Half-term doldrums? Not at all, we’ve been twice as busy with news on improved tracker tech to stop professional theft gangs, the big city exodus, and that John Lewis advert. Let’s get to it.
START: FCA CANCELS JOHN LEWIS AD
The FCA reminded John Lewis that advertising the wilful destruction of your house contents by your child might not be classed as accidental damage this week. In other words, your ad is potentially misleading on the insurance T&Cs, so remove it.
The fact is, compliance is something that every insurance brand has to be aware of – and stick to the rules – otherwise what’s the point?
RUN: AX INNOVATION JOINS SECURED BY DESIGN
Raising standards in vehicle security is something every insurer can agree with, so news this week that AX Innovation has joined the Secured By Design initiative is good to see. Looking at the organised theft of prestige cars, standards on trackers need to be the very best – and covert too.
If you can genuinely track vehicles to the port of exit where the Range Rovers and Audi RS3s are being shipped out of the country, then you have a chance of nicking most of the gang, not just the keyless entry gadget operator and the driver.
GROW: OPPORTUNITY KNOCKING
News from Hamptons Agency this week that an estimated three million people have left major UK cities for the quieter suburbs or rural areas. WFH is here to stay. That means opportunities for brokers who can offer cover on outbuildings, summer houses, shed offices, customer data being stored at home, more gadgets etc.
AND FINALLY…
Yes, Aston Lark bought another brokerage this week. Bainbridge Collins in the Midlands was snapped up for an undisclosed sum. IE asked Professor Neil Ferguson from SAGE how many brokers AL might buy this year and he said, `Probably hundreds, all of them I’d say.’
OK, that last bit was satire and on that legal disclaimer bombshell, we bid you farewell.