Post - 2011-06-03
Articles in this issue
Post magazine – 2 June 2011
The latest issue of Post magazine is now available to subscribers as a digital and interactive e-book.
View from the top: A hard market is coming
I started talking about positive signs of rate movement more than a month ago. While many agreed, not all of the market's 'big three' brokers shared this view. But a few weeks can effect considerable change and now even Aon's soothsayers will probably…
Penny Black's insurance week
Penny cannot help but feel rather jealous of Josh Mitchell, the graduate who has landed a £40 000-a-year job as an 'ambassador' at sporting and musical events for the creatures from the compare the meerkat adverts.
Rehabilitation - Therapy drift: Avoiding the blame game
After the heavy criticism the case management sector received at the hands of insurers last year, Lynn Rouse looks at the way rehabilitation professionals have responded to the concerns.
CSR news: Peak time for Total Objects
Total Objects has raised more than £11 000 for charitable projects in the UK and Africa after completing the Three Peaks Challenge. The annual challenge for the Coins Foundation, involves scaling three of the UK's largest peaks — Ben Nevis in Scotland,…
PSTF: Multi-channel business driven by customer empowerment
Insurers need to get out of the "multiple channel" mindset as their customers become more empowered, according to Richard Burdge, chief marketing officer at Thunderhead.
Broker offers cover for wet summers
CCV Group company Infinity is set to launch a new product protecting visitor attractions from reduced footfall due to adverse weather conditions.
Post history - 50 years ago: Move to new chambers for broker body
Looking back 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.
Allianz confident over conversions
Allianz is targeting 200 brokers with its new add-on product, Pro Motor Rescue, predicting a conversion rate of between 15% and 20% on participating brokers' entire motor books.
Exercise Watermark set for insurer-specific rerun
The Association of British Insurers has confirmed Exercise Watermark, the government's emergency flood scenario run nationwide in March, will be re-enacted specifically for the insurance industry in August, in conjunction with the Cabinet Office.
Technology - Mobile apps: The age of the app
App fever is infiltrating every aspect of our lives — and the insurance industry is no exception — but while the benefits a quality app can bring are undeniable, there are a number of pitfalls to avoid, says Ian Singer.
PSTF: Cost benefits driving secondary cloud migration
Almost nine in 10 IT professionals that use cloud-based services are moving beyond the hype and looking to invest further in this technology in 2011, according to a new survey.
Legal update - Social networking: Better connected
A landmark case in insurance fraud has established that information obtained from social networking sites can be lawfully used as evidence. Paul Hughes explains how they can be a valuable tool for insurers.
PSTF: Key to improved customer service held by technology chiefs
Chief information officers and chief technology officers are poised to become the real heroes in the drive to provide customers with the products and services they desire from insurers.
Post history - five years ago: Broker guilty of selling illicit policies
Looking back through Post's back catalogue paints a unique picture of more than 150 years of insurance news, as this article from five years ago reveals.
Postbox: High fines favoured for uninsured drivers
It was good to read Transport Minister Mike Penning is liaising with the Ministry of Justice in order to discuss the fines for uninsured drivers in last week's edition of Post.
Property claims: Marsh admits to 'red flag' concerns
Insurance broker Marsh warned that policyholders are still failing to buy sufficient indemnity periods as part of their business interruption cover.
Property claims: Sustainable claims cost fears allayed by scheme
The insurance industry is set to introduce a new sustainability scheme, measuring the carbon output of the claims process.
Imperial replaces Davies
Imperial Consultants is set to replace rival claims firm Davies on Zurich's panel for low-value property repair validation, Post has learnt.
PSTF: Cloudy issue
The cloud computing industry needs to put the elephant in the room to bed over security issues.
Towergate 'misleading' employment tribunal, says counsel
The long-running employment dispute between Towergate and two former members of staff now working for rival Hendersons could be concluded in November, a full year after the employment tribunal began to hear the case, Post has learnt.
Property claims: Businesses must be vigilant over arson threat
A range of effective measures can be used to identify and tackle arson in the UK, according to a claims expert at Crawford & Company.
PSTF: Telematics: caution called for over information overload
Responding to a question from a PSTF advisory board member, Insure the Box founder and joint chief executive Mike Brockman admitted there is a danger of information overload with regards to what telematics can deliver.
Towergate splits retail into three in internal shuffle
Towergate Broking has revealed a revised internal structure to staff, splitting its retail division into three key areas, Post has learnt.
Sword talks to two after MBO
Insurance software firm Sword Insurance has hailed the growing influence of private equity in the insurance sector, after it confirmed a leveraged management buyout from French-owned Sword Group.
IFB and Apil fraud tie-up
Discussions are underway between the Insurance Fraud Bureau and Association of Personal Injury Lawyers to establish a data-sharing agreement aimed at combating fraud.
Large corporate risks - Global compliance: Could a central rules database help?
The global insurance compliance headache for large corporates operating in multiple jurisdictions is only intensifying. Veronica Cowan explores if and how a central rules database could help.
Commercial property - Sprinklers: A burning issue
The safety and business benefits of sprinkler systems are undeniable — yet many commercial buildings remain unprotected. David Townsend urges insurers to continue to lead the calls for mandatory inclusion.
CSR news: Welsh broker chooses volunteering partner
Antur Insurance's employees have teamed up with Cancer Research Wales to volunteer at various events and stores run by the charity as part of the Welsh broker's 10th anniversary celebrations.
Interview - David Bott: In the Apil hotseat
With claimant lawyers facing radical change over the next year following the Jackson Review, David Bott has a turbulent introduction to his tenancy as the new Apil president. Leigh Jackson talks to the man whose job it is to steady the ship through these…
Property claims: Lawyer in CFA plea
Non-foreseeability defences, often used in subsidence claims, could be on their last legs, according to a leading lawyer.
Property claims: Curb 'hide and seek' culture over claims
Insurers and claims firms have been told to curb "the hide and seek" culture obscuring the cost of claims handling.
CSR news: Lockton aims high for charity
Lockton's real estate & construction team's inaugural clay pigeon shoot has raised £5000 for its charity of the year, Macmillan Cancer Support. The shoot, which was sponsored by Amlin Insurance and held at Holland & Holland's shooting ground, has taken…
'Therapy drift' leads Axa to outcome-based model
Axa Insurance is looking to counter its concerns over rehabilitation 'therapy drift' by working with a provider's new outcome-based pricing model, which effectively offers insurers a money-back guarantee on results.
Property claims: UK businesses have failed to respond to roof collapse threat
The severity of the winter 2010 cold snap exposed a lack of preparedness by UK businesses, according to Huw Chandler, property risk engineering practice leader at XL Insurance.
Homecall attracts buyer interest
Grant Thornton has been appointed official liquidator of the failed supplier of emergency cover for homeowners and landlords, Homecall Plus. But uncertainty remains as to whether policies issued in the past five months were backed by an underwriter as…
CSR news: Brunel hits zero-carbon goal in green campaign
Brunel Professional Risks has upped its environmental credentials by achieving zero-carbon status, and claims to be the first specialist professional indemnity broker verified by clean planet trust Pure to have done so.
Post history - 20 years ago: Employment figures drop in insurance
Looking back through Post's back catalogue paints a unique picture of more than 150 years of insurance news, as this article from 20 years ago reveals.
Editor's comment: Passing the hot potato
And so the buck gets passed once more. Another week, another non-decision on referral fees. This week it was the turn of the Legal Services Board to fight shy of a ban, deferring future responsibility for dealing with this questionable practice to…
CSR news: CEO cycles 200 miles for charity in inaugural tour d'Aviva
UK CEO Mark Hodges has taken part in Aviva's charity bike ride challenge — tour d'Aviva — between its York and Norwich offices. From 24 to 26 May, a team of 13 from the Aviva leadership team, including top boss Mr Hodges, cycled nearly 200 miles in the…
LSB referral fee advice slammed as 'mistaken'
The Ministry of Justice has been urged to disregard the "mistaken" advice of the Legal Services Board and ban referral fees, as lawyers and insurers joined forces to criticise the decision.
Property claims: Surveillance legislation should hold no fear for insurers
Insurers have been told to embrace surveillance and that they have nothing to fear from the legislation surrounding it.
Inflatable standards urged
Insurers have been urged to introduce new cover pre-requisites for inflatable amusements, after three children were injured when the bouncy castle they were playing on at a hotel in North Yorkshire came loose from its moorings and hit a telegraph pole.
Rehabilitation - Workplace innovation: A good measure of rehabilitation success
Insurers have been vocal in their criticism of rehabilitation service innovation. Mark Howard and Brian Whelan argue that, while progress has been made, the next stage in evolution needs to be a radical one.
Post history - 30 years ago: US agents accused of $1m fraud
Looking back through Post's back catalogue paints a unique picture of more than 150 years of insurance news, as this article from 30 years ago reveals.