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Week in Post: Spotlight falls on Banks
The spotlight has been on Arron Banks this week but we've also seen some major business acquisitions.
Debenhams urged to review links with Arron Banks' Eldon
Exclusive: Debenhams should review its relationship with Arron Banks-owned Eldon Insurance, following fines over alleged data misuse by the company, campaigners say.
Allianz-LV business transfer will be 'largely complete' by Q3 2019
The transfer of business between LV and Allianz will be complete by this time next year, the Allianz CEO said.
The ABI's James Dalton on the FCA market study into pricing practices
The Citizens' Advice super complaint has highlighted that insurers needs to do more to serve existing customers, but James Dalton, director of general insurance policy at the Association of British Insurers believes its important to stress that the…
Ageas' Bart De Smet on staying relevant in 2030
Insurers need to act now to stay relevant to their customers in future, writes Ageas' CEO Bart De Smet.
Q&A: Matthew Avery and Graham Gibson, Thatcham
As cars move towards automation, Jen Frost spoke to Graham Gibson, chairman of Thatcham Research and Allianz’s chief claims officer, and Matthew Avery, director of insurance research at Thatcham Research, about how the UK research centre is working with…
Michael Rea says there are more acquisitions to come for Gallagher's retail arm
Gallagher’s purchase of a controlling stake in UK specialist property broker, Vasek, is the third acquisition made by the company’s UK retail arm this year, but it shows no signs of stopping just yet.
Gallagher continues acquisition spree with the addition of specialist property broker
Gallagher has acquired a controlling interest in Purple Bridge Group, the holding company of UK specialist property broker Vasek Insurance Services.
Blog: Big data killed niches
Big data has removed the concept of niche insurance, writes Stuart MacIntyre, chief underwriting officer at First Central Group, explaining how policyholders will benefit in the long run.
Amazon frontrunner in digital leaders report as Aviva takes insurance top spot
Aviva takes the crown as digital insurance lead, but insurance as a whole is middling compared to other sectors, according to a report.
Eldon and Leave.EU facing combined £135,000 fines by ICO for ‘serious breaches’
Eldon Insurance and Leave.EU are both facing fines of £60,000 for alleged “serious breaches” of marketing regulations, while Leave.EU faces an additional £15,000 fine.
Competition watchdog urged to take further action on MFN clauses
Insurers, brokers and price comparison sites have welcomed a Competition and Markets Authority investigation into Compare the Market’s use of a controversial clause that prevents home insurers from offering cheaper prices elsewhere, but brokers argue…
This month: Cavities and complaints
As whiplash legislation speeds through parliament, claims management companies have increasingly been looking into other avenues to keep the coffers full and cavity wall insulation claims have spiked. CMCs may be the industry’s own bugbear, but this…
Thousands of suspected uninsured drivers issued automated warnings every day
An automated data analysis scheme operated by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is issuing warnings to up to 3000 uninsured drivers every day.
Former Admiral CEO invests $25 million in flagging Compare
Admiral has reached an agreement with its founder and ex-CEO, Henry Engelhardt and his wife, Diane Engelhardt that will see them invest $25 million in the group’s US comparison website, Compare.
Analysis: Are cavity wall insulation claims the new PPI?
Insurers are seeing a spike in people claiming improper installation of cavity wall insulation. Is this the new money spinner for CMCs?
Pricing practice changes would put the onus on insurers to charge a 'fair price'
Large insurers with big books of home insurance business could lose out following pricing practices review, but profitability is unlikely to be "heavily dented", ratings agency says.
Direct Line to automate its two millionth transaction on Friday
Direct Line now automates 70,000 transactions a week and anticipates hitting the two million milestone by the end of the week.
Insurers may be guilty of price discrimination, finds FCA
Insurers may not have sufficient oversight of pricing practices, which could mean some customers are paying significantly higher premiums than those who have similar risk profiles, according to an official review.
Editor's comment: Only yourselves to blame
Over the past two-and-a-half years, I have written in this column no less than three articles urging insurers to act on the problem of dual pricing.
Q&A: BLM's Matthew Harrington and Alistair Kinley
Against a backdrop of changing client demands, political uncertainty and new legislation, Jonathan Swift caught up with BLM senior partner Matthew Harrington and director of policy and government affairs Alistair Kinley to discuss how the law firm is…
Blog: How to defend cavity wall insulation claims
Liability insurers are seeing a dramatic increase in claims arising from allegedly defectively installed cavity wall insulation. Tom Corrigan, partner at DAC Beachcroft, asks whether there is cause for concern.
Liberty Mutual slapped with £5.2m fine for claims and complaints handling failings
Liberty Mutual has been fined £5.2m over its botched handling of mobile phone insurance claims and complaints.
Ardonagh looks to debt for Swinton acquisition
The Ardonagh Group is taking on $225m (£176m) of additional debt as it acquires Swinton.