Pricing practices
Consumer group warns of insurers overcharging vulnerable customers
The Financial Services Consumer Panel has published a research paper raising concerns that vulnerable customers may be at risk of overpaying for insurance.
Property insurance payouts hit record quarterly high
Insurers paid £1.4bn in claims for property damage during the second quarter of the year, according to the latest data from the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
Crunch time for insurers’ Consumer Duty reports
One year on from the introduction of the Financial Conduct Authority’s Consumer Duty requirements for open products, Emma Ann Hughes investigates whether insurers will get a pat on the back or a clip round the ear from the regulator when they hand in…
Industries with the greatest underinsurance gaps revealed
Data Analysis: The push by insurers and brokers to prompt policyholders to review values appears to be having some effect in certain sectors but is failing to get through to others, data from Charterfields shows.
Why home insurers must cut to the chase
Editor’s View: Emma Ann Hughes is annoyed by home insurers’ waffling attempts to explain what is pushing up premiums.
Broker earnings boosted by 11.3% in 2023
The value of the worldwide market for insurance broking in terms of fees and commissions earned was around $168bn (£132bn) in 2023, up from about $151bn in 2022 on a constant currency basis, according to research by Insuramore.
How generative AI is everything, everywhere in insurance all at once
How insurers have been able to swiftly pilot generative artificial intelligence, prove the value of embracing this technology and roll it out across the wider business is examined by Insurance Post Editor Emma Ann Hughes.
Labour outlines plan to make car insurance prices plummet
Labour has pledged to hand cash to councils to repair up to a million potholes a year in England and announced it will make the regulator crack down on the causes of soaring motor insurance prices.
What insurers should know about the Conservative Manifesto
The Conservative Party followed hot on the heels of the Liberal Democrats and launched a Manifesto today (11 June) with the slogan “Clear plan, bold action, secure future.”
What a Labour victory means for insurance
James Daley, managing director of the research and consultancy group Fairer Finance, reveals who should fear the approach of a new Labour administration and what companies could thrive if the Conservative Party are ousted at the general election on 4…
Admiral offers refunds after overcharging ‘small percentage’ of customers
A percentage of Admiral customers have been issued a refund after the insurer identified an error affecting the premium quoted at renewal.
Is premium finance still a tax on the poor?
News Editor’s View: Scott McGee considers whether recent steps taken by trade bodies to address premium finance will reassure the Financial Conduct Authority that this payment method is no longer a ‘tax on being poor’ that needs to be tackled.
What is going on with electric vehicle insurance?
Post Podcast: What pushed up the price of electric vehicle insurance plus the steps providers are taking to ensure premiums are affordable is the topic of the latest Insurance Post Podcast.
Insurers face margin crush unless premiums are hiked
Data analysis: A sustainable margin recovery looks increasingly challenging for insurers with premiums needing to increase in real terms to prevent any erosion after a tripling of costs to 10.9% of premiums last year from 3.5% in 2022.
FCA overwhelmed by feedback on naming and shaming
Emily Shepperd, chief operating officer of the Financial Conduct Authority, has said the regulator will “really take our time” when considering its proposed plans to name firms it is investigating before any decision has been made.
Sobering reading for those with a Biba hangover
Editor’s View: If you are nursing a hangover after going to this year’s British Insurance Brokers’ Association conference then Emma Ann Hughes reckons you missed the point of attending the annual gathering in Manchester.
Exploring the ethnicity penalty in insurance
As the insurance industry is once again accused of discriminating against individuals living in ethnically diverse areas, Aamina Zafar considers whether providers should do a better job of demonstrating racism isn’t a factor in pricing policies.
Movers and shakers who made Insurance Post’s Power List 2024 revealed
This year’s Insurance Post Power List reflects how claims inflation combined with the Consumer Duty caused some providers to shift their focus and disruptors found it is easier to send a rocket into space than enter the UK insurance market.
Nigel Walsh, Google Cloud
The number of deals insurers have been making with Google Cloud to finally deliver that seamless, personalised insurance experience that customers used to shopping via Amazon and streaming films via Netflix is ramping up.
Repair costs continue to push up home insurance premiums
According to the Association of British Insurers’ premium tracker, home insurance premiums increased 3% in the first quarter of 2024, following a severe winter for weather damage.
Big Interview: Tara Foley, Axa
Tara Foley, CEO of Axa UK & Ireland, outlines how the business can now do intraday pricing, shares the provider’s growth plans, and reveals how artificial intelligence is changing ways of working at the insurer.
Irish guidelines for assessing damages to push up premiums
Aine Tyrrell, partner at law firm DAC Beachcroft, explains why fresh guidelines for the assessment of damages in Northern Ireland could add to the costs faced by insurers and contribute further inflationary pressure to premiums for liability and motor…
DLG or Esure – which Peter Wood baby is most likely to bounce back?
Content Director’s View: Direct Line Group and Esure are looking to put recent troubles behind them after less than stellar performances in 2023. With both claiming solid foundations on which to now prosper, Jonathan Swift reflects on the chances either…
Pet insurance premiums decrease amid regulator interest
Pet owners saw their insurance premiums decrease by 2.5% in March but still remain greater than a year ago, according to data released by Pearson Ham.