This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26236519
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 12 | Version 13 |
|---|---|
| UK floods: Insurers' group hails 'strong' response | UK floods: Insurers' group hails 'strong' response |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The insurance industry has insisted that it was quick to help homeowners hit by the UK floods after meeting ministers to discuss its response. | |
| Following the meeting, the Association of British Insurers' (ABI) Otto Thoresen said the industry had paid out "millions" in emergency payments. | |
| The summit came after the prime minister urged insurers to deal with flood claims as quickly as possible. | |
| Two severe flood warnings remain in place for the South West. | Two severe flood warnings remain in place for the South West. |
| There are also about 260 less serious flood warnings and flood alerts in place for England and Wales. | There are also about 260 less serious flood warnings and flood alerts in place for England and Wales. |
| However, a yellow warning for rain, previously issued for Tuesday, is no longer in force. | However, a yellow warning for rain, previously issued for Tuesday, is no longer in force. |
| Forecasters are predicting a drier week across the UK - but warned of further heavy rain and high winds in some parts on Thursday. | Forecasters are predicting a drier week across the UK - but warned of further heavy rain and high winds in some parts on Thursday. |
| 'Ready and waiting' | 'Ready and waiting' |
| Thousands of properties have been flooded in the UK since the severe weather began, with the cost to insurers expected to amount to more than £1bn. | Thousands of properties have been flooded in the UK since the severe weather began, with the cost to insurers expected to amount to more than £1bn. |
| About £14m in emergency payments has been made since 23 December, according to the ABI, with individual households receiving between £500 and £3,000. | About £14m in emergency payments has been made since 23 December, according to the ABI, with individual households receiving between £500 and £3,000. |
| And about £24m has been spent on hotels, bed-and-breakfasts and rented homes, it said, with an average estimated cost per affected household projected to be £16,500. | And about £24m has been spent on hotels, bed-and-breakfasts and rented homes, it said, with an average estimated cost per affected household projected to be £16,500. |
| The ABI added that more than 2,000 loss adjusters were "ready and waiting" to assess the damage when flood waters had subsided sufficiently, and 1,800 staff have been reassigned to deal with customer queries. | The ABI added that more than 2,000 loss adjusters were "ready and waiting" to assess the damage when flood waters had subsided sufficiently, and 1,800 staff have been reassigned to deal with customer queries. |
| Mr Thoresen said: "There is some very clear evidence of a strong response, initial response from the industry. We have been paying out millions in emergency amounts to people to get them over the immediate problems they face in terms of alternative accommodation and the like. | Mr Thoresen said: "There is some very clear evidence of a strong response, initial response from the industry. We have been paying out millions in emergency amounts to people to get them over the immediate problems they face in terms of alternative accommodation and the like. |
| "Now we have to go on and deal with things effectively and well. | "Now we have to go on and deal with things effectively and well. |
| "We must make sure we do this well, because the repairs have to be properly delivered and they have to be sustainable for the quality of life for people in their homes in the future." | "We must make sure we do this well, because the repairs have to be properly delivered and they have to be sustainable for the quality of life for people in their homes in the future." |
| Aidan Kerr, who is the ABI's head of property, said there should be a "zero-tolerance" approach to building on flood plains. | Aidan Kerr, who is the ABI's head of property, said there should be a "zero-tolerance" approach to building on flood plains. |
| "As a country we need to look at how we provide flood insurance but also how we build flood defences, how we maintain them and where we build our new properties," he said. | "As a country we need to look at how we provide flood insurance but also how we build flood defences, how we maintain them and where we build our new properties," he said. |
| Insurers at the Downing Street summit were also expected to be asked to address concerns that some customers could have trouble getting flood insurance in future. | Insurers at the Downing Street summit were also expected to be asked to address concerns that some customers could have trouble getting flood insurance in future. |
| Currently, insurers must renew policies unless defences are inadequate but can push prices up to unaffordable levels, said the BBC's personal finance correspondent, Simon Gompertz. | Currently, insurers must renew policies unless defences are inadequate but can push prices up to unaffordable levels, said the BBC's personal finance correspondent, Simon Gompertz. |
| Next year a new agreement should make getting cover easier for many - but businesses are being left out and could find flood insurance much harder to obtain in future, he said. | Next year a new agreement should make getting cover easier for many - but businesses are being left out and could find flood insurance much harder to obtain in future, he said. |
| Jeanette Shipp, from Surrey, is one of the people who, despite reassurance from the industry, has not been covered for damage to her property by her insurers - which she is disputing. | Jeanette Shipp, from Surrey, is one of the people who, despite reassurance from the industry, has not been covered for damage to her property by her insurers - which she is disputing. |
| She said the insurance company would not cover her because she lives within 200m of the River Mole. She said the damage to the building alone would be around £40,000. | She said the insurance company would not cover her because she lives within 200m of the River Mole. She said the damage to the building alone would be around £40,000. |
| "They were aware of the geography of the location when I chose to place my insurance through them about four years ago," she said. "I paid a substantial premium for my cover and expected to get a service from them." | "They were aware of the geography of the location when I chose to place my insurance through them about four years ago," she said. "I paid a substantial premium for my cover and expected to get a service from them." |
| Malcolm Tarling, of the ABI, earlier told the BBC that in future, some premiums may have to rise. | Malcolm Tarling, of the ABI, earlier told the BBC that in future, some premiums may have to rise. |
| He said: "Insurers will change premiums to reflect the flood risk. If the flood risk goes up then for businesses, that may have to be reflected in the cost of insurance." | He said: "Insurers will change premiums to reflect the flood risk. If the flood risk goes up then for businesses, that may have to be reflected in the cost of insurance." |
| On Monday, the prime minister unveiled a £10m fund to help businesses recover from the floods. | On Monday, the prime minister unveiled a £10m fund to help businesses recover from the floods. |
| Premium rate numbers | Premium rate numbers |
| Ahead of the meeting, consumer advice company Which? raised concerns that insurance claimants were often forced to call numbers that cost up to 41p per minute. | Ahead of the meeting, consumer advice company Which? raised concerns that insurance claimants were often forced to call numbers that cost up to 41p per minute. |
| Floods minister Dan Rogerson said the insurance firms who attended the meeting had "got the message" about the use of the premium rate numbers and were "taking that back to their members to deal with". | Floods minister Dan Rogerson said the insurance firms who attended the meeting had "got the message" about the use of the premium rate numbers and were "taking that back to their members to deal with". |
| Cabinet Office ministers Oliver Letwin and Jo Johnson chaired the meeting - which is to be held monthly - and were joined by Mr Thoresen, Mr Rogerson and communities minister Brandon Lewis. | Cabinet Office ministers Oliver Letwin and Jo Johnson chaired the meeting - which is to be held monthly - and were joined by Mr Thoresen, Mr Rogerson and communities minister Brandon Lewis. |
| Labour leader Ed Miliband, who had been visiting flood-hit areas of Somerset, said the government had to help people who had been affected by floods. | Labour leader Ed Miliband, who had been visiting flood-hit areas of Somerset, said the government had to help people who had been affected by floods. |
| "What we can't have is the anguish of people being driven from their homes being made worse by insurance companies dragging their feet," he said. | "What we can't have is the anguish of people being driven from their homes being made worse by insurance companies dragging their feet," he said. |
| "That's why the government has to force the insurance industry to set a clear standard for people having their temporary expenses covered and for how quickly they can expect to get the help so they can get back into their homes." | "That's why the government has to force the insurance industry to set a clear standard for people having their temporary expenses covered and for how quickly they can expect to get the help so they can get back into their homes." |
| Live flood warnings from the Environment Agency | Live flood warnings from the Environment Agency |
| Enter your postcode to see alerts near you | Enter your postcode to see alerts near you |
| There were some heavy showers in south-east England, southern Scotland and the far north of England on Tuesday morning but the weather will turn drier in the evening for much of the country. | There were some heavy showers in south-east England, southern Scotland and the far north of England on Tuesday morning but the weather will turn drier in the evening for much of the country. |
| BBC Weather's Chris Fawkes said this week's weather was looking "nowhere near as stormy" but more rain and high winds were expected later in the week. | BBC Weather's Chris Fawkes said this week's weather was looking "nowhere near as stormy" but more rain and high winds were expected later in the week. |
| Do you have any questions about flooding insurance? We will be putting some of your questions to an expert. Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the subject heading 'Floods'. | Do you have any questions about flooding insurance? We will be putting some of your questions to an expert. Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the subject heading 'Floods'. |