Mass "cautiously" welcomes transport committee report
The Motor Accident Solicitors Society said it cautiously welcomes the Transport Select Committee's follow-up report on the cost of motor insurance published today, but warned that there is still a long way to go in "dispelling the myths" about whiplash claims and holding the insurance industry to account.
Donna Scully, MASS Chair, said: "We welcome the Committee’s efforts to understand this complicated industry in order to secure a better deal for consumers. And MASS is grateful to have had the opportunity to provide both oral and written evidence as part of the inquiry.
“We’re pleased that the Committee has called for stronger compliance with the existing data protection laws and penalties, which MASS has been campaigning for. But this requires firm action from the Government and regulators.”
She added: "Despite its best efforts, it is disappointing that the Committee has still not been able to extract a firm commitment from the Association of British Insurers that, after all the reforms, their members will reduce motor insurance premiums for consumers. We now urgently call upon Ministers to demand such a commitment.
“However, Mass are deeply concerned about the recommendations on whiplash. The issue isn’t just about fraudulent claimants. It is as much about insurers rushing to settle claims before they have seen medical reports. We strongly urge the Committee to look again at this issue in more detail and consider the full range of available evidence, before jumping to a potentially premature and highly damaging conclusion.”
Meanwhile, Adrian Brown (pictured), chief executive, UK & Western Europe, said that without an outright ban on referral fees across the board for all parties, accompanied by a proportionate reduction in cost of credit hire, nothing will change.
He said: “We are disappointed that the Committee seems to have targeted their criticism at insurers rather than tackle the dysfunctional nature of the system, which has driven the increase in premiums.”
Original articles: http://claimscouncil.org/news/2012/01/12/mass-cautiously-welcomes-transport-committee-report and http://www.postonline.co.uk/
