Economic downturn leads to claim payout battle for brokers

According to research from the British Insurance Brokers' Association (Biba), 67% of brokers had to get tough with insurers to get claims paid in the current economic climate due to stricter policy interpretations and anti-fraud systems - a 10% increase on last year. In addition, 93% of intermediaries said they regularly negotiated up to a 20% uplift on claims settlements.

In response, a spokesman for the ABI said: "While insurers are looking to reduce fraud (to protect their honest customers -