Direct Line Group
Cycling: Pedal power
Cycling among the UK population is more popular than ever. How can the insurance industry tap into the potential need for theft and accident cover?
Claimant on hunger strike outside DLG offices in Bromley
A disgruntled Direct Line Group customer has said he is willing to die outside the firm's Bromley office in a dispute over claims.
Crash for cash fraudster fails to show for sentencing
Police are appealing for information to help trace a crash for cash fraudster who failed to show for sentencing.
Europe: Insurers see opportunities in Chinese volatility
Insurers are confident they see opportunities arising from the recent Chinese stock market volatility, despite AM Best warning it could make it even harder to find good returns.
Berenberg advises investors to avoid UK motor market
Berenberg analysts are advising investors to avoid the UK motor insurance market due to challenging operating dynamics and several "under-appreciated headwinds" they have identified.
Bicycles most common theft claim for Direct Line
Bicycles make up 17% of all theft claims handled by Direct Line, proving to be a more popular theft target than mobile phones or tablets.
C-suite - Insurer: Changing the compensation mindset
Insurance fraud continues to be a huge concern for insurers in an environment of fierce competition and falling premiums.
Insurers must find right balance with millions of policyholders up for grabs
The threat of motor insurance customers switching providers more frequently creates a dilemma for insurers on how to differentiate their policies on factors other than price, according to market insiders.
Educating drivers on the importance of safety holds key to curbing uninsured driving
Reducing motor premiums by educating young drivers on the importance of road safety has been raised by market commentators as the main way of curbing the number of uninsured drivers, which has risen for the first time in a decade.
Dognapping: Dog gone
Dognapping is a cruel crime that is on the rise. But are pet insurers doing enough to help owners? And should they be taking a more active role in providing specific cover against theft rather than focusing primarily on vets’ bills?
Claims Club: FCA considering 'best practice' plea from insurers on SME cases
A senior regulator has conceded that in order for the Financial Conduct Authority to differentiate itself from its predecessor it might need to listen to insurance companies' pleas to issue ‘best advice’ on dealing with SME claims.
Thompsons demands MP action for motorists after insurer results statements
Law firm Thompsons Solicitors is demanding cross-party action from MPs after it criticised claims portal costs as being "punitive", "unrealistic" and set for the benefit of insurers.
UK insurer CEOs lament IPT hike as H1 results are squeezed
Industry CEOs have criticised the government’s "regressive" decision to increase insurance premium tax, but have dismissed the tax hike represents a disconnect from government, amid widespread profit drops and combined operating ratio deterioration at…
Results round-up: H1 2015
Its results season again, and here at Post we have put together a single source of information to make finding the results from this half of 2015 a little easier.
Blog: Could latest insurer tiff over motor claims costs derail CMC reform?
At the end of last month the Association of British Insurers made its latest plea to the government to tackle claims management companies amid rising motor prices.
'Cracks appearing' in DLG reserving policy, Macquarie analysts claim
Direct Line Group posted a £100m rise in operating profit in the first six months of 2015 but analysts at investment bank Macquarie have suggested that “cracks are appearing” in the insurer's reserving policy.
Blog: Five big percentages to emerge from the latest results season
Other than an over-use of the word "benign", insurers' first half/second quarter results statements were also littered with significant percentage figures - both good and bad. This is Post's round-up of some of the headline-grabbing numbers.
Blog: Why £200m Nationwide household loss might not be a big deal for DLG
Direct Line Group CEO Paul Geddes was bullish today when the insurance group released its half year results.
Geddes trumpets DLG reserve releasing in ‘strong' H1 results
Direct Line Group CEO Paul Geddes says the insurer should "claim some credit" for its reserve releasing in the first half of 2015, which demonstrated a shift from its usually conservative reserving stance.
DLG operating profits increase £100m as COR drops to 89.4%
Direct Line Group has reported a £100m increase in operating profit for the six months ended 30 June 2015 and a 6.7 percentage point increase in its combined operating ratio.
DLG's Maddock claims insurers have 'an obligation' to set up ABSs to ensure access to justice
Direct Line Group claims director Steve Maddock has hit back at suggestions alternative business structures fuel claims farming saying they are actually an effective tool in stopping spurious claims progressing.
DLG fraudster given suspended prison sentence
A Londoner who staged a burglary at his house in a bid to claim for £57,000 worth of jewellery and gadgets has been handed a six-month prison term, suspended for two years
Six-strong 'crash for cash' gang guilty of £5.6m fraud
A ‘crash-for-cash’ gang who attempted to con UK insurers out of £5.6m have been found guilty of conspiracy to defraud following a five-week trial at Isleworth Crown Court.
'Misleading' Direct Line advert banned
The Advertising Standards Authority has banned a Direct Line radio advert for landlord insurance featuring Harvey Keitel as Winston Wolf.