Opinion
Penny black's insurance week
Penny was intrigued to discover the lengths to which people will go for insurance at Hiscox. On a recent visit to the insurer's City office, a chat with two underwriters uncovered some unusual clients on Hiscox's books — among them a balloon artist, and…
Postbox: No standard LEI outside the UK
Paul Asplin, chief executive officer of DAS Group makes some pertinent points in his recent letter ('European legal insurance model can work in UK', www.postonline.co.uk/1587832) but they may give the impression that there is a standard legal expenses…
View from the Top: The money-go-round
I've had a go, on the back of a large envelope, at breaking down where the money goes that Mr Customer spends on his motor insurance. Just what happens to a typical £400 premium?
5 Years ago: £40m makes Highway attractive
Highway Insurance could become a more attractive takeover target following revelations it has almost £40m locked away in excess reserves.
20 Years ago: Lockerbie boost for relatives
Lockerbie relatives seeking damages from Pan Am received a boost to their cause in a US federal court last week, when a judge ruled that punitive damages could be sought under the Warsaw Convention.
30 Years Ago: Olympic threat is scrutinised
Decisions over the Moscow Olympics are being closely watched at Lloyd's, which is now understood to have a $40m (£34.8m) to $45m risk exposure on it for the National Broadcasting Company in the US.
Penny black's insurance week
Penny was troubled to learn Davies' new head of claims operations Jim Pittman has suffered an unfortunate setback following a recent foray into the world of martial arts.
Postbox: Time to bridge the divide
In response to Phil Bird's article ('Time for change?',www.postonline.co.uk/1567561) published in the 31 December/7 January issue, I wholeheartedly agree with his observations. And, coming from an insurance company background — with the added advantage…
View from the Top: Let's fix broken motor
Media headlines highlighting the troubled state of the UK's private motor market have become commonplace. Independent analysts EMB recently predicted the market is losing £120 for every £100 premium written.
5 Years Ago: Helphire to offer luxury replacements
Credit hire and accident management firm Helphire is hoping to raise its profile in the high-net-worth market by offering luxury vehicles through its replacement service.
20 Years Ago: Union warns over foreign vulnerability
anufacturing Science Finance, the financial services union, said UK insurance companies are vulnerable to foreign takeovers and the government is doing nothing to guard against this
30 Years Ago: Study reveals low spend on insurance
Most London families suffer from poverty because husbands spend four times as much on drinking and smoking as they do on insuring their lives, according to a report based on a six-month study by Liberty Life Assurance.
Penny black's insurance week
Jeepers! Penny spotted the always dapper Lorega chairman, Malcolm Harvey last week apologising profusely to another driver after a minor jeep-on-4x4 incident in Haywards Heath. Penny is not sure exactly what happened — but it sounded like Mr Harvey's…
Cyber cover: concentrate on private sector
I was interested to read Patrick Hill's presentation of the case for cyber liability insurance ('Cyber threat or opportunity?', www.postonline.co.uk/1565406).
Insurer majority alive to specialist need
The article by Martin Richell of the Raw Group ('Contamination frustration', www.postonline.co.uk/1567567) correctly warns against the employment of inexperienced contractors when dealing with contamination incidents.
European legal insurance model can work in UK
Helen Withers, managing director of Arc Legal Assistance, makes some bold statements in her recent letter ('European Model unworkable in UK', www.postonline.co.uk/1585923) that could lead Post readers into thinking that the standard model for legal…
View from the top: The changing focus of service delivery
Over the last year or so, while the focus has been on the credit crunch, a quiet revolution has been taking place in the way the insurance industry delivers its service. Modern service delivery is increasingly reliant on (and influenced by) the…
Invest in your profession
This week, Post launches Investing in the Profession, a new campaign aimed at raising the profile of some of the great initiatives that are taking place in the general insurance sector to improve professionalism and standards.
Postbox: European model unworkable in UK
Why is [DAS chief executive] Paul Asplin sounding the death knell for the UK legal expenses model (www.postonline.co.uk/1567531), when alternative UK business models are already demonstrating that add-on legal expenses can deliver both a responsive…