New Division off to solid start for 2009
22/09/2009 12:00:00 by Marketing
Direct Group Investigation Services (DGIS) are pleased to announce that budgeted savings for insurers for the period January to August 2009, were well ahead of plan. The savings were achieved across Travel, Property, Protection and Motor claims, with impressive counter fraud performance on work where DGIS was directly instructed by external clients, with activity continuing to grow on the back of this performance.
John Baldock, Head of Investigation Services at Direct Group, commented “This demonstrates the success of the Direct Group’s counter fraud programme across all of our business lines. All claims handlers have contributed by referring suspicious claims activity to their Counter Fraud Champions (CFC) and then onto the DGIS investigation specialists.
DGIS have made significant savings on both large individual cases and many smaller examples.
“The team has successfully demonstrated that irrespective of claim size, substantial savings can be made by applying techniques suitable to the case in question and with appropriate consideration given to cost, thus ensuring that there is a clear benefit in deploying our services.”
“The team are committed to implementing effective investigation solutions on complex and technical claims demonstrated by the above success.” said John Baldock.
For more information, please contact John Baldock at Direct Group on 0751 5975696 or johnbaldock@directgroup.co.uk
Fraud screening reveals travel blues
01/07/2009 09:00:00 by Marketing
EMB announces new venture with Direct Group to spectacular effect on travel claims investigations
EMB has worked with Direct Group to produce and launch Validate, a new claims fraud screening software package which is demonstrating the extent to which the financial climate in the UK is taking its toll on holiday plans and spending.
“Following the introduction of EMB Validate software, we are already recording average savings of £400 per claim on travel claims. This represents an excellent indication of the further success we expect as we expand the service across our other product lines” said John Baldock, Head of Investigation Services at Direct Group.
Direct Group Investigation Services (DGIS) has begun using the EMB Validate software, which uses criteria-based content analysis (CBCA) to assess the plausibility of statements, not only on pre-selected travel claims but also on wedding, motor, creditor, and personal lines property claims. EMB Validate runs on a secure web portal and is being used to assist and support Direct Group’s specialist investigators to conduct interactive telephone interviews, thus providing a prompt and more cost-effective solution in combating fraud on lower value general insurance claims.
DGIS’ specialist investigators provide a range of investigation solutions from technical desk based assessments, including interactive telephone interviews, to a wide range of focussed field investigations, all of which are supported by a comprehensive range of research and analysis tools.
“In working with EMB to create Validate, we have a vital addition to the DGIS investigation tool kit which allows us to offer a unique and integrated claim solution, to our clients,” said Derek Coles, CEO of Direct Group
He added that the “EMB software uniquely produces a print out of the telephone interview with a risk assessment rating and score to support ease of decision making. This has helped to reduce the life cycle of claims and cut the cost of investigations.”
EMB Validate works by providing a scored and consistent scripting routine for identifying potential inconsistencies in claimants’ statements such as the structure in which they recall events, superfluous or excessive details and the context in which they put the incident or incidents behind the claim. This is based on academic methods that were originally applied to test the credibility of child statements in sexual abuse cases.
Mark Jones, a financial crime consultant at EMB, said: “Validate permits genuine claimants to be identified and reimbursed more quickly. At the same time, it means that the efforts of Direct Group’s investigation team can be directed far more cost-effectively.”
On average, he said that the automated questioning structure should reduce call handling times by 30% while engagement rates for investigation teams could typically be cut by 25%.
Notes to Editors
About EMB
Established in 1993, EMB (www.emb.com) is a rapidly growing international consultancy firm specialising in non-life insurance. Covering personal lines, commercial insurance and the London Market, its services include Business Consultancy, Actuarial Consultancy, Investment Consultancy, Professional Development, Marketing Sciences and Software. EMB pioneered the development and use of high performance actuarial software using modern desktop PCs. The range is unrivalled, making it feasible to perform tasks that would otherwise be impossible, impractical or hugely time-consuming. Headquartered in the UK, EMB employs more than 300 people around the globe covering Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe, Middle East & Africa with clients that include 28 of the top 30 non-life companies in the world.
About Direct Group
Direct Group are a leading Insurance Solutions Provider operating within the UK Financial Services Marketplace delivering insurance products and services downstream to Brokers, Intermediataries, Retailers, and Finance Companies as well as upstream, by providing bespoke outsourcing services to a range of Insurers. Since their foundation in 1990 Direct Group has expanded its services across a range of product areas, including: Motor, Household, Casualty and Life, providing their clients with an end-to-end service provision from point of sale solutions through to administration, premium collection, claims handling and fraud investigation services. Recent acquisitions have brought further expansion in Liability, Travel and Event claims.
For more information, please contact:
Graham Whitehead at EMB:
Tel: 01372 751060
Email: graham.whitehead@emb.com
Web: http://www.emb.com
John Baldock at Direct Group:
Tel: 0751 5975696
John Baldock joins Direct Group as Head of Fraud Investigation and Recovery Services
14/04/2008 09:00:00 by Marketing
As part of our ongoing programme for growth, Direct Group is pleased to announce that John Baldock will be joining the company from 1 May 2008 as Head of Fraud Investigation and Recovery Services.
Mr Baldock said: “There is an attractive vibrancy and energy about everything to do with Direct Group. To work in an entrepreneurial environment with resources to support business plans that encourage and support the development of the existing Investigation and Recovery Services both development and gives me a real buzz. There is massive demand across all product lines within the insurance market for the specialist handling of those claims where risk indicators have been triggered. Direct Group believes it is important to have a full range of counter fraud measures so that we can deploy the appropriate desk-based investigator or field investigator solution for each incident. We have a large national field team of specialist investigators from combining resource with our business partners. Direct Group will support our specialist investigators with access to the best research, data matching and analysis tools, as well as from fraud data sharing through membership of industry groups including IFIG and CIFAS. Recovery work has different challenges but has a natural affinity with Investigation Services. Key to success is to identify the right of recovery and its financial value as soon as is possible. There is already effective process in place where the risk is insured. Research helps us to save funds by only pursuing those instances with high potential for a successful recovery from first or third party individuals or businesses that have the ability to pay them. Cost effective success rates, particularly on low value claims, can be anticipated from appropriate early and positive action by our team.”
Derek Coles CEO of Direct Group said; “Direct Group is a long-established and successful business that is highly regarded by the partners we work with. We are involved in all aspects of insurance activities and in every insurance sector from property and casualty, to life and motor. John’s appointment will strengthen our counter fraud and recovery capability.”
John Baldock added: “It is my aim to work with our partners to add specialist investigation and recovery products to further enhance the reputation of Direct Group."
Notes to editors
John Baldock was formerly Director of Investigation Services at GAB Robins UK Ltd, where he worked for 24 years. He is a well known and respected counter fraud specialist in the insurance industry. He is a member of the CILA Anti Fraud Special Interest Group and has worked with the ABI and The Department of Justice on the investigation of arson fires and other Insurance Investigation matters. John was the lead investigator on the often quoted insurance fraud case M&W Khan-v- Direct Line and on the case of R -v- Chan Miah a fraudulent arson at a tandoori restaurant, which determined the admissibility of civil evidence in criminal prosecutions. He can be contacted at: johnbaldock@directgroup.co.uk or by telephone on: 01302 380302
For further information please contact Hilary Thompson, Communications Officer, at: hilarythompson@directgroup.co.uk
