Regulation
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.
Insurers should stop boasting about paying 99% of claims
Insurers need to stop advertising themselves as being a panacea and be honest with customers if the industry is to be trusted, according to James Daley, managing director of Fairer Finance.
How insurers are tentatively embracing AI
Analysis: Frances Stebbing explores how insurers are using generative AI, while recognising the risks and preparing for the incoming regulation for this type of technology.
Admiral welcomes slimming down of insurer reporting rules
The Prudential Regulatory Authority’s latest review of the regulatory reporting it requires from UK insurers has been welcomed by Admiral.
Financial Services and Markets Act: A victory against the regulator?
The Financial Services and Markets Bill was given Royal Assent on 29 June 2023, but is it a victory for the insurance industry – or a missed opportunity?
Diary of an Insurance PR: FWD Consulting's Elliot Lane
Motivational speaking to teenagers, preparing the industry for the cultural change required by the Consumer Duty, plus cricket chatter makes for an action-packed working week for Elliot Lane, joint managing director of FWD Consulting.
What the Net-Zero Insurance Alliance’s demise means for the industry
Edmund Tirbutt examines what the future holds for the Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA), a UN-convened body set up two years ago for insurers wanting to cut their carbon footprint and reduce climate change risk.
Big Interview: Biba’s Graeme Trudgill
Graeme Trudgill, CEO of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association, sprints across the Square Mile to share his plans on what more the body can do for members.
Why motor insurers undervalue replacing damaged vehicles
With the FCA ordering Direct Line to review motor loss claims, Jeff Winn, founder of Winn Group, explains why some insurers are underestimating the cost of replacing damaged vehicles.
FWD Research to create dashboards to check Consumer Duty compliance
Martin Grimwood, director of FWD Research, has revealed plans to help general insurers create management information dashboards to demonstrate their compliance with the Consumer Duty.
Loose lips can sink general insurance ships
Editor’s View: Emma Ann Hughes considers what the fallout from the clash between NatWest and Nigel Farage could mean for the general insurance industry.
Bank to gain power to intercede as insurers collapse
The UK government has announced plans to establish a dedicated regime to deal with the failure of insurance companies.
View from the top: GRP’s Duncan Carter on cooling down a political hot potato
Duncan Carter, CEO of retail at Global Risk Partners, warns that a ban on paying commission to property-managing agents could backfire for leaseholders.
Government launches consultation to ban scam calls
Plans to ban cold calls for financial products such as insurance have been set out with the launch of a government consultation.
FCA Consumer Duty deadline is ‘end of the beginning’
General insurers have been warned today’s Consumer Duty deadline is just “the end of the beginning” as work now needs to start on four extra strands of activity.
How the Consumer Duty will create two kinds of insurers
While most firms are currently focused on simply getting over the line of the Consumer Duty deadline on Monday, insurance consultant Prakhar Agrawal says long-term providers should use the regulation as a springboard to digitise.
Regulators unveil ‘clearer’ complaints procedure
The Financial Conduct Authority, Prudential Regulation Authority and the Bank of England have finalised a revised scheme for complaints about regulators.
Q&A: John Milliken, Defaqto
John Milliken, chief executive of Defaqto, explains how insurers are using the agency’s product database to ensure their products are Consumer Duty compliant and reveals plans for new ratings.
Which? warns insurers are falling short of Consumer Duty standards
As the deadline for the Consumer Duty edges closer, a Which? survey has highlighted shortcomings in how insurers explain rejected claims.
Insurance lacks a ‘champion’ to lead best practice on Consumer Duty
With only a few days to go until Consumer Duty comes into force, firms are still struggling to prepare for the regulatory changes and the hurdles ahead, industry leaders explain.
Trade Voice: Biba’s David Sparkes on why ‘duty’ is an interesting word
David Sparkes, head of compliance and training at the British Insurance Brokers’ Association, asks whether the regulator is fulfilling its duty ahead of the looming Consumer Duty deadline.
Big Interview: Sicsic Advisory’s Michael Sicsic
With the Consumer Duty deadline looming, Michael Sicsic, former head of supervision for the UK general insurance retail sector at the Financial Conduct Authority, considers whether the industry is ready for the new regulation.
Why insurers relying purely on post may not be Consumer Duty compliant
As the Consumer Duty deadline fast approaches, Phil Shelley, chair of regtech company docStribute and a former Goldman Sachs banker, explains why insurers relying on paper communications will struggle to fully comply with the new rules.
FCA to make Digital Sandbox permanently available for insurers
Following two successful pilots, the Financial Conduct Authority will make its Digital Sandbox available permanently for firms in the insurance sector from 1 August 2023.