Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Regulator to require payment deferrals for insurance customers from Monday
The Financial Conduct authority has confirmed temporary measures aimed at helping insurance customers who find themselves in financial difficulty due to the coronavirus pandemic, including requiring payment deferrals.
Vulnerable customer numbers double as insurer conduct comes under the spotlight
The number of adults identifying as vulnerable in the home and motor insurance markets has doubled in the last year and insurers have been urged to ensure they are being inclusive as the regulator reviews their actions.
Experts warn of potential broker insolvencies due to premium finance proposals
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association and premium finance providers have warned of a possible hit to broker solvency in the event of bad debts under the proposed guidance issued by the Financial Conduct Authority last week.
FCA consults on insurance payment deferral guidance
Insurers, brokers, premium finance lenders and more have been told by the Financial Conduct Authority to consider giving payment deferrals and refunds as well as waiving cancellation fees to customers hit financially by the coronavirus epidemic.
FCA scrutinises insurance value for money during coronavirus crisis
The Financial Conduct Authority has ordered firms to analyse if and how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the value of personal and commercial lines insurance products and take appropriate actions.
This week in Post: Aon, dó, trí
Business interruption, the British Insurance Awards shortlist and Q1 results kept us busy this week, but it was a move by biggest-broker-in-waiting Aon that grabbed the most attention.
FCA to put BI wordings before the courts to determine coronavirus cover
The Financial Conduct Authority will ask the courts to rule on whether a “representative sample of the most frequently used” business interruption policy wordings provide cover for Covid-19-related losses.
FCA digs for details on financial resilience of brokers and MGAs
The Financial Conduct Authority has sent out letters to approximately 300 brokers and managing general agents asking them to provide detailed information regarding their financial resources and client money accounts.
Interview: ABI's Huw Evans on not losing faith in insurance
It clearly is not great for the insurance industry’s reputation “to be in a position where it has so many unhappy customers,” Huw Evans, director general of the Association of British Insurers has admitted.
MP urges insurers to do more as public 'very, very angry' over BI payouts
Exclusive: The insurance industry is heading towards “considerable damage” to its public standing due to its handling of business interruption insurance claims during the ongoing coronavirus crisis, Jonathan Edwards MP has warned.
Brokers warned that pandemic crisis will trigger rise in PI cases
Brokers and industry specialists are expecting to see a spike in claims against broker professional indemnity policies as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Blog: Open finance - an opportunity for the insurance industry?
Before the insurance industry fully realised the potential of open banking and the opportunities this Payment Services Directive 2 initiative affords them, the Financial Conduct Authority called for input to its 2020 open finance consultation paper. For…
Blog: Coronavirus business interruption insurance – devil is in the detail for Hiscox and others
Most businesses will not be insured for Covid-19 disruption and in many cases the wording is clear cut. But for others, the devil is in the detail and policy wordings suggest that insurers should cough up vital interim payments sooner rather than later.
Brightside's Brendan McCafferty on how the insurance industry is adjusting in the time of coronavirus
The insurance industry is going through a difficult time, like many sectors, in full view of the court of public opinion says Brendan McCafferty CEO at Brightside.
This week: Under pressure
UK insurers are coming under increased scrutiny as Covid-19 worsens. And this week that was certainly the case for Hiscox after businesses threatened the insurer with a class action lawsuit for rejecting claims related to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Settle Covid-19 claims fast and make interim payments, FCA tells BI insurers
The Financial Conduct Authority has said it will assess how insurers are interpreting business interruption policies, as it urged firms to settle valid claims quickly.
Hastings pushes ahead with dividend payment plan
Hastings Group has confirmed it will propose a final dividend of 5.5p per share at its AGM on 21 May despite calls from regulators for the industry to suspend payments during the coronavirus pandemic.
Spotlight: The evolution of mobility post-loss
Keeping policyholders on the road after an accident or the theft of a vehicle has driven a number of mobility solutions. But, with consumer sentiment shifting and more options becoming available to insurers, the post-loss mobility market is set to evolve
Proposed 7.1% increase to insurers' contribution to FCA budget will add to firms' 'financial burden' in difficult times
The Financial Conduct Authority is consulting on changes to its fees and levies which would see annual contributions by general insurers and general insurance brokers increase 7.1% and 3% respectively.
Providers respond as FCA changes premium finance landscape
The Financial Conduct Authority has proposed a range of stop-gap measures to help consumer credit customers manage the financial hit from the coronavirus pandemic.
PRA warns insurers on shareholder payouts and remuneration
The Prudential Regulation Authority has warned insurers to “pay close attention” to protecting policyholders and supporting the economy when considering how profits are dished out.
CII boss Sian Fisher on reacting to the coronavirus crisis
There have been three occasions when Sian Fisher, CEO of the Chartered Insurance Institute, went to the office and thought “things will never be the same again”.
Insurance Monitor: Act now to start repairing the reputational damage
In this month’s column, David Worsfold, looks at insurers’ reputation as they respond to the coronavirus, at why being flexible is key and what the long-term impacts might be
Analysis: Where does Covid-19 leave the flood victims?
Storms Ciara and Dennis hit the UK in early February and a little over six weeks later Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the country in effective lockdown after the Covid-19 virus was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation. Stephanie Denton,…