The Dormant Assets Bill has been introduced into the House of Lords and has had its first reading. The Bill proposes expansions to the current scheme to include not only bank and building society assets, but also long...
Category - Insurance
Emma RadmoreFSCS confirms 2021/22 levy forecast
FSCS has confirmed its levy forecast for 2021/22 at £833m. This is slightly lower than the indicative levy announced in January, partly because extensions of government support are likely to mean some firms will...
Financial Services Bill – what changed?
Read our article for Compliance Monitor on the key changes from the original Financial Services Bill to the Act given Royal Assent – and some of the proposals that weren’t included.
FCA publishes new buildings insurance webpage
FCA has published a new webpage setting out its expectations of regulated firms when arranging and providing fair value buildings insurance for leasehold apartment buildings. The webpage is not an exhaustive description...
Lucy HadrillFCA publishes H2 2020 complaints data
FCA’s most recent complaints data report shows: a significant drop in complaints over the H1 2020 figure; a large decrease in insurance and pure protection complaints – with the largest being in PPI...
Commission adopts sustainable finance measures
The European Commission has adopted a package of measures to help improve the flow of money towards sustainable activities across the EU. The package includes: the EU Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act which aims to support...
Duncan ScottBusiness interruption insurance: Covid calculator
FCA has published a calculator to assist policyholders prove the presence of Covid-19 in their policy area on a given date. Policyholders can use the results to help make a claim under their business interruption...
PRA publishes year-end 2019 Solvency II disclosures
PRA has published supervisory disclosures as required by its obligations under Article 31(2) of the Solvency II Directive for year-end 2019. These disclosures include: aggregate statistical data on key aspects of the...
FCA censures firm and requires compensation payment
FCA has publicly censured a firm that sold extended warranty insurance and ordered it to pay customers compensation of nearly £400,000. It would have imposed a fine of nearly £1m had it not been for the extreme...
FCA publishes Covid-19 BI claims data
On 22 January 2021, the FCA sent a Dear CEO letter to the insurers affected by the BI insurance test case. The letter set out the FCA’s intention to gather information from all affected insurers regulatory on the...
FCA finalises cancellations and refunds guidance extension
FCA has published its finalised guidance extending its temporary guidance on how it expects firms to act when customers are making claims for cancelled events or travel arrangements. The guidance takes effect from 2...
ESAs publish report on complaints-handling
The Joint Committee of three European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA and ESMA) (ESAs) have published a report on the application of their guidelines on complaints-handling. The report assesses how the guidelines...
UK and US continue to co-ordinate on insurance and reinsurance supervision
On 25 March 2021, UK and US participants held the first Joint Committee meeting under the UK-US Bilateral Agreement on Prudential Measures regarding Insurance and Reinsurance (Agreement). Attendees discussed progress...
EIOPA publishes IDD “general good” analysis
EIOPA has analysed Member State rules implementing the IDD and identified some practices that are not in the interests of the general good. For example, it has asked some Member States to adjust their requirements where...
FCA feeds back on Open Finance
FCA has published a policy statement following its call for input on Open Finance. The statement looks at how Open Banking is paving the way for more innovation, and notes the large number of regulatory sandbox...
Government urged to reduce barriers to UK-EU services trade
The House of Lords EU Services Sub-Committee has published a report which examines the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) and the future UK-EU relationship on trade in services. In terms of financial services...
FCA updates on non-damage BI settlements and deductions
FCA has updated its guidance aimed at insurers who have made deductions from business interruption insurance claim payouts for some types of Government support that policyholders benefited from. Back in August 2020, FCA...
EIOPA publishes IDD FAQs
EIOPA has updated its FAQs on the IDD. The 8 new questions cover: the appropriateness assessment product oversight and governance; adaptation of existing product; protect testing and review for existing products;...
FCA updates on timetable for insurance pricing rules
FCA has updated firms on its plans for the introduction of new rules following its consultation on general insurance pricing practices. It had originally proposed to give firms 4 months from the time it finalised its...
Regulation of the insurance sector set to change
In a speech given at the Association of British Insurers, Sam Woods, CEO of the PRA, said that the regulation of the UK insurance sector is set to change. Mr Woods stated that rules for insurers would be set out in the...
Hannah FrostFCA updates BI list
FCA has updated its information pages on business interruption insurance by providing a list of insurers and policies, submitted by insurers, of the non-damage business interruption insurance policies that are, in...
FCA publishes “presence of Covid” guidance
FCA has finalised and published its guidance on proving the presence of Covid-19. The guidance builds on the High Court and Supreme Court judgments in the FCA’s business interruption insurance test case, and sets...
FCA publishes funeral plan consultation paper
The FCA has published a consultation paper on its proposed approach to the regulation of pre-paid funeral plans. Such plans are due to become fully subject to FCA regulation from 29 July 2022. The majority of the...
EU and Japan exchange letters on co-operation
The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) and Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) have agreed to co-operate on insurance regulation and supervision. The exchange of letters aims to...
CMA publishes PPI breach letter
CMA has written to Cardif Pinnacle about two breaches of the PPI order. The breaches mean that nearly 5,000 customers have been receiving inaccurate Annual Reviews since 2012, an 4 customers received annual reviews that...
PRA reports on positive iNED meetings
PRA has written a letter to iNEDs, who participated in its pilot programme of virtual meetings. The meetings discussed current challenges, and PRA was pleased that, in principle: iNEDs thought firms had reacted well to...
BI insurance declarations submitted to Supreme Court
FCA and the other parties to the test case have made submissions to the Supreme Court on the form of declarations. FCA has published a draft of the declarations, showing what is agreed and what is still in dispute...
EIOPA shares views on improving BI cover
EIOPA has published a staff paper on how to improve the insurability of business interruption in the light of pandemics. It is urging insurers to promote prevention measures which will improve society’s capacity...
FCA updates on cancellations and refunds guidance
FCA has updated its webpages and finalised guidance on how it expects credit and debit card and insurance providers to deal with requests for refunds following cancellation of trips, events and holidays as a result of...
PRA speaks on insurer capital
Anna Sweeney has spoken on the Solvency II review and how much capital is enough. She stressed that PRA wants to get its reforms right, and to see them within the context of the entire relevant package of measures. ...
ABI speech on the insurance industry post Brexit and lessons learned from the pandemic
James Dalton, Director of General Insurance Policy at the ABI, gave a speech to the Westminster Forum on the future of the insurance industry post-Brexit and lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting off on a...
FIN. TeamESAs agree PRIIPs KID changes
The ESAs have suggested to the European Commission a package of changes to the PRIIPs KID. The main proposals for change are: new methodologies to calculate appropriate performance scenarios and a revised presentation...
FCA updates on BI issues
FCA has updated its information page on business interruption insurance, and has created new pages containing a policy checker tool and FAQs for policyholders.
BI insurance claims – what happens next?
Following our report on the Supreme Court’s findings in the FCA’s test case, we have now written an article on the key elements of the judgment.
Treasury makes funeral plan RAO changes
Treasury has made changes to the RAO and related secondary legislation to remove the exclusion that previously meant no provider of pre-paid funeral plans was in fact conducting any regulated activity in relation to...
FCA updates on PEMC signposting
FCA has updated its webpage on how insurance firms should be helping consumers with serious pre-existing medical conditions to get travel insurance. It now highlights the newly publishes BIBA travel insurance...
FCA updates on BI judgment effects
FCA has updated its website following the Supreme Court’s judgment in the business interruption insurance test case. It has: published a Dear CEO letter on its expectations on insurers. The key message is that...
Supreme Court backs FCA on BI judgment
The Supreme Court has released its judgment on the business interruption insurance test case. Commenting, on the judgment, FCA noted that the Court has substantially allowed FCA’s appeal on behalf of policyholders...
FCA publishes whistleblowing VREQ
FCA has published the outcome of an application by Tokio Marine Kiln Insurance Limited and Tokio Marine Kiln Syndicates Limited to put in place a Voluntary Requirement in respect of whistleblowing policies and...
FCA publishes FAQ on insurance pricing plans
FCA has published a set of FAQs on its draft rules to remedy its concerns on general insurance pricing practices. It hopes the document will help firms understand the intention behind the proposals, but stresses that...
FCA updates on BI case and insurance expectations
FCA says the Supreme Court will deliver its judgment in the business interruption insurance test case on the morning of 15 January. The judgment will be live-streamed and then published. FCA has also updated its...
UK Government announces expansion of the Dormant Assets Scheme
The UK Government has announced the expansion of the Dormant Assets Scheme, which is a major boost as the UK recovers from the coronavirus pandemic. £800 million is set to be made available to communities across the UK...
FCA publishes Covid resilience survey results
FCA has published the results of the survey it sent to 23,000 forms on the real-time effect the pandemic is having on their resilience. Among its conclusions are: failures of firms due to the economic downturn are...
FCA reminds firms to be prepared for Brexit
With the end of the Brexit transition period in sight, the FCA has issued a press release reminding firms to be prepared. The FCA expects firms to have assessed the impact of the changes that will take effect, on both...
FCA updates on complaints data
FCA has published its latest firm-specific and aggregate complaints data from firms for H1 2020. It specifically notes: the lowest levels of recorded complaints since H2 2016 – firms received 2.96m; the largest...
No BI judgment this year
FCA has confirmed the Supreme Court will not be handing down its judgment before January 2021.
FCA consults on proving presence of Covid
FCA is consulting on guidance to help policyholders, insurers and intermediaries to judge how to prove the presence of Covid-19 in a particular area. FCA wants to be able to issue the final guidance as soon as the...
EIOPA: Peer Review on the collaboration of the insurance NSAs
EIOPA has published the findings of a peer review on the supervisory practices related to the decision concerning the collaboration amongst supervisory authorities in relation to insurance cross-border activities, data...
BoE sets out stress test plans for insurance industry
Speaking at the Insurance Risk and Capital EMEA 2020 virtual conference, Charlotte Gerken, Executive Director – Insurance Supervision, addressed the industry’s reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Solvency II...
PRA notes FCA “long-term absence” consultation
PRA has drawn the attention of firms to a joint chapter in FCA’s latest quarterly consultation on clarifying regulatory expectations for temporary long-term absences. The regulators plan to clarify what they...
Court of Appeal overturns Rothesay Part VII decision
The Court of Appeal has, for the first time, considered the approach courts should adopt to dealing with applications to sanction transfers of long term insurance business. In August 2019, a court had refused Prudential...
Emma RadmoreFCA updates on general insurance consultation
FCA is consulting on rules and guidance to implement a package of remedies to address the harms identified in its general insurance pricing practices market study. As part of the consultation process, FCA recently...
HM Treasury extends consultation deadlines
Financial Services Future Regulatory Framework Review Phase II Consultation – further to the consultation document published on 19 October 2020, the consultation has been extended by one month to 19 February 2021...
EU statement on EU-Japan Joint Financial Regulatory Forum
The European Commission has published a statement on the second meeting of the EU-Japan Joint Financial Regulatory Forum which took place on 20 November. Topics of discussion at the meeting included the impact of Covid...
FCA outlines its supervision Strategy for Lloyd’s & London Market Insurers
The FCA has published a ‘Dear CEO‘ letter addressed to Lloyd’s and London Market Insurers, providing an overview of the areas of focus of its supervision strategy. In particular, the letter sets out...
FCA publishes BI appeal transcript
FCA has published the transcript from the last day of the appeal hearing on the business interruption insurance test case.
What next in BI appeal?
The hearing of the business interruption insurance test case appeal in the Supreme Court is now over. FCA has published the draft transcripts up to day 3, and the judges are aware of the importance of an early judgment...
MFN strikes again
The CMA has published an infringement decision against Compare The Market for imposing wide most favoured nation clauses on home insurance providers using its price comparison platform. The fine, in the sum of £17.9...
ABI calls for advice charging overhaul
ABI says that nearly 75% of consumers say they will not pay for financial advice. It says the regulatory environment needs to adapt so that customers can get the advice they want and that is fit for purpose. It carried...
FCA publishes BI appeal day 1 transcript
FCA has published the draft transcript of day 1 of the appeal hearing in its business interruption insurance case, and a link for those who wish to watch the recording of it.
FSB publishes 2020 Resolution Report
The Financial Stability Board (FSB) has published its 2020 Resolution Report which highlights the need for resolution preparedness. It also looks at lessons learnt from the Covid-19 pandemic, which stressed the...
FCA updates on Supreme Court BI appeal
FCA has updated its website to reflect the running order for the Supreme Court hearing in its test case on business interruption insurance. The hearing started on 16 November and is expected to close on Thursday. The...
FCA writes supervision letter to PCWs
FCA has written a portfolio supervision letter to CEOs of price comparison websites. The letter notes the key priority that customers buying products through PCWs should buy products consistent with their demands and...
FCA updates on BI insurance test case
The FCA has updated its webpage on business interruption insurance with details of the BI test case Supreme Court appeal. The Supreme Court will live-stream the appeal on: Monday 16 November: 11am-4pm; and Tuesday 17 –...
FOS publishes Q2 information
FOS has published complaints figures for July – September 2020 (Q2 2020). It: received 69,000 complaints in total received over 5,900 Covid-related complaints referred over 9,000 complaints to an Ombudsman upheld...
FCA updates on EEA regulator Brexit guidance
FCA has put together an information page sharing links to the websites of EEA regulators on which they have published guidance about the effects of Brexit on UK firms operating in their jurisdictions. Some of the pages...
Covid-19 measures weekly summary
It’s been a while since we needed to do a digest of these. In the light of the new English lockdown and the expiry of various measures, the last week has seen: FCA consultation on updated guidance for consumer...
FCA writes to CEOs of LLMI firms
FCA has written a portfolio strategy letter to Lloyd’s and London Market Intermediaries and Managing General agents. It sees the key risks these firms present in: financial resilience and orderly wind-down...
FCA confirms BI appeal date
FCA has confirmed the Supreme Court’s permission to appeal in the test case on business interruption insurance. The appeal will be heard from 16 November, probably for 4 days. RSA has confirmed it will not be...
FCA reminds of insurance product value importance
FCA has reminded insurance firms that they need to complete their reviews of the value of their products in the light of the pandemic. The reviews follow FCA’s guidance published in June, highlighting that there...
FCA confirms updated guidance for insurance and premium finance
FCA has confirmed its finalised guidance for insurance and premium finance firms, that applies from 31 October. The guidance contains minor changes from the consultation version, and supersedes the August guidance...
Regulators update insurers and others on Brexit expectations
PRA and FCA have written a joint letter to CEOs of insurance firms on the importance of being prepared for the end of the transition period, and FCA has also more generally updated its website. The regulators stress the...
FCA publishes BI High Court declarations
FCA has published the High Court declarations made in the test case, which are the culmination of the test case judgment. The declarations set out how and to what extent the policies in the representative sample used in...
EIOPA launches training programme on insurance supervision
The targeted training programme will be delivered to 17 national competent authorities and aims to reinforce high-quality and effective supervision, the protection of policyholders and beneficiaries, and financial...
HMT consults on financial services regulatory framework post-Brexit
HM Treasury has published a consultation paper in relation to Phase II of its Financial Services Future Regulatory Framework Review. HMT is seeking views on proposals for the financial services regulatory framework post...
ESRB publishes Recommendation on identifying legal entities
The European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB)’s Recommendation A proposes that: EU legislation incorporates a common EU legal framework governing the identification of legal entities established in the EU that are...
Lords responds to HMT on equivalence
Baroness Donaghy, chair of the House of Lords EU Services Sub-Committee, has responded to HMT’s letter of 21 September which set out the Government’s responses to previous queries of the Sub-Committee on UK...
Customers in financial difficulty and coronavirus: Additional guidance for firms
The FCA has set out proposals on how firms should continue to seek to help customers who hold insurance and premium finance products and may be struggling financially due to Covid-19 beyond 31 October 2020. The proposed...
Lloyds report: Building simpler Insurance products
Lloyds has published a report today – Building simpler insurance products to better protect customers which sets out a number of ways the global insurance industry can remove complexity to provide enhanced...
EIOPA calls on insurance industry to be ready for end of transition
EIOPA has reminded the insurance sector that as of 31 December 2020, Solvency II and the IDD will no longer apply to the UK, and that the industry must be prepared for the consequences of UK and Gibraltar firms becoming...
HMT writes to House of Lords on equivalence
The Economic Secretary to HM Treasury, John Glen MP, has responded to the House of Lords EU Services Sub-Committee’s queries on UK-EU regulatory cooperation for UK financial services post-Brexit. In its letter to...
EIOPA sets out approach on POG
The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) has published a paper outlining its approach to the supervision of product oversight and governance (POG) requirements based on the Insurance...
FCA updates on pre-existing conditions directory
FCA has noted the new travel insurance directory launched by MaPS for people with serious pre-existing medical conditions. The directory meets FCA’s criteria for a “Medical Cover Firm Directory” and...
Leapfrog certificates granted in BI test case
FCA has confirmed the granting of “leapfrog” certificates to it, six of the insurers involved and the Hiscox Action Group for an appeal to the Supreme Court, and may now apply for permission to appeal. At...
Finalised Guidance: Cancellations and refunds
Following our report on the draft guidance published on 31 July, the FCA has published its finalised guidance on its expectations for insurance and card providers helping consumers claim money back. The guidance which...
FCA files skeleton arguments for leapfrog BI hearing
FCA and the insurers involved in the business interruption insurance test case did not reach the hoped-for agreement on the interpretation of some key points in the judgment. As a result they have filed skeleton...
FCA writes to investment and insurance CEOs on client assets and Covid-19
FCA has written 2 Dear CEO letters to firms that hold client money or custody assets, whether in the context of investment or insurance business, to remind them of their obligations under CASS. The letters stress that...
FCA reports on regulatory perimeter
FCA has published its second report on the regulatory perimeter. The report looks at: consumer confusion about the perimeter – and when FCA has the power to act. It also notes that customers may be confused as to...
FCA updates on BI appeal and lodges leapfrog application
FCA has updated its information page on the consequences from the judgment in the business interruption insurance test case. It noted that it held meetings with policyholders and their lawyers over 4 days in the week of...
FCA publishes insurance pricing report and consults on fundamental change
FCA has published its final report on its market study intro general insurance pricing practices and, alongside it, a consultation on changes to its Handbook, and rules on data publication. The key damning conclusions...
BI consequentials hearing set for 2 October
FCA says the Court has confirmed the consequentials hearing following judgment in the BI insurance test case will take place on 2 October, probably in the morning. FCA will live stream the hearing, at which the parties...
FCA writes to CEOs on BI judgment
FCA has written to the CEOs of insurers following publication of the High Court judgment on the BI test case. It expresses its gratitude to the insurers that were parties to the case and to all those who have co...
BI test case: Court largely supports policyholders
The High Court has handed down its judgment in the test case FCA brought to seek clarity on key issues on business interruption insurance policies and how they have reacted to COVID-19-related claims. Overall, it agreed...
BI insurance judgment due 15 September
FCA has announced that the court is due to hand down its judgment on the business interruption insurance test case at 10:30am on 15 September.
FCA updates on General Insurance value measures
FCA has published its 4th set of General Insurance value measures data – after delaying publication because of COVID-19. It says the data now shows concerns about the value of personal accident and key cover add...
PRA finalises minor rule changes
PRA has published its policy statement on proposals in one of its Occasional Consultations. The changes confirmed will cover: minor updates on liquidity reporting; LIBOR updates for non-Solvency II insurers; other minor...
FCA writes to insurance intermediaries on supervision
FCA has written a supervision strategy letter to the CEOs of personal and commercial lines intermediaries. The letter is intended for general insurance intermediaries with retail and/or commercial customers, loss...
FOS focuses on Covid-19 complaints
The latest edition of Ombudsman News focuses on complaints arising from Covid-19 and its impact on consumers and SMEs. FOS notes that some of the issues are new, but others are common issues made worse by the pandemic...
FSB publishes insurance resolution methodology
FSB has published its key essential criteria which will guide assessment of how a jurisdiction’s insurance resolution framework has complied with FSB’s “Key Attributes of Effective Resolution Regimes...
Court approves insurance transfer
The High Court has approved a Part VII transfer of an insurance portfolio from Legal and General to Reassure. The portfolio includes around 900,000 insurance-based savings, pensions, life and with-profits business and...