26th May 2016

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) along with other industry bodies and stakeholders was an active member of the Insurance Fraud Taskforce whose recommendations were announced at the parliamentary launch of our 2016 manifesto. 

A key call for action in the manifesto was for Government to implement the recommendations of the taskforce, therefore we welcome the the confirmation made public today that Government is accepting all of the recommendations.  We now look forward to receiving details of the legacy vehicle that will be put in place to make sure that they are all actively pursued.

The insurance industry is all too aware of the adverse effects that the current prevalence of insurance fraud has; calculated in monetary terms to add £50 to the annual insurance bill of every UK policyholder.  Alongside others in the industry, BIBA is committed to continuing our concerted efforts to tackle this serious problem and we will do all that we can to support those tasked with implementing the recommendations.

The key recommendations included:

• Government to review ways in which fraudulent late claims can be discouraged through changes to court costs and evidence rules such as;
• directing older claims to the small claims process  not the fast track process,
• reducing recoverable costs by 50% if an injury claim is notified late, and
• introducing a damages award range for soft tissue injuries.
• Demanding that the Solicitor’s’ Regulation Authority (SRA) be tougher on fraud by working with the Claims Management Companies’ (CMC) regulator to properly and strongly enforce referral fee bans. In addition, to ensure that organisations not currently regulated are brought into the regime.
• The Taskforce also calls on Government to develop and deliver a coherent regulatory strategy to clamp down nuisance calls and texts to reduce the number of honest customers being coerced into making spurious claims.

Graeme Trudgill, BIBA Executive Director said; “Fraud has affected the industry and its customers for too long and this year we are really seeing a concerted effort to tackle this scourge. As well as implementing the recommendations that resulted from the hard work of the Insurance Fraud Taskforce, the changes announced earlier this year to the regulation of claims management companies will really make a dent in this problem creating fairer outcomes for customers and insurers alike.”

-ENDS-

Notes to editors

1. For further information please contact:

BIBA press office:

Pam Quinn, Communications Manager

020 7397 0223

quinnp@biba.org.uk

2. About the British Insurance Brokers’ Association

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) is the UK’s leading general insurance intermediary organisation representing the interests of insurance brokers, intermediaries and their customers.

BIBA membership includes just under 2,000 regulated firms.

General insurance brokers contribute 1% of GDP to the UK economy and BIBA brokers employ more than 100,000 staff. 54% of all general insurance is sold by an insurance broker and they arrange 79% of all commercial insurance business.

Insurance brokers put the client’s interests first, providing advice, access to suitable insurance protection and risk management.

BIBA helps more than 250,000 people a year to Find-A-Broker, both online and via the telephone.

BIBA is the voice of the industry advising members, the regulators, consumer bodies and other stakeholders on key insurance issues.

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24th May 2016

BIBA CEO, Steve White and Executive Director, Graeme Trudgill will be out and about in the regions again this autumn. These informal ‘member-only’ sessions will give you the opportunity to:
1 Have your say on the key issues and influence the 2017 Manifesto;
2 Get up to date with all the activities that BIBA is undertaking on your behalf; and
3 Network with other BIBA brokers.

For more information on locations, venues and timings, contact:

Kirsty Wingrove:
Email: wingrovek@biba.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7397 0224

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Grass could be greener on this side

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12th May 2016

Kirsty Wark, BBC Broadcaster, and host of this year’s event has announced that BIBA 2017 conference and exhibition will be held at Manchester Central on Wednesday 10 to Thursday 11 May.

Steve White, CEO of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association, said: “The feedback we have from exhibitors, sponsors and delegates is that Manchester works very well, as evidenced by the fantastic two days we have all had here. The BIBA Conference is now the biggest insurance broking networking event in Europe and I am looking forward to welcoming everyone back to Manchester next May”

-ENDS-

Notes to editors

1. For further information please contact:

   BIBA press office:
   Pam Quinn, Communications Manager
   020 7397 0223
   quinnp@biba.org.uk

2. About the British Insurance Brokers’ Association

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) is the UK’s leading general insurance intermediary organisation representing the interests of insurance brokers, intermediaries and their customers.

BIBA membership includes just under 2,000 regulated firms having merged with the Institute of Insurance Brokers (IIB) in November 2011.

General insurance brokers contribute 1% of GDP to the UK economy and BIBA brokers employ more than 100,000 staff.

54% of all general insurance is sold by an insurance broker and they arrange 78% of all commercial insurance business.

Insurance brokers put the client’s interests first, providing advice, access to suitable insurance protection and risk management.

BIBA helps more than 250,000 people a year to access insurance protection through its Find a Broker service, both online and via the telephone.

BIBA is the voice of the sector advising members, the regulators, consumer bodies and other stakeholders on key insurance issues.

11th May 2016

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has named Oliver Rose from One Call Insurance as its national Young Broker of the Year for 2016.

Cally McBride of UK Special Risks Ltd and Harry Mills of Citynet Insurance Brokers Ltd were named as national finalists for the award which recognises the performance of younger brokers and encourages commitment to the future professionalism of insurance broking.

Due to his commitment to his role Oliver has seen not only his own career develop but he has also been integral in the outstanding growth of a regional insurance broker.

The award was presented by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown at BIBA 2016.

Steve White, BIBA’s Chief Executive, said: “This year’s entrants were of an exceptionally high standard.  All those that reached the finals day were outstanding candidates but Oliver’s achievements set him apart. He is a worthy winner of the award. Oliver will no doubt be an influential figure within the insurance sector as his career develops.”

-ends-

Notes to editors

1. For further information please contact:

BIBA press office:
Pam Quinn, Communications Manager
020 7397 0223
quinnp@biba.org.uk

2. About the British Insurance Brokers’ Association

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) is the UK’s leading general insurance intermediary organisation representing the interests of insurance brokers, intermediaries and their customers.

BIBA membership includes just under 2,000 regulated firms having merged with the Institute of Insurance Brokers (IIB) in November 2011.

General insurance brokers contribute 1% of GDP to the UK economy and BIBA brokers employ more than 100,000 staff.

54% of all general insurance is sold by an insurance broker and they arrange 78% of all commercial insurance business.

Insurance brokers put the client’s interests first, providing advice, access to suitable insurance protection and risk management.

BIBA helps more than 250,000 people a year to access insurance protection through its Find a Broker service, both online and via the telephone.

BIBA is the voice of the sector advising members, the regulators, consumer bodies and other stakeholders on key insurance issues.

11th May 2016

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) has named Bob Nicholls and Ian Raper joint winners of the 2016 Francis Perkins Award.

Francis Perkins, the first chairman of BIBA, instigated the award to give recognition to members of the Association who give their time and energy for the furtherance of its causes.

The judges named Bob Nicholls and Ian Raper joint winners of this year’s award due to their long standing and committed participation in BIBA over many years, at both regional and national committee level.

Bob served for many years on the local regional committee for many years, including as Chairman in 2003 and also on BIBA’s General Insurance Brokers’ Committee.

He retired in 2004 but since then worked for BIBA for nearly 10 years in a part time capacity looking after our Merseyside and Greater Manchester regions and even now is actively involved in regional dinners for both BIBA and the CII.

Ian joined the Yorkshire & Northern regional committee in 1981 and has just stood down following retirement.

He served as committee secretary from 1981 to 1990, chairman in 1991 and 2001 and regional treasurer from 2011.

He also sat on BIBA’s General Insurance Brokers’ Committee, from 2001 -2005 and for 8 years acted as our Regional executive for the region

Steve White, BIBA’s Chief Executive, announced the awards at its annual conference in Manchester.

Steve said: “I am delighted to present this joint award to Bob and Ian in recognition of their contribution to the Association and to the broker sector in general. This is the very first time a joint award has been made as it was simply impossible to choose one as being more deserving over the other.”

-ENDS-

Notes to editors

1. For further information please contact:

   BIBA press office:
   Pam Quinn, Communications Manager
   020 7397 0223
   quinnp@biba.org.uk

2. About the British Insurance Brokers’ Association

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) is the UK’s leading general insurance intermediary organisation representing the interests of insurance brokers, intermediaries and their customers.

BIBA membership includes just under 2,000 regulated firms having merged with the Institute of Insurance Brokers (IIB) in November 2011.

General insurance brokers contribute 1% of GDP to the UK economy and BIBA brokers employ more than 100,000 staff.

54% of all general insurance is sold by an insurance broker and they arrange 78% of all commercial insurance business.

Insurance brokers put the client’s interests first, providing advice, access to suitable insurance protection and risk management.

BIBA helps more than 250,000 people a year to access insurance protection through its Find a Broker service, both online and via the telephone.

BIBA is the voice of the sector advising members, the regulators, consumer bodies and other stakeholders on key insurance issues.

11th May 2016

Following a regular scheme review the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) has appointed Lorega as the provider of their members’ loss recovery insurance scheme.

A market leader in the provision of Loss Recovery Insurance, Lorega has been appointed for a three year term beginning on 13 May 2016.

Under the scheme BIBA members will have access to cover for both personal and commercial clients which will include access to a Chartered Loss Adjuster for any size or complexity of claim, with unlimited service, until it is settled.  In addition, brokers can access, the Lorega 10 product, which provides up to 10 hours of expert telephone advice to help prepare, negotiate and settle claims.

BIBA members will be able to quote and bind cover through the ‘Lorega Online’ trading platform and will have access to full sales support including product awareness training and coaching.

Neill Johnstone, Managing Director of Lorega said; “We are delighted to return to the position of BIBA scheme provider with an enhanced proposition.

“Following the FCA’s review of claims which called for an improved claims experience, BIBA members will appreciate the benefit of being able to offer their clients access to a professional Chartered Loss Adjuster, who will act exclusively for them in preparing, presenting and negotiating property and or business interruption claims.  We look forward to working with BIBA to offer these products to their members.”

Mike Hallam, BIBA Head of Technical Services added;  “We are pleased to be working with Lorega to provide our members with the option of accessing specialist loss recovery insurance covers. This will help our members to ensure claims are handled quickly, effectively and easily, at a time when their clients will really want to see the value of their insurances.”

ENDS

1. Contacts

BIBA press office:
Pam Quinn, Communications Manager
020 7397 0223        quinnp@biba.org.uk

Lorega press office

Alex Wise, Concise PR

0710 665 615    alex@concisepr.com

2. About the British Insurance Brokers’ Association

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) is the UK’s leading general insurance intermediary organisation representing the interests of insurance brokers, intermediaries and their customers.

BIBA membership includes just under 2,000 regulated firms

General insurance brokers contribute 1% of GDP to the UK economy and BIBA brokers employ more than 100,000 staff.

54% of all general insurance is sold by an insurance broker and they arrange 78% of all commercial insurance business.

3.About Lorega

Lorega is the UK’s leading supplier of Loss Recovery Insurance, an insurance policy which provides and pays for the cost of an independent expert loss adjuster, authorised by the FCA, to help a broker’s clients prepare, negotiate and settle their insurance claims. This cover provides expert help to the customer when they need it most. These expert services are also available on demand.

For further information: www.lorega.com and Twitter: @LoregaLTD