Stop the profiteering

Recently, the Financial Services Authority revealed that it is undertaking 'a major project' to review the sale of payment protection insurance, following a barrage of criticism from the press, consumer groups and The Financial Ombudsman Service.

As an insurance broker specialising in the sale of payment protection insurance, I do not consider this to be a problem, nor do I fear its consequences. Quite the contrary, I see it as analogous to the Factories Act, which was introduced in Victorian times to protect legitimate businesses from competitors that were willing to put children up chimneys.

Today, by forcing lenders to clean up their act and stop the outrageous profiteering from consumers, the FSA will provide a level playing field for brokers. They can do this by offering good-value products and, in turn, can claim a share of the £5bn in annual commissions that are available in the UK from payment protection insurance.

- To air your views and comments, please write to the editor, Richard Adams, at: Professional Broking, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX or email: richard.adams@incisivemedia.com

The author of the Letter of the Month (as selected by the editor) will win a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Yellow Label Champagne.