British Insurance Brokers’ Association (Biba)
FSCS funding model consultation paper draws early concerns
The Financial Services Authority's proposed changes to the funding of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme have come under fire from the British Insurance Brokers' Association, amid concerns that the creation of a 'retail pool' will affect members.
Payment Protection Insurance: Ringing the changes
Could a redrawing of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme boundaries save brokers from a repeat of the adverse financial impact of the payment protection insurance mis-selling scandal?
Top five European news stories
The top five European stories from www.insuranceinsight.com over the past seven days.
Telematics sales increase 'fivefold'
Telematics insurance sales have increased fivefold in the past two years and are set to snowball to around 500 000 in the next two years.
Weather claims to hit £750m as industry waits for SoP announcement
The insurance industry is hopeful that the government will finally release details of the flood risk model that will replace the Statement of Principles before its summer recess next week.
Editor's comment: Regulation and revolving chairs
Anticipated it may have been, but last week's European call for compulsory commission disclosure has understandably left UK brokers aggrieved.
Brokers insist on level playing field over EC Insurance Mediation Directive
Insurers have been dragged into the mandatory commission disclosure debate by disgruntled brokers demanding a "level playing field", following the latest publication of the revised Insurance Mediation Directive.
Mandatory commission – an necessary evil?
Rumors of mandatory commission disclosure have plagued the market since the start of the year but as the European Commission confirms brokers fears Francesca Nyman assesses the impact on European brokers.
Broking Focus: Bespoke tailoring
Biba’s wants the strategic review of its operations by Deloitte to produce a trade body fit to compete alongside the strongest organisations in the 21st century
Biba "disappointed" with IMD revisions
The British Insurance Broker’s Association said it was “very disappointed” by the five year timetable set for mandatory commission disclosure in the draft version of the Insurance Mediation Directive II.
Biba slams European timetable for commission disclosure
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has accused the European Commission of ignoring the views of major financial and insurance bodies in its decision to impose a timetable to mandate disclosure of insurance commissions.
Travelers makes redundancies in Surrey as work is transferred to regional offices
Travelers has confirmed it is making redundancies in its Surrey headquarters as part of a restructure that aims to push greater underwriting authority out to its UK regional network and closer to its broking partners.
Roundtable: How can fraud be halted at the underwriting stage?
There has long been a focus on fighting fraud at the claims stage, but could more be done to discourage would-be fraudsters at an earlier juncture?
Biba web hits double for motor and travel signposting service
The number of website hits for the British Insurance Brokers' Association signposting service for motor and travel insurance has more than doubled in the two months since the site was launched.
European Commissioner calls for 'proportionate approach' ahead of IMD II
European Commissioner Michel Barnier has told the European Federation of Insurance and Financial Intermediaries he wants a "proportionate approach" ahead of the publication of the revised Insurance Mediation Directive.
Barnier assures brokers IMD regulation will be 'proportionate'
European Commissioner Michel Barnier has said the revision of the Insurance Mediation Directive is "an important step in restoring consumer confidence in the financial sector".
Age charities warn insurance industry signposting will be scrutinised closely
The effectiveness of the industry's signposting service is expected to come under increased scrutiny from age-related charities, following the Home Office decision to exempt financial services from the incoming Equality Act.
Drunken holidaymakers invalidate travel insurance, research reveals
Travellers have been warned that they could invalidate their travel insurance if they have an incident on holiday while under the influence of alcohol or non-prescription drugs.
Managing general agents: A surge in popularity
Managing general agents are certainly on trend and increasing their interaction with insurers but, with some companies still suspicious of their value, will their popularity last?
Hardy latest Swiftcover exec to quit Axa PL prompting start-up rumours
The departure of personal lines boss Steve Hardy from Axa has prompted concerns not only of a culture clash between the original Axa Personal Lines business and the Swiftcover staff it inherited following the 2007 takeover, but that an overly controlling…
Flood cover: Sink or swim?
The expiry of the Statement of Principles is a year away, and the industry is looking for a replacement to cover the impact of flooding. Two ideas have been floated, but which will sink and which will swim?
Broker Focus: Fraud - First line of defence
Insurers are often called to bear arms in the battle against fraud, but should brokers be doing more to defend the industry?
FSA to end client exposure and abolish unclear risk transfer agreements
The Financial Services Authority is to publish a consultation on changes to its client money rules around risk transfer by the end of this month, in a bid to abolish ambiguous insurer agreements.
CHOs slam decision to refer motor market to Competition Commission
Credit hire operators have called for resources to be redirected to improving the Association of British Insurers-backed general terms of agreement rather than towards an investigation by the Competition Commission into the "dysfunctional" motor…