Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Bumper year for FCA fines and unauthorised firm warnings
The Financial Conduct Authority issued 522 unauthorised firm warnings and an unconnected £227.3m in fines for the year up to March 2019, both signifying a jump.
Regulators consult on operational resilience
Insurance is one of the sectors under the spotlight in a shared policy summary and joint consultation by the Financial Conduct Authority, Prudential Regulation Authority and the Bank of England on incoming requirements to strengthen operational…
Fitch negative on UK home and motor insurance markets for 2020
Fitch has declared a negative outlook for insurers in the UK home and motor markets in 2020 citing high claims inflation and a weak pricing environment.
Floods and dual pricing warnings push up home premiums: Consumer Intelligence
Average home insurance premiums have climbed at a rate higher than inflation over the past six months, Consumer Intelligence research has found.
Analysis: Review of the Year 2019
It feels as if 2019 was an uncomfortable year for the general insurance market as it never quite seemed to grasp control of its own destiny. Wherever you look, carefully laid plans were derailed by the unexpected – and often unwanted – intervention of…
Scrap target times and frivolous bureaucracy to help vulnerable customers, suggests DLG claims head
Insurers need to ditch standard practices like target times in contact centres and avoid unnecessary bureaucracy if they are to meet the needs of vulnerable customers, according to Direct Line Group managing director of claims Jessie Burrows.
Ex-mutual insurer CEO facing £150,000 fine and ban
The former CEO of a mutual insurer is looking at fines and a ban, following a joint investigation by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority.
This week in Post: Deluge, diversity and misdemeanours
More than 800 houses have been evacuated due to flooding and many of those families won't be back in their home for Christmas. Flood warnings are still in place and there are reports that flood defence equipment is being stolen.
The NED Blog: Regulation and the regulators
The regulatory agenda is always something of a concern to the independent non-executive director in the insurance market and keeping a close eye on the 2019 and 2020 plans from both the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulatory Authority is…
Industry responds to 'jaw-dropping' behaviour at FCA headquarters
The insurance industry has reported mixed responses to reports of “shameful” behaviour by staff at the London offices of the Financial Conduct Authority.
Aviva pushes for tighter solicitor regulation as it claims CMCs are making a mockery of the system
Solicitors must declare the source of their claims leads, Aviva has challenged, as research shows a tiny fraction of nuisance calls have the legally-required customer consent.
Insurer reserving in PRA’s crosshairs
Reserving has been reiterated as a key area of focus for the Prudential Regulation Authority, as the regulator suggested it could use its “formal powers” if insurance firms fail to meet standards.
Blog: What does Admiral’s move to consolidate its aggregator businesses as Penguin Portals say about the state of price comparison in 2019?
A week after Go Compare's parent re-financed, Admiral has consolidated its global aggregation businesses as Penguin Portals 'to realise its global growth ambition'. Post content director Jonathan Swift ponders if this signals a first step toward…
Trade voice: Biba's Steve White on less but more effective regulation
British Insurance Brokers' Association CEO Steve White ponders what proportionate regulation for insurance brokers should look like.
Roundtable: Vulnerable customers: how does technology deliver fairer claims outcomes?
The FCA continues to be concerned about the problems faced by vulnerable customers. The regulator is expected to soon unveil a consultation to provide clarity on expectations of firms. Experienced claims handlers will play a key role in helping insurers…
Analysis: 'Dangerous excesses' - Rogue firms drive increase in six-figure credit hire claims
"Outlier" credit hire companies have left insurers increasingly dealing with claims in excess of £100,000, lawyers have cautioned.
Analyst names insurers likely to face most disruption from pricing practices review
Disruption caused by any regulatory interventions on insurers’ pricing practices is more likely to affect insurers such as Direct Line Group, RSA and Saga than price comparison site-based underwriters such as Admiral and Hastings, Peel Hunt has predicted.
Michael Sicsic becomes adviser to insurtech Spixii
Michael Sicsic, former head of supervision for general insurance protection at the Financial Conduct Authority, has joined start-up Spixii as an adviser to its directors.
This week: Big moves, whiplash and loyalty
After vacating our Haymarket office last week, the entire Post team finally feels settled in our new home in the City – the heart of the insurance industry.
Insurance products account for two thirds of FCA complaints as PPI claims surge
Complaints about payment protection insurance increased 34% in the first half of 2019 in the run-up to 29 August deadline for refunds, according to figures released by the Financial Conduct Authority.
FCA to consult on climate disclosure requirements
The Financial Conduct Authority has laid out actions it plans to take around climate change, including requiring listed firms to make climate-related disclosures.
Clone firm’s website remains live despite FCA warning
The Financial Conduct Authority has issued a warning about scammers using an authorised firm’s name to trick consumers via a website.
European firms have until 30 October to secure no-deal Brexit permits
European firms passporting into the UK need to notify the Financial Conduct Authority that they wish to enter the temporary permissions regime by 30 October in order to ensure they are able to continue operating in the event of no-deal Brexit, the…
Analysis: How a dual pricing ban could be catastrophic for the industry
An outright ban on dual pricing could be “catastrophic” for the industry, analysts warned, pushing smaller players out of the market, limiting competition and raising premiums across the board.