Articles by Siân Barton
Covid-19 Broker Impact Survey
How have brokers been both challenged and supported as the industry gets to grips with adapting to the demands of coronavirus?
Covid-19: Hiscox Action Group primed for £40m legal attack
The group, which is in dispute with Hiscox over business interruption cover, now represents more than 400 members and has the go-ahead to begin legal proceedings.
Airmic pressures insurers on “grey area” Covid-19 claims
The risk management association called for a business sensitive approach on the coronavirus pandemic and warned of long term damage if insurers and brokers fail to show fairness and flexibility.
Brokers lament “abysmal” claims experience during Covid-19
Exclusive: Abysmal, slow, abhorrent, extremely poor and incoherent are just some of the words used by brokers to describe claims dealings with a number of providers.
Ageas takes catastrophe hit
COR crept above 100% across all business lines in Q1 due to storms.
Allianz UK “well equipped” to manage Covid-19 challenges
The provider published a Q1 trading update, the first to incorporate Allianz, LV and Legal & General, as it says it has made 200-plus Covid-19 claims pay outs.
Covid-19: Pressure groups maintain heat on insurers with open letter
The Covid Claims Groups sent an open letter to the ABI calling its BI stance “callous and wrong” and urging industry to pay out for extended BI cover.
Finch Group appoints MD
Paul Goodman joins the Ethos-owned business from JLT Specialty.
Profile: Chairman of Vizion Insurance Brokers and investor Chris Blackham
Millionaire maker: From setting up one of the first consolidators to becoming an investor in start-ups, Chris Blackham reflects on the highs and lows of selling-up and shares his vision for the future
FCA set to take a keen interest in vulnerable customers
Insurance Cares: Report by Consumer Intelligence and Sicsic Advisory shows number of people in the vulnerable customer category has hit 13m.
Hiscox share sale raises £375m
The insurer also published a trading update which addressed the current Covid-19 business interruption dispute.
Covid-19: Allianz latest insurer in legal BI firing line
Edwin Coe is representing a group of businesses with the insurer’s Resilience policy wording.
Covid-19: Hiscox Action Group says brokers acted in “good faith”
The Group is going after insurer Hiscox over its refusal to pay BI claims the group members believe to have been triggered by coronavirus pandemic.
Leisure Insure closes permanently
Updated: UK capacity was pulled last month as directors say they were not prepared to go offshore or use "obscure foreign markets".
Covid-19: Hiscox BI pressure groups join forces
Hiscox Action Group and the Night Time Industries Association, representing more than 500 businesses, have agreed to work together to challenge Hiscox’s business interruption stance.
Brokers under threat in Covid-19 BI dispute
Experts have warned that business interruption could be “the next PPI for brokers “as FCA seeks legal clarity on BI wordings.
Covid-19: Product value under FCA microscope
Providers urged to consider how value of products has changed as customers alter behaviours during coronavirus with product refunds proposed.
LV offers premium refunds of between £20 - £50 to motor customers
The proportional refunds for customers in distress follows Admiral's flat £25 payment but broker customers are not included in the £30m LV has set aside for rebates.
Covid-19: FCA urges firms to consider premium reductions and payment holidays
The regulator issued a raft of measures today (1 May) for how financial services firms should behave while coronavirus grips the nation.
Covid-19: Broker calls on Chancellor to release Pool Re funds for BI claims
NDML is asking for some of Pool Re’s £6.6bn cash to be used to help businesses in the leisure and hospitality sector which have been hit by coronavirus.
FCA zones in on client money amid Covid-19
The FCA has asked up to 300 firms to provide financial information on client money, staff furlough, debt and cash.
Covid-19: Hospitality group forms to fight insurers over BI
The group is being advised by Mishcon de Reya and will look into claims denied by any number of insurers naming Axa, China Taiping, RSA, Touchstone, and Zurich but excluding Hiscox.
Covid-19: SME brokers eligible for government bounce back loans
HM Treasury confirmed to Biba that small and medium-sized brokers are eligible for the scheme.
Covid-19: Hiscox Action Group gets funding for BI litigation
Harbour Litigation Funding will pay Mishcon de Reya to review the claims business owners have against Hiscox.