Irish Financial Woes Dominate Discussion, Country's #2 Insurer Taken Over Insurance Journal
31.03.10
The European Insurance Forum, held in Dublin Monday and Tuesday, was dominated by the fiscal crisis that has hit Ireland particularly hard. Although the country's insurance industry remains a bright spot in an otherwise fairly bleak landscape, even it is not immune.
As the conference was winding up on Tuesday afternoon, Ireland's financial regulator announced that it was taking over control of Quinn Insurance, Ireland's second largest insurance company, as its accounts showed a massive deficiency.
Ireland's banks lent massively during the boom times, funding both home and commercial building projects, which are now unable to pay back the loans. The government created the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) to deal with the problem, but as time goes by more and more "toxic assets" have come to light.
Anglo-Irish Bank is already under government control – following revelations of widespread accounting irregularities. The Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Bank (AIB), while still functioning independently, are under government supervision, and will need to raise additional capital – €7.4 billion ($9.97 billion) for AIB and €2.7 billion ($3.638 billion) for Bank of Ireland.
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Are Quinn Direct the answer to cheap car insurance for new drivers?
If you are still bouncing around with the ecstasy of just passing your driving test, then one thing that’s guaranteed to bring you back to earth is your car insurance quote. Welcome to the world of sky-high premiums and price comparison websites, and it’s all because ‘they’ think you’re going to crash as soon as you get your license through in the post. This might not be the case, but you are sadly fighting a battle that has already been won. Thankfully there are some new insurance companies out there who take pity on the rookies. Like Ryan Air did with cheap flights, the Irish have done it again with cheap car insurance.
Quinn Direct have been going since 1996 from their home in Ireland. They are part of the bigger Quinn Group, with Chairman Sean Quinn at the helm, whose services range from industrial supplies, such as radiators and cement, to health and car insurance. They expanded in the last few years to cover customers all over the UK and have grown rapidly since crossing the Irish Sea. But what do they actually offer and is there a catch?
Some of the benefits include: free breakdown cover, low claims excess, monthly payment plans, named driver experience discount for first time customers, possible courtesy car (although unlikely in most cases), and, if you plump for the premium policy, personal accident and medical cover. But then a lot of these things are quite standard with car insurance companies so what makes Quinn Direct so special?
They are one of the cheapest for new drivers without a no-claims bonus and for many people that's enough. They take into account the Pass Plus driving qualification too, as a way of reducing your premiums. Unlike a lot of telephone systems, customers with Quinn Direct have found it quite easy and quick to speak to a real human being on the help and sales line. They don’t always offer the special extras in their packages, and a few customers have had to threaten writing a letter to the Insurance Ombudsman before they get their claims processed, but overall if you’re a new and young driver with a small car, then Quinn Direct is well worth a look.
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