Articles by Tom Luckham
Allianz and Intact pondering Aviva takeover, reports claim
The Times has reported that "market chatter" has suggested Allianz and RSA owner Intact, are considering lining up a bid to buy Aviva.
Motor and home premiums at ‘peak of the pricing cycle’
Figures released by Pearson Ham have revealed that home and motor premiums have further increased in the third quarter, as we reach ‘the peak of the pricing cycle’.
Regulator monitoring motor insurance premiums
The Financial Conduct Authority is “monitoring” motor insurance prices amid skyrocketing premiums.
Will MoJ plans for medical reports fix the claims portal?
Tom Luckham unpicks the Ministry of Justice’s proposals to change medical reporting requirements for road traffic accidents and examines the impact it could have on motor insurance claims.
John Lewis halts offering EV cover amid repair cost concerns
John Lewis has "temporarily paused offering new policies and renewals on fully electric vehicles", citing repair cost concerns.
Confiscation order gives serial fraudster three months to pay back £210,000
A court has granted a confiscation order against a man who was jailed in 2021 following 62 fraudulent insurance claims, ordering him to pay £210,000.
Fair settlements should be ‘simply expected’ following FCA warning shot
Following a call to insurers from the Financial Conduct Authority to ensure fair value, industry commentators have said that fair value is “simply expected”.
Eight out of 10 claims handlers have dealt with a distressing case
Four out of five claims handlers have suffered second-hand trauma from dealing with distressing claims, such as fatal fires, according to research undertaken by the Chartered Insurance Institute’s New Generation group.
Collaboration needed on climate resilience as UK must ‘get used to’ floods
Collaboration is the key to improving climate resilience, according to a panel of experts at the Chartered Insurance Institute’s Shaping the Future of Insurance conference.
FCA issues deadline for insurer action over Gap products
The Financial Conduct Authority has written to insurers warning that more action is required in order to guarantee good customer outcomes.
MPs call for OIC case backlog investigation
In a report published today, the Justice Committee has urged the Ministry of Justice to investigate the case backlog within the Official Injury Claim portal.
Home insurance payouts outpace premiums in Q2 2023
The latest figures from the Association of British Insurers reveal that £782m was paid out in home insurance claims in the second quarter of 2023.
Motor and building insurance complaints hit five-year high
Quarterly data from the Financial Ombudsman Service shows that complaints relating to motor and buildings insurance have reached their highest level in five years
Travel insurance predicted to lead growth in personal lines
Data from Smart Money People has revealed that travel insurance is set to grow by 15% over the next year, the highest growth projection of the top ten insurance policies.
PI discount rate consultation closes ahead of 2024 review
The Ministry of Justice’s consultation into establishing a dual/multiple PI discount rate closed yesterday, with the final decision to be made in July 2024.
Direct Line woes continue into 2023 with £78m H1 loss
Direct Line Group has reported an operating loss of £78.1m for the first six months of 2023, compared with a profit of £197m for the same period in 2022.
Motor insurance payouts rose faster than premiums in Q2
The Association of British Insurers has revealed that motor insurance payouts rose by 29% in Q2, up to £2.5bn, outpacing premiums.
Fundamentally dishonest fraudsters ordered to pay Zurich £30k
Two fraudsters have been found to be fundamentally dishonest and ordered to pay £30k in legal fees following an attempt to fraudulently seek damages against Zurich.
Three-year time limit for new vehicle MOTs set to stay
The result of the Department for Transport’s consultation on the mandatory time limit for MOTs is likely to result in the rules remaining unchanged, Insurance Post can exclusively reveal.
Direct Line to refund £30m to overcharged home and motor customers
Direct Line has agreed to a past business review after the FCA found it had breached dual pricing rules, having charged some customers at renewal more than if they were a new customer.
Apil issues proceedings challenging imminent PI reforms
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers has issued judicial review proceedings against the Ministry of Justice regarding imminent personal injury claim reforms.
Updated – Insurer results directory H1 2023
Insurance Post tracks insurers' half-year 2023 results, including gross written premium and combined operating ratio.
Caravan thefts lead to 34% increase in premiums
An increase in caravan thefts has led to the average insurance premium for a caravan increasing by 34% since 2021, according to Go Compare.
Insurance M&A activity continues to slow down
Lack of demand for insurtech businesses plus concerns about a target company’s data security resulted in less merger and acquisition activity in the UK in the first half of 2023, according to Clyde & Co.