Editor's comment: New year, new you!

For 2019 many of you will have resolved to get fit or lose weight – gyms across the country are counting their newly paid subscriptions and supermarket shelves are bare of superfoods and diet shakes. While others may have plans to learn language or finally do that sky dive. The excesses of Christmas are behind us and all the good intentions in front of us.

In our house, there are resolutions that washing will actually make it to the basket in the corner of the room rather than being scattered on the floor, that homework will be done straight away and that vegetables will be eaten (well, I didn’t say they all had to be realistic).

In the industry I believe there is one resolution insurers could make that would help them slim down their bad reputation and beef up the image with the public – taking concerted steps to end dual pricing.

Of course, the trouble is that most resolutions don’t stick and it’s easy to revert to old habits. In fact 12 January is National Quitters’ Day – the day people are most likely to give up on their resolutions made only 12 days earlier. And various polls suggest that 80% of people have given up by February.

So I thought it would be helpful to give the insurance industry some tips to help you keep this dual pricing resolution.

First, set yourselves a series of steps to achieve your ultimate goal, don’t try to go cold turkey on day one.

Second, tell everyone that you are doing this so they know and it makes it more difficult to quit.

Third, don’t worry about how others are doing – you are only competing against yourself.

Next, don’t be too downhearted if you don’t achieve it straight away – remember every step towards the goal is a step towards the public liking you more than banks!

Finally, and here’s where Post can help you out  – reward yourselves – we’ll shout it from the rooftops when you tell us you’ve achieved it and that the terrible practice of dual pricing and punishing loyal customers is no longer something associated with the UK insurance industry.

Good luck!