Claims
Sedgwick acquires Nordic loss adjuster
Sedgwick has acquired Nordic Loss Adjusting and related entities, for an undisclosed amount.
Swinton's Scott Kennedy on the rise of the connected home
Smart technologies are increasingly part of our daily lives, argues Scott Kennedy, managing director of Swinton, as EY’s latest digital home report reveals almost a quarter of UK households now own a voice-controlled device, while 9% have smart security…
ABI mulls legal action against government over discount rate
Exclusive: The Association of British Insurers is considering legal action against the government, after the Ogden discount rate was set at -0.25%.
Analysis: Discount rate decision casts a shadow over personal injury settlements
The personal injury discount rate will be set at minus 0.25% from 5 August providing certainty for insurers and claimants alike, but uncertainty created by the Ministry of Justice review behind the new rate could have left claimants – as well as insurers…
Blog: Whiplash portal cannot proceed without government decisions
The deadline for the start of the new litigant in person portal is fast approaching. James Dalton, director of general insurance policy at the Association of British Insurers says there are doubts over whether the necessary decisions will be made in time.
Insurers on standby over ‘unprecedented’ Whaley Bridge emergency
Insurers confirmed they have boots on the ground at Whaley Bridge, after 1000 people from areas surrounding a nearby reservoir were evacuated.
Gallagher Bassett acquires Welsh claims management firm
International risk services firm Gallagher Bassett has acquired the assets of Welsh claims firm, Adjusting Associates, to expand its offerings in the UK.
This week: No hiding place
As we start the month of August, many of us are planning to jet off abroad for a well-deserved break. And for those who do, very few would dream of placing a false sickness claim in order to receive a pay-out that would inevitably land them in jail.
Trade voice: Paul Nicholls, Mass chair
With the motor claims landscape set to change following the Civil Liability Act, Motor Accident Solicitors Society chair Paul Nicholls airs his concerns over anticipated delays in the progress of the Litigants in Person portal and how a premature launch…
Holiday sickness fraudster given 12 months prison sentence
A holiday sickness fraudster, who persuaded holidaymakers to put in false claims in order to receive a pay-out, has been handed a 12 month prison sentence.
Blog: Government moves on cladding replacement expose insurers’ inaction
Since the Grenfell Tower tragedy just over two years ago, building owners have been removing and replacing unsafe aluminium composite material cladding from their high-rise housing stock across the UK. Joanna Grant, partner at Fenchurch Law, asks why…
Q&A: Homeserve Labs chairman, Mark Wood
Homeserve Lab’s Leakbot is currently live and working with a wide range of insurers in the UK, Europe and the US. Post spoke to the company’s non-executive chair, former Axa UK CEO and Prudential UK and Europe CEO Mark Wood, to hear about its plans for…
Whiplash portal 'being built in a rules vacuum'
The Litigants in Person whiplash portal build may be progressing well, but fraud and a lack of clarity from the government could jeopardise its effectiveness, according to Sabre CEO Geoff Carter.
Sabre GWP drops in H1 from ‘intense competitive pressure’
Sabre’s combined operating ratio remained in its target of within the mid-70s range, while premiums shrank 7% in the first half of 2019.
Bupa's Alex Perry on prioritising mental health in the insurance sector
One in four people experience poor mental health each year, writes Alex Perry, CEO of Bupa Insurance UK, arguing that with a quarter of customers affected by the issue it's important that addressing mental health is a priority for the whole insurance…
Lamp policies transferred to another unrated insurer
More than 8000 former home insurance customers of failed insurer Lamp have had their cover moved to another unrated Gibraltarian insurer, Red Sands.
Analysis: Impact of smart home technology on escape of water claims
In 2018 insurers dealt with 228,000 escape of water claims, at a cost of £617m – an increase from £529m paid out five years ago, according to statistics from the Association of British Insurers. With the rising cost of claims, can technology help reduce…
LV's Clare Lunn appointed to head industry's counter-fraud organisation
Exclusive: Clare Lunn, director of fraud at LV, has been selected as a chair of the the General Insurance Fraud Committee.
This week: Rolling in it
Thursday seemed an appropriate day for insurtech Hippo to announce the outcome of its latest funding round – with temperatures reaching 38°C in places, the urge to emulate the mud-wallowing tendencies of its namesake animal became more and more tempting.
BLM wins fundamental dishonesty case against opportunistic fraudster
BLM has won a fundamental dishonesty case against a fraudster who claimed for whiplash from an accident where she was not in the vehicle.
Blog: The financial crime insider threat
The insurance industry has woken up to the growing criminal threat. However, Dennis Toomey, global director of counter fraud analytics and operations at BAE Systems, highlights that much investment in this area has focused on the external threat.
Criminal who stole Audatex data ordered to pay £25,500
Mustafa Kasim, who was sentenced to six months in prison in November for stealing data from Audatex, has now been ordered to pay a confiscation order of £25,500.
FCA flexes muscles over unauthorised claims firm
The Financial Conduct Authority has named a personal injury claims management company as operating without authorisation.
Analysis: Mitigating the risk of sexual harassment in the workplace
Over the past two years, awareness of how prevalent sexual harassment is in the workplace has reached perhaps unprecedented heights.