Simply the best: Three more awards confirm ARAG's premier credentials

Specialist insurer ARAG has once again demonstrated the high regard in which it is held by its
Votes were cast in a nationwide poll of professional insurance brokers and announced at a gala ceremony in London's Royal Garden Hotel attended by the UK's leading insurers. Now in their sixth year, the Underwriting Service Awards are unique.

They are based on large-scale objective input from UK commercial and specialist broking professionals, submitted through the annual Business Insurers Insight Study. Brokers graded the insurers they have worked with during the previous 12 months. These are some of the comments made by brokers about why they support ARAG;

“Strong support for the customer and the broker, flexible approach to writing business, access to decision makers and key contacts”

 “Flexibility, willingness to work together to create new products. Fairness.”

“Good lines of communication and regular contact from BDM. Claims handled swiftly and claims met”

“We are delighted that so many of our partner companies were either winners or shortlisted too”, comments Andy Talbot, ARAG Head of Sales. “It is very encouraging that over three years of huge turmoil in the legal services arena we continue to receive endorsement of our efforts to be the very best people to work with.

“The accolades are an outstanding tribute to everyone who has worked so hard to ensure we deliver on our promises, and in the most professional manner. As the courts system faces yet more changes, we believe ARAG is well-placed to provide affordable access to justice to everyone who has been disadvantaged by the actions of others. Our legal protection cover, emergency assistance products and advice services are available to millions of people through professional intermediaries either in addition to – or as part of – business, home, motor and landlord insurances”.


-ends-

Further information on how ARAG stays on top can be viewed in its latest newsletter at  http://anyflip.com/jhsj/zibd

Underwriting Services Awards 2015. ARAG wins...
–    Legal Expenses Team of the Year for the 3rd year running.
–    Underwriting Service Awards Team of the Year for the 2nd year running
–    Managing General Agent Team of the Year for the first time

For more information please contact:
business partners, by winning three prestigious, independent awards. At the Underwriting Service Awards the company took the Legal Expenses Team of the Year award for the third year running plus also the Managing General Agent (MGA) award and like last year, the Underwriting Service Awards Team of the Year.

- Andy Talbot, Head of Sales
0117 917 1685/ andy.talbot@arag.co.uk

- David Haynes, Head of Underwriting & Marketing
0117 917 1684 David.Haynes@arag.co.uk

- Rachael Wornes, Marketing Manager at ARAG
0117 917 1578 / pressoffice@arag.co.uk

Latest News from The Rag

Following The RAG November edition and its brand new design, we have also created its online version.

If you would like to read our articles, please click on the image below to flip through the pages.

Happy reading everyone

Yesterday in parliament…

Isn't Radio Four's (slightly satirical) "Yesterday in Parliament" great?  I catch it most mornings as it races through previous the day's debates in the House. We have put together our own report from Hansard focusing on the Justice session and how legal expenses insurance fits into the picture. 

 
Litigants in person and McKenzie Friends
Against opposition claims that the Court Service is in crisis following cuts to the justice budget and a call on Government to commission a survey of Court officials; having already spent £2 million to ensure greater support for litigants in person (such as online guidance, guidance from court officers and judicial training), the Government promised investment in a new strategy to provide more support to litigants in person.
While the Government maintains that Judges, magistrates and legal advisers are well equipped to support litigants in person through the court process... we think it can be intimidating and daunting for individuals. Where legal expenses insurance is available it must be a preferred solution. Make sure your clients opt in. 

Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPOA) Review
The opposition reminded the Secretary of State of concerns raised by the Justice Committee, the National Audit Office and others regarding litigants self-representing and urged the planned review of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 to be brought forward from 2017.
Parliament heard that civil legal aid remains available for only the most serious cases, including cases in which life or liberty is at stake, there is a risk of serious physical harm, or children may be removed from their families. However, many hundreds of thousands of ordinary people no longer have access to legal advice or representation. Other than asking lawyers to do more work for free – [that is unless their case is suitable for legal expenses insurance. We are always looking at how our policies can help provide access to justice for new and additional areas of civil litigation].

McKenzie Friends
With the growth in litigants in person there has been a growth in McKenzie friends. There are two types: those who provide backgrounds to unfamiliar settings and those who act effectively as lawyers and charge for their services. The Government expressed an intention to "keep an eye on advice and fees are being charged. [We see Mckenzie Friends as a potential area for concern. Our policyholders are represented by a qualified professional lawyer and we keep an eye on our panel firms to ensure they continue to deliver the high quality service we insist on.]

Criminal Courts Charge
The introduction of this charge has made it possible to recover some of the costs from offenders, which reduces the burden on taxpayers. The Government is keeping the operation of the criminal courts charge under review.
The opposition however was concerned about disturbing case studies highlighted by campaigners showing that this charge is putting pressure on people to plead guilty in order to avoid legal costs, thereby restricting access to a free trial. There are further worries that bailiffs will chase debts that will simply be written off and never collected. 
The Government had expected criminal charges to raise £265million however the Chair of the Justice Committee told the BBC that, as well as distorting the criminal justice system for most defendants and sentences, it may well run at a loss. The Secretary for State was urged to scrap the charge. [Against a background of changes to means testing and cost recovery for criminal cases we introduced our comprehensive Family Prosecution Defence policy. The policy will not pay criminal changes however it will afford defendants a professional legal defence].

 

A new law for Landlords and Lettings Agents in Wales

From the 23 November new obligations on landlords and agents in Wales will be introduced. If your clients own or manage residential property in Wales, occupied by someone other than themselves in return for a rent, this new law will apply.

Landlords who need to register, and landlords and agents who need to become licensed, will have 12 months from 23 November in which to comply with the new law which is aimed at achieving:

• improved standards of letting and management practice in the private rented sector
• more information on landlords available for tenant verification and for local authorities to assist with strategic intervention and dissemination of information
• raised awareness by landlords and agents of their respective rights and responsibilities
• in turn, raised awareness by tenants of their respective rights and responsibilities.

With the introduction of this new legislation, landlords and agents must comply and become registered and licensed via Rent Smart Wales.
This will mean that:

• all private landlords who have a rental property in Wales must register themselves and the addresses of their rental properties in Wales
• If a landlord instructs an agent to manage the property, it is that agent who must become licensed
• in order to get a licence a person must be adequately trained, and also declare themselves ‘fit and proper’
• licensing training will be offered through Rent Smart Wales or people can choose to attend Rent Smart Wales approved training courses delivered by other bodies.

From 23 November 2016, enforcement powers -such as fixed penalty notices and prosecutions- will be introduced and landlords and agents found to be ignoring their new obligations will have action taken against them by local authorities and the licensing authority.
The new law will replace the existing voluntary Landlord Accreditation Wales scheme.