junction prioritises servicing existing customers
Junction is to move away from targeting new affinity partners and instead focus its attention on servicing existing partners, as part of a "new phase" of development.
Sponsorship - Olympics: The hard cycle
It's not just insurers that have caught Olympic fever and begun backing Britain's sporting talent. Daniel Dunkley details how loss adjuster Davies hopes to help cycling sensation Andy Tennant power his way to games glory.
Rehabilitation: Embedding rehabilitation
Rehabilitation is now widely accepted by UK motor insurers, but its record continues to be mixed on implementation. Mark Baylis urges firms to consider the wider context of rehabilitation if further progress is going to be made.
Broker redomiciling: The case for migration
With the UK becoming an increasingly expensive place to do business, David Coupe questions whether more brokers will look to move abroad.
Post history - 15 years ago: Airlines not interested in cover scheme
Looking through Post’s back catalogue paints a unique picture of more than 150 years of insurance news, as this highlight from 15 years ago reveals.
Penny Black's insurance week
Given his aspirations as a pop impresario, Penny was interested to see former IAG UK boss and Hastings investor Neil Utley enter the annual Rich List chart above the likes of George Michael, Robbie Williams and Phil Collins.
Coalition government: State of the nation: one year on
Last week's overwhelming 'no' vote in the referendum on the UK's voting system has only served to deepen divisions and highlight political polar positions within government, but how does the insurance industry rate the coalition's first 12 months in…
In series: first-party fraud: Indicator or prohibitor?
Insurers are increasingly looking at options to help prevent fraud at the front end. Credit checks are common when assessing the ability to pay but Jane Bernstein asks whether they could also help as a fraud indicator.
Murphy takes Barclays UK and Ireland role
Barclays Insurance has appointed Kieran Murphy as managing director of its retail business in the UK and Ireland.
MA Assist wins exclusive RSA commercial contract
RSA has appointed MA Assist as sole repair supplier for its commercial property claims.
Insure & Go ditches home and motor to push travel ambition
Mapfre-owned online travel provider Insure & Go has ceased writing home and motor business ahead of a global roll-out of its direct travel insurance model.
BA set to increase workforce by 20%
Broker Assistance is aiming to increase its workforce by up to 20% in a bid to "meet the demands of its customer base".
Energy - overcapacity: Getting plugged in
The energy insurance sector is buzzing at the moment, but Rachel Gordon investigates whether the good times are sustainable.
Post history - 50 years ago: Largest cover on a single vessel
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.
Baker quits post over Jackson frustration
Legal Expenses Insurance Group director Tony Baker has resigned from his post after becoming frustrated with the government's stance on the Jackson Review.
RBSI pushes Select phone service online
Royal Bank of Scotland Insurance's direct high net worth offering, Select, has bolstered its telephone offering with a move online.
Crisis Survivor closes doors
Risk management specialist Crisis Survivor has entered liquidation four years after its launch, claiming "insurers failed to recognise its value".
Career development & CSR: IRM to develop guidance on managing risk appetite
The Institute of Risk Management has issued a consultation paper aimed at developing guidance on the subject of risk appetite.
Interview - Tim Coles: up and at it
After serving in the army, Tim Coles, chief executive of Howden, found fresh excitement in the world of insurance. Mairi MacDonald talks to him about the company's unique attitude and his plans to grow the business further.
Consultancy warns over rate rise complacency
Personal lines insurers have been warned to guard against complacency, despite the potential for improved growth and increased profitability in the sector.
Editor's comment: are some more equal?
Tales of the unexpected it is not, but the level of animosity now being directed by legal expenses insurers towards their supposedly protective big brother — that's to say, the Association of British Insurers — may have taken some by surprise.
Post magazine – 12 May 2011
The latest issue of Post magazine is now available to subscribers as a digital and interactive e-book.
Catastrophic claims: Bridging the gap
David Cameron’s oft-repeated slogan for the current age of austerity is ‘we’re all in this together’. However, in the world of severe injury claims, the ever-increasing gap between provision for disabled people who are in a position to claim compensation…
Pearson joins Oamps
Former Giles Insurance Brokers retail managing director Howard Pearson has joined Oamps' UK operation as divisional broking director.