Too early to gauge new scheme's impact on motor claim costs

Home > ST Forum(13Mar09) > Story
Too early to gauge new scheme's impact on motor claim costs

I THANK Mr Daniel Choy for last Friday's letter, 'Motor Claims Framework: Why no cut in premium?'
As the Motor Claims Framework was implemented nine months ago, it is still too early to assess its full impact on containing claim costs.

The General Insurance Association firmly believes that in the middle to long term, there will be a positive and sustained impact.

Already our member insurers have seen a significant 24 per cent increase in accident reports being filed since the framework was implemented.

We believe that such timely reporting will go some way in containing and curbing rising claims, a key determinant in the need for insurers to raise motor premiums.

To better assess the effectiveness of the framework, the General Insurance Association will conduct a national survey in May to gather feedback from motorists on their reporting and claims experiences, and make further improvements.

The issue of inflated third party claims, as raised by the writer, is a very real one.

The General Insurance Association is currently studying various other options to address this crucial area as well.

Mark Lim
Executive Director
General Insurance Association

http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Story/STIStory_349457.html

It's high time motor insurers put their house in order

Home > ST Forum (14Mar09) > Story
It's high time motor insurers put their house in order

WHEN I saw yesterday's headline, 'Motor insurance set to cost more', my first reaction was, 'No, not again'.
Without having to read the report, I could guess what the insurers were going to say to justify their impending premium increase. More accidents reported and higher injury claims are reasons which they cite ad nauseam.

It is the same old yarn: If insurers must pay out more, policyholders will just have to carry the burden - so easy to pass the buck.

After bearing the burden of increasing premiums for so many years, I would now like to ask the insurers whether it is time for them to put their own house in order.

For example, if there were rampant fraudulent claims, why are they not making a greater effort to bring the culprits to book?

Surely it would have helped to reduce the numbers if they had been more diligent in cracking down on such fraud. Could it be that because it is so convenient to increase premiums each year, there is no real urgency in investigating accident cases more thoroughly?

If my recent experience is any guide to the way insurers are conducting themselves, I shudder to think of what lies ahead for the motoring public.

I was involved in a motor accident early last year. I took photographs of the scene and reported quite comprehensively on what happened.

Then I told my insurer that on no account should they settle the case without referring to me as I believe I was not to blame.

Imagine my chagrin when I found out months later that my insurer had gone ahead and admitted 90 per cent liability without informing me.

But what takes the cake is this: My insurer had given the wrong location of my accident in the settlement letter but nevertheless, it was signed and sealed.

My attempt to unravel the whole nightmare is another story in itself but I will leave it until I have seen some light.

Sia Cheong Yew

http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Story/STIStory_349878.html