All Backchat articles – Page 21
-
Backchat
Hasta la vista Bridget
Since being elected governor of California, the one-time Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has come over all touchy-feely, with a penchant for green issues. Bridget McIntyre, Royal & SunAlliance’s chief executive, has quite a social conscience herself, what with sitting on the government’s financial inclusion taskforce and spearheading the company’s commitment to ...
-
Backchat
Insurers fear crash claims are too dear
The humble deer is causing insurers a bit of a headache, it seems, hitting them where it hurts – the wallet.Vehicle insurance claims following collisions with deer are costing insurers more than £21m a year, according to Autonational Rescue, the breakdown service.As many as 75,000 deer are struck by cars ...
-
Backchat
Lloyd’s opens its (toilet) doors
Rumours that levels of run-off are getting out of hand intensified last week after a water main on Lime Street unexpectedly burst.The event wreaked havoc when managing agent Cathedral was forced to unceremoniously evacuate its hallowed premises. Staff at Xchanging also lost water in its building. Luckily the good folks ...
-
Backchat
Insurer’s acronym is music to our ears
The insurance industry loves an acronym (IBNR anyone?) and one recently caught Backchat’s beady eye.Bermuda reinsurer Montpelier purchased US excess and surplus lines insurer, renaming it, somewhat unoriginally, as Montpelier US Insurance Company. The acronym, however, was more pleasing, being Music.
-
Backchat
Building explosion predicted
Business planning is a difficult thing, but if you get it right, the cash and the plaudits will roll in. Step forward EPG insurance, which specialises in heavy plant extended warranties.In a press release on 6 November the company said: “EPG predicts a surge in demand for its specialist cover ...
-
Backchat
Fantasy Football
Dave Deugo is the QBE Fantasy Football manager of the month for October, after his team, SelhurstParkFlyer, clocked up an impressive 78 points.Sutton-based Deugo, who works for Zurich Corporate Real Estates, collected a prize of £2,500 for his achievement, claiming: “I started off with a strong defence, and then I ...
-
Backchat
Yellow fever takes hold
In a recent head-scratching move, an insurer has called for fire engines to be painted yellow citing research that red is difficult to see at night.You would think the flashing lights and screaming sirens would be enough to help make their presence known.Yesinsurance.co.uk said research shows yellow is the safest ...
-
Backchat
Hamster caged with death bikes
What is the best thing to do to reduce your life insurance premium after narrowly surviving a 288mph crash in a rocket-powered car? If you’re Top Gear’s Richard “Hamster” Hammond, stand in the middle of the Cage of Death at the MPH roadshow. The cage is a rusted steel orb ...
-
Backchat
Roll on Friday – but don’t roll off
Insurers beware: the fatal Friday phenomenon is about to hit our roads.A report has revealed that when the clocks go back and the winter nights draw in, more accidents take place on a Friday between 4pm and 6pm.Commuters with that ‘Friday feeling’ are more likely to have a smash, the ...
-
Backchat
Cowed into a long career
It seems some people are just made for the insurance industry. It emerged last week that a certain public relations executive from Royal & SunAlliance had a road mishap during his youth that found him and his vehicle upside down in the middle of a farmer’s field.The fact that no ...
-
Backchat
CII site makes insurance sexy
The CII’s efforts to encourage bright young things into the insurance industry received a boost this week from The Times. In a supplement on careers in financial services, it described the CII’s insurance careers website as “an excellent website that makes insurance look like the most interesting career on the ...
-
Backchat
More tricks, less treats
Did you open your door to trick or treaters this Hallowe’en?According to Norwich Union, insurers could be hit with a flood of claims caused by Hallowe’en tricksters.Home insurance claims go up by 150% compared to an average day, and car insurance claims double due to pranksters that take trick or ...
-
Backchat
Ruff time of the year
Pet owners beware. Guy Fawkes Night could lead to expensive sessions with the dog whisperer.Recent research claims that the sounds and smells of fireworks can leave dogs and cats traumatised.The cost of treating our forlorn furry friends following a fireworks show reached £1.6m last year, according to Sainbury’s Bank.Although the ...
-
Backchat
Wouldn’t wannabe with Winehouse
Insurance for the up-coming Spice Girls world tour is current-ly being brokered on the Lloyd’s trading floors, prompting numerous discussions as to which is the best… song. But although the Spice Girls may be insurable, what of the husky-voiced Amy Winehouse and her novel approach to time management?“Haha! Good voice ...
-
Backchat
The wheels of a Gent
Brokers in the North are keeping it real. Following a recent report by Cumbrian outfit Peart claiming the average age of a Bentley, Aston Martin or Ferrari owner has fallen from 45 to 35, Backchat was informed that Peart’s own employees were not rushing to upgrade their wheels. The age ...
-
Backchat
A grave statistic
Motor insurers take note – a reliable profession does not always guarantee safety behind the wheel.A recent study found that doctors and surgeons are among the nation’s most accident-prone drivers along with lifeguards, accountants and – yes – Insurance inspectors.Astrologers were revealed as the safest profession on the road. But ...
-
Backchat
Lights out – bah humbug
The insurance industry may find a lump of coal in its collective stocking this year, following reports of Grinch-like behaviour.Warnings of a Christmas blackout came from business associations this week after new regulations and insurance premiums reportedly increased the price of town festive displays to as much as £25,000.Businesses in ...
-
Backchat
‘Fat Gatt’ tucks in but bails out
It is always a pleasure to watch top class cricketers at the peak of their game. Unfortunately, for one legend of the English game, his cricket skills seem to have somewhat deserted him over the years. At the launch of Brit’s Manchester trading floor last week, Mike Gatting, or Fat ...
-
Backchat
Cila’s no surprise for Brandreth
Gyles Brandreth, the one-time Conservative MP and notorious wearer of loud coloured jumpers, impressed the great and good of the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters (Cila) at its annual lunch last week. Among the Cila crests and insignia, Brandreth apologised that he thought the Cila dinner was in honour of ...
