Hiscox
This week: The gathering of the clouds
As insurers are fond of saying, every claim is an opportunity to show their customers the value of what they get for forking out their premiums.
Ombudsman responds to loss adjuster calls to fast track Covid-19 BI test case
The Financial Ombudsman Service is prepared to progress a Covid-19 related complaint about business interruption cover as “quickly as possible” to help provide guidance to insurers and the growing number of disgruntled SME policyholders about what is -…
Insurance risks damaging reputation 'for a decade' warns dispute expert
The insurance industry should work with government to avoid legal actions against insurers over rejected coronavirus claims that could decimate its reputation “for a decade,” claims dispute expert Roger Flaxman of Flaxman Partners has said.
Hiscox Action Group appoints top City law firm as it surpasses 200 members
The Hiscox Action Group, which now represents more than 200 claimants, has appointed City law firm Mishcon de Reya to handle its case.
Nightlife trade body to coordinate claims against Hiscox on BI
The Night Time Industries Association has sought legal counsel on its members' rights on refused business interruption policies.
Analysis: Policyholders band together as BI group actions mount
Ecclesiastical, Hiscox, QBE and RSA could all face class actions from businesses that have had claims for losses from coronavirus-related closures rejected as policyholders group together and brokers also come under fire.
Beazley and Chubb reveal Q1 coronavirus hits
Beazley has reported a $170m (£137.7m) impact from Covid-19 related claims while Chubb took $13m of pre-tax $13m losses in the first quarter of the year.
MP calls on government to force insurers to use dividends to pay coronavirus claims
Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards has tabled an Early Day Motion calling on the government to instruct insurers to put their dividends towards settling insurance claims resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hiscox confirms $175m coronavirus claims hit
Hiscox has confirmed it expects to pay net claims of $150m (£121.6m) due to the coronavirus crisis with the potential for another $25m if the current restrictions on “mass gatherings” are extended beyond six months.
Brokers warned that pandemic crisis will trigger rise in PI cases
Brokers and industry specialists are expecting to see a spike in claims against broker professional indemnity policies as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Blog: Coronavirus business interruption insurance – devil is in the detail for Hiscox and others
Most businesses will not be insured for Covid-19 disruption and in many cases the wording is clear cut. But for others, the devil is in the detail and policy wordings suggest that insurers should cough up vital interim payments sooner rather than later.
Nightlife broker seeks legal advice after QBE rejects clients' Covid-19 claims
NDML Insurance Specialists, an insurance broker that caters to nightclubs, has sought legal advice after around 60 of its clients had claims for coronavirus-related closures rejected by insurer QBE, Post has learned.
Hiscox Action Group grows to more than 100 businesses
A group of businesses taking on Hiscox over rejected Covid-19-related business interruption claims has grown to over 100 firms, Post has learned.
This week: Under pressure
UK insurers are coming under increased scrutiny as Covid-19 worsens. And this week that was certainly the case for Hiscox after businesses threatened the insurer with a class action lawsuit for rejecting claims related to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Blog: History is on Hiscox's side as claimants threaten Covid-19 BI legal action, but will its brand suffer?
This week Hiscox publicly defended itself against accusations it is refusing to pay valid claims linked to Covid-19 as a coalition of policyholders threatened legal action. Post content director Jonathan Swift reflects on the history of insurance action…
Hiscox fires out response as BI conflict rumbles on
Hiscox has outlined its exposures to coronavirus losses as businesses that have had claims for coronavirus-related interruption rejected by the provider have come together, calling themselves the Hiscox Action Group.
Settle Covid-19 claims fast and make interim payments, FCA tells BI insurers
The Financial Conduct Authority has said it will assess how insurers are interpreting business interruption policies, as it urged firms to settle valid claims quickly.
Hastings pushes ahead with dividend payment plan
Hastings Group has confirmed it will propose a final dividend of 5.5p per share at its AGM on 21 May despite calls from regulators for the industry to suspend payments during the coronavirus pandemic.
Hiscox rejects 'Public Authority' clause interpretation as coalition of BI claimants threaten class action
Hiscox faces a potential class-action lawsuit from policyholders that have had business interruption claims rejected.
This week: A whole new world
I'd like to tell you in my spare time this week I've learnt a new language or picked up a new skill but in the true spirit of staying indoors we've mostly been bingeing on Disney Plus, with the Aladdin remake a firm favourite.
Bank of England’s warning: Which insurers have put pay to dividends?
A flurry of insurers have pushed pause on dividend payouts following Bank of England and European Union warnings on being prudent in the face of the coronavirus crisis.
Insurer gender pay gaps shrink slightly
Insurers’ gender pay gaps narrowed marginally in 2019, with the difference between the median and mean pay of women and men shrinking by 0.94% and 1.46% respectively among a sample of top insurers collated by Post.
Analysis: How insurers are helping employees juggle home schooling with work: Joe Wicks excercise videos, support groups and emergency leave
“I’ve just done my first two hours of teaching this morning and I have new found respect for the teaching profession, that’s for sure”. That was one of the responses Post's content director Jonathan Swift received when asked what employers are doing to…
Analysis: What will the legacy of Covid 19 mean for the future of work as insurance staff migrate from the office to home?
Insurers might be closing their offices in the face of Covid 19, but they are quick to reassure everyone that it is business-as-usual. Jonathan Swift looks at what insurers are doing in the face of unprecedented upheaval and what the legacy might be when…