Free major loss support service

Major claims are stressful. Your job is to support your clients and how you manage the first 24 hours is critical. We have introduced a new support service that can help.

Free major loss support service 

We will provide on-site support to brokers and clients suffering major and complex losses during the first 24 hours post incident on a ‘no obligation basis’.

Our support will include:

• Site meeting with you, the client and loss adjuster
• Initial assessment of damage and provision of confidential advice regarding loss mitigation, business recovery and claim
• Review of insurance policy coverage and advice on cover option extensions and limitations
• Advice on policy liability issues, warranties, endorsements etc.

There is no obligation to appoint us for the remainder of the claim and there will be no charge for the work we undertake during the first 24 hours post incident.

Why are we doing this?

A range of critical issues need to be addressed in the first 24 hours of an incident and we want to demonstrate in a live environment how we can add value to the service you provide to your clients.
Obviously, we hope to create a good impression and lasting relationship with you so that you might consider us if you need support on future claims - but this initial service is absolutely free.

More information

If you’d like more information about this offer, or help on anything claims related, contact one of the team today. Click here for all the contact information.

Can you demonstrate your TCF credentials to the regulator?

The advice you give and the recommendations you make as a broker come into sharp focus when a claim is made and any deficiencies stick out like a sore thumb. We have developed a new service that can help you “stress test” your policy recommendations.

What is stress testing?

We review a random sample of policyholder insurance portfolios to examine how the cover would stand up in the event of a loss.

What’s included in each review? 

• Comprehensive review of existing policy contracts, schedules and other relevant documentation
• Consideration of extent and limitations of policy cover
• Identification of any potential deficiencies or limitations in cover
• Critical analysis and recommendation of any amendments that might benefit the broker client

The emphasis of our reviews is not to find fault with your recommendations but to offer you a view, or if you prefer audit, from a claims perspective.

Benefits

• You will be able to demonstrate to the regulator that you are serious about the quality of advice you offer to clients
• The reviews may highlight additional areas of coverage your clients may benefit from
• You may reduce the risk of claims disputes

We can offer this service as a one-off exercise or as part of a more systematic review.

More information

If you’d like more information about this offer or help on anything claims related contact one of the team today. Click here for all the contact information.

MoJ Jackson Reforms Summary

The Jackson Review of civil litigation relating to low value injury claims came into force in April. Intended to bring better balance to the system the reforms represent a step change to the personal injuries legal framework. We have produced a summary of the changes that will have the biggest impact on your clients.

The aims of the reforms are to bring more balance to the civil litigation system by:

• Addressing the growing compensation culture 
• Creating an environment where claims costs savings will feed into lower premiums
• Delivering lawyers costs that are more proportionate 

The changes that will be more apparent to consumers are:

After the Event legal expense premiums will not be recoverable 
After the Event insurance was the preferred method by which no-win no-fee solicitors were able to offer these services. It was used to underwrite their costs should the litigation they undertook on behalf of a consumer fail. Consumers are likely to see fewer firms offering no-win no-fee services - indeed many have already exited the market.

Banning referral fees 
The payment of referral fees was endemic before the changes. In the new environment referral fees will no longer be legal.

Limits have also been placed on claims quantum, particularly with regard to injuries such as whiplash.

How will these changes affect your clients?
The most important change for claimants is the requirement that they provide fast and accurate claims notifications, including:

• Immediate notification of claims or intention to claim 
• Immediate and on-going assistance with liability investigations
• A need to provide accurate and complete information
• Production of documentation within shorter timescales 

Summary
The key objective of these reforms is to speed up claims settlements and reduce stress for the claimant. In the longer term all insurance buyers should benefit from reduced fraud and extraneous legal fees savings feed through to more competitive insurance premiums.

New Owner for Leading Claims Specialist Thompson & Bryan

Press Release: London, 15 April, 2013

Leading claims specialist Thompson & Bryan has been acquired by market expert Paul Lawrence, it was announced today.

Thompson & Bryan was established in 1867 and is widely acknowledged as being the leader in the claims industry when it comes to working with insurance brokers and their customers to ensure that claims are prepared correctly and settled in a fair and fuss-free way.

Following an intractable Pension deficit the business went into administration last week and the intellectual property and work in progress has been acquired by Paul.

With the continued recession and soft market, many insurers have been tightening their belts and looking to minimise the amount they are prepared to pay. There has never been a greater need for the client to have a professional working on their behalf to ensure a fair outcome for all parties.

Thompson & Bryan had established themselves as true experts, particularly in areas such as business interruption which can be a minefield for brokers and clients alike. They have a reputation for being fair and thoughtful in their dealings with insurers. For many insurers and their adjusters, Thompson & Bryan is seen as the acceptable face of client claim.

Paul Lawrence has more than 30 years experience in the claims industry and is highly respected by brokers and insurers alike.

John Sims, former CEO at Lorega Limited said: “This is an ideal acquisition for Paul. Thompson & Bryan is highly professional and has a great brand name with brokers and Paul is simply the best in the market; I can only see the business going from strength to strength with Paul at the helm.”

Paul Lawrence said: “This was an opportunity I simply couldn’t turn down. This is a great business and a trusted brand that simply got into some unforeseen financial difficulties. There will need to be some changes to the structure of the business but moving forward the picture is all very positive.

“Our service charter will see us using qualified adjusters, charted accountants and other top professionals as required. I have always put the client and broker first and lived for great service, this will be our ethos. Every loss will be treated as the most important claim we have ever handled regardless of how big or small it might be. I am incredibly excited about this new dawn in the history of such a great company as Thompson & Bryan.’

For further information please contact:
Paul Lawrence
Tel : +44 (0)7941 111920
E-mail : paul-lawrence@thompsonandbryan.com


Notes to Editors

About Thompson and Bryan

J.G.Thompson & Co, the forerunner of Thompson & Bryan Limited, was founded by James Grafton Thompson in 1867. In its steady growth throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the Company gradually expanded from a small office in Nottingham to the international organisation it has become today.

Thompson & Bryan had grown sufficiently to become heavily involved during the Second World War in the assessment and settlement of extensive bomb damage claims under the guidelines of the War Damage Commission. The overspill of work continued until well into the 1950s.

Thompson & Bryan’s versatile and expert services again became in great demand during the 1970s and 1980s in the assessment of bomb damage to property in Northern Ireland, dealing with the Compensation Agency to secure financial settlement on behalf of the applicants who suffered damage.

The Thompson & Bryan group of companies provides an unrivalled 24 hour service operating from seven major cities throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. In spite of its expansion over the years, the group has never lost sight of the James Grafton Thompson tradition for providing the utmost in professional and personal service.

About Paul Lawrence

Paul has been a claims specialist working on behalf of customers for more than 30 years. He was originally part of the Harris group which later became Harris Balcombe. Paul left Harris Balcombe to set up his own adjusting and advocacy business, Commercial Claims Solutions. Paul deals with losses all over the world and is highly regarded by the broker market for his diligence and the ability to get a fair settlement for the client by working closely and thoughtfully with insurers and their loss adjusters.

A little risk management goes a long way

We are heading for another bout of poor weather so we thought we’d pull together some tips for you to pass on to your clients to help them avoid unnecessary claims.

There is no doubt icy conditions produce more claims for slips and trips than at any other time of the year so if your clients operate from a premises they need to be vigilant to the potential risks to visitors (and employees) of being injured in icy conditions.

The Issue

Even relatively short bursts of poor weather and low temperatures can produce hazardous conditions underfoot that last for many days, and sometimes weeks after the initial event.

Most commercial buildings have some external areas that are used by employees, deliveries or the general public and building owners or tenants have an obligation under health and safety legislation to keep every pedestrian traffic route within the premises free from substances that may cause someone to slip, trip or fall.

The Solution

If a business operates from a premises they should have a plan to deal with the problem should it arise. Consideration should be given to the following when formulating your plan:

Resources
Businesses should know what manpower and equipment they are likely to have available should bad weather strike. Practically how many staff will be available (usually needed early morning) to clear areas and spread grit? Do they have sufficient equipment readily available on site, including sufficient grit and the means to transport it around the site?

Prioritise
Businesses need to decide which areas should be cleared for the premises to operate safely. Priority should be given to the building’s entrances, including goods and visitor entrances as well as staff entrances. It may be impractical to keep all car parks and areas clear so decide what needs to be done to ensure untreated areas are not used.

Maintain
Everyone in the business should be aware of their responsibilities within the plan. Make sure they have a plan to maintain the areas that have been cleared so that they do not re-freeze over.

Communicate
Employees should be informed of the bad weather plan in advance and be aware of the areas that will be prioritised for clearing so that they know what to expect when they arrive for work. Signs at the entrance to public areas should be used advising visitors of untreated areas. It should be made clear that they use untreated areas at their own risk.

Record
A premises specific risk assessment for operating the site in bad weather should be carried out and recorded.