Personal
Nationwide slams CMCs as PPI wipes £103m from balance sheet
Nationwide has backed calls for tighter regulation of claims management companies after setting aside £103m to meet the cost of payment protection insurance claims.
Communicating Change: Preparing to be purchased
Groupama UK and its broker subsidiaries were put up for sale in January. How has its management communicated the process to ensure that positive commercial momentum is maintained?
Towergate commits to Power Place as former bosses unveil new ventures
Three former Towergate e-trading bosses revealed this month that they are forging ahead with two separate online start-ups. While this signals increasing interest and activity in the market, it leaves a question mark over the future of Towergate's online…
Household to become 'new motor' as insurers warn of price hikes to come
Insurers have issued a stark warning that home insurance could become the 'new motor', with years of unprofitability followed by unpopular price hikes, prompting a government and consumer backlash.
Opening the Takaful market
Initial forays into the Takaful market in the UK have so far met with failure. Despite this, there is still a conviction that a relevant Takaful market exists.
Treasury puts forward pool proposal to replace Statement of Principles
The Treasury has suggested that a limited flood pool could be funded without new money, according to Anne McIntosh MP, chair of the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs select committee.
Combined profit of 'going concern' Provident and sister MMA reaches £4.5m
MMA and Provident's final sets of individual annual results published before their anticipated merger reveals a combined pre-tax profit of £4.53m for the year ending 31 December 2011.
Social Media: The social media circle
With a culture of risk aversion, insurance is not a major social media player. But will the emergence of innovative German player Friendsurance change things?
Editor's comment: Slow demise or new dawn?
Six years ago, the Lloyd's Motor Underwriters Association was subsumed into the overall Lloyd's Market Association – a clear signal that a once powerful force in the car insurance arena had accepted its heyday was long behind it.
Canopius shakes up UK property facilities underwriting team
Lloyd’s insurer has revamped its UK property facilities underwriting division with a string of new hires.
Money Supermarket dominates Google search rankings a second time
Money Supermarket came top of the natural search rankings on Google searches for car, home and travel insurance for the second quarter running, online marketing solutions provider Gravytrain has revealed.
World Cup and Olympic fever fuels Brazil's general insurance growth
The 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games are proving to be catalysts for the growth prospects of Brazil's general insurance sector.
Crawford to cull staff and six managers in three divisions
Crawford & Company could make up to six managers in its home, commercial and client teams redundant and axe a number of employees - less than a year since it cut 50 jobs.
British Insurance Awards 2012 finalists to be revealed
The wait is almost over. Tomorrow Postonline will be the first place to discover the shortlist for the 2012 British insurance Awards.
Ombudsman blames rise in motor insurance policy complaints on recession
The 26% increase in motor insurance complaints from consumers in the past financial year is "likely to reflect the tougher economic times", according to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Ombudsman reports 51% increase in PPI complaints
Complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service about payment protection insurance increased year on year by 51%, and accounted for 60% of all new cases in 2011/2012.
Lorega backs policyholder legal battle with Davies
A Welsh policyholder's four-year dispute with Davies Group over its alleged mis-management of his property claim represents "the tip of the iceberg", according to Lorega chairman Malcolm Harvey, who has agreed to take up the case free of charge.
Italy quake: Low level of insurance claims expected
The insurance industry has avoided significant losses from the 6.0 magnitude earthquake that hit northern Italy on Sunday morning due to low take-up of personal property cover in the area.
Merlin rejects administration claims
Merlin has "categorically" denied claims that the company is going into administration.
BIBA 2012: Conference returns to London in 2013
The British Insurance Brokers' Association will return to London next year after its two-year residency in Manchester.
Deutsche Bank analyst admits surprise at Aviva UK GI slowdown
Equity analyst Deutsche Bank has admitted surprise at Aviva's UK result this morning.
Aviva admits CEO hunt will take rest of 2012
Aviva has said that it will not be in a position to name a new CEO until the end of the year, and hinted that business exits are inevitable as the company undertakes a widescale strategic review.
Expert Opinion: Whiplash - Care not cash is answer to fraud
Independent expert doctor diagnosis of whiplash will only add cost, friction and bureaucracy, says Andrew Pemberton.
Market moves: IFB adds four to team
With the fight against fraud hanging in the balance, the Insurance Fraud Bureau was one of the most active recruiters this week, welcoming four new staff - including a new operations co-ordinator – into its team.