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Direct Life & Pension Services Ltd is a subsidiary of the Skipton Group which is wholly owned by Skipton Building Society. Skipton are not an insurer, which means they can act impartial in such matters. They have assets of around £9.9b and have been around since 1853, all of which means that Skipton Group is able to negotiate some of the best terms available for it’s customers.
As you would imagine the Group has contacts with virtually every financial services business in the UK . In particular Direct Life uses around a dozen or so different life insurers day in, day out, to form probably the most competitive life, critical illness and income protection quote and apply service available.
Click below to learn more about the insurance companies we can use.
AEGON Scottish Equitable
AXA Sun Life
Bright Grey
Friends Provident
Legal & General
Liverpool Victoria
AXA Sun Life
Bright Grey
Friends Provident
Legal & General
Liverpool Victoria
Norwich Union
Prudential
Royal Liver Assurance
Scottish Provident
Scottish Widows
Standard Life
NEWS
AXA 'to scrap ongoing duty of disclosure'
27 November 2007 16:25:16
AXA may follow in Legal and General's footsteps and eliminate the ongoing duty of disclosure from its protection products, it has been claimed.
According to IFAonline.co.uk, the insurance provider would aim to make applications easier to complete by removing the requirement.
"We have not decided whether we definitely will be scrapping the ongoing duty of disclosure but it is something we are exploring," Graham Harvey, AXA's protection managing director, told the website.
"There is a drive across the industry to make things simpler and this is part of that; it is a possibility for us."
Since the beginning of last month, individuals seeking life cover, critical illness cover or income protection from Legal and General have not had to inform the firm of any change to their health or circumstances before a policy starts.
In abolishing the rule, the insurer sought to ensure that its existing and future customers do not need to worry that a future claim may be turned down because they failed to meet the policy requirement.
AXA also recently removed the need for automatic general practitioner report (GPR) limits as a response to feedback from financial advisers regarding the lengthy delays caused by obtaining them.
Direct Life and Pensions Services Ltd are one of the UK's leading providers of life insurance, term life assurance, mortgage protection, critical illness and life insurance advice online
AXA scraps GP report limits
06 November 2007 15:04:56
People under the age of 45 applying for life insurance or critical illness cover with AXA will no longer have automatic general practitioner report (GPR) limits.
According to the provider, the change is a response to feedback from financial advisers regarding the lengthy delays caused by obtaining the reports.
In addition, automatic GPR limits for under-45s' income protection applications will increase to £50,000.
The insurer has outlined its aim to make greater use of nurse screenings or blood tests, which are on average two weeks quicker than a GPR.
"Our market-leading tele-underwriting process means the need for GPRs is significantly reduced and in the light of lengthy delays and spiralling costs of GPRs we've decided to break away from their automatic use for younger ages," explained Mike Taylor, chief underwriter at AXA.
"For younger lives, especially those who do not have any medical problems, a screening provides an underwriter with a better view of their health including build, habits and blood pressure," he continued.
All life insurance products offered by fellow provider Legal and General were recently made exempt from the ongoing duty of disclosure the company described as "often seen as a burden."
Direct Life and Pensions Services Ltd are one of the UK's leading providers of life insurance, term life assurance, mortgage protection, critical illness and life insurance advice online
Standard Life confirms possible takeover bid
16 October 2007 16:43:54
Life insurance provider Standard Life has confirmed that it is in talks to take over rival firm Resolution.
The Scottish insurer said any offer would be "mainly in cash" with the rest in shares.
A deadline of a week on Thursday has been set for both Standard Life and fellow life cover company Pearl to announce their bid intentions.
Meanwhile, life insurance and critical illness firm Resolution is going ahead with its planned merger with Friends Provident, which will form Friends Financial.
"Our focus is on completing the merger. We will not be distracted from this unless a very compelling offer is made for Resolution," commented Clive Cowdery, the firm's executive chairman.
A Standard Life spokesperson pointed out that a merger would enable the company to "accelerate the rate of its own organic growth" by expanding its product range.
The life cover provider recently overhauled its income protection plan, increasing the maximum benefit on it from £125,000 to £150,000.
Previous medical exclusions for the cover such as pregnancy and HIV were removed to allow more consumers to protect their family's future.
Direct Life and Pensions Services Ltd are one of the UK's leading providers of life insurance, term life assurance, mortgage protection, critical illness and life insurance advice online.
27 November 2007 16:25:16
AXA may follow in Legal and General's footsteps and eliminate the ongoing duty of disclosure from its protection products, it has been claimed.
According to IFAonline.co.uk, the insurance provider would aim to make applications easier to complete by removing the requirement.
"We have not decided whether we definitely will be scrapping the ongoing duty of disclosure but it is something we are exploring," Graham Harvey, AXA's protection managing director, told the website.
"There is a drive across the industry to make things simpler and this is part of that; it is a possibility for us."
Since the beginning of last month, individuals seeking life cover, critical illness cover or income protection from Legal and General have not had to inform the firm of any change to their health or circumstances before a policy starts.
In abolishing the rule, the insurer sought to ensure that its existing and future customers do not need to worry that a future claim may be turned down because they failed to meet the policy requirement.
AXA also recently removed the need for automatic general practitioner report (GPR) limits as a response to feedback from financial advisers regarding the lengthy delays caused by obtaining them.
Direct Life and Pensions Services Ltd are one of the UK's leading providers of life insurance, term life assurance, mortgage protection, critical illness and life insurance advice online
06 November 2007 15:04:56
People under the age of 45 applying for life insurance or critical illness cover with AXA will no longer have automatic general practitioner report (GPR) limits.
According to the provider, the change is a response to feedback from financial advisers regarding the lengthy delays caused by obtaining the reports.
In addition, automatic GPR limits for under-45s' income protection applications will increase to £50,000.
The insurer has outlined its aim to make greater use of nurse screenings or blood tests, which are on average two weeks quicker than a GPR.
"Our market-leading tele-underwriting process means the need for GPRs is significantly reduced and in the light of lengthy delays and spiralling costs of GPRs we've decided to break away from their automatic use for younger ages," explained Mike Taylor, chief underwriter at AXA.
"For younger lives, especially those who do not have any medical problems, a screening provides an underwriter with a better view of their health including build, habits and blood pressure," he continued.
All life insurance products offered by fellow provider Legal and General were recently made exempt from the ongoing duty of disclosure the company described as "often seen as a burden."
Direct Life and Pensions Services Ltd are one of the UK's leading providers of life insurance, term life assurance, mortgage protection, critical illness and life insurance advice online
16 October 2007 16:43:54
Life insurance provider Standard Life has confirmed that it is in talks to take over rival firm Resolution.
The Scottish insurer said any offer would be "mainly in cash" with the rest in shares.
A deadline of a week on Thursday has been set for both Standard Life and fellow life cover company Pearl to announce their bid intentions.
Meanwhile, life insurance and critical illness firm Resolution is going ahead with its planned merger with Friends Provident, which will form Friends Financial.
"Our focus is on completing the merger. We will not be distracted from this unless a very compelling offer is made for Resolution," commented Clive Cowdery, the firm's executive chairman.
A Standard Life spokesperson pointed out that a merger would enable the company to "accelerate the rate of its own organic growth" by expanding its product range.
The life cover provider recently overhauled its income protection plan, increasing the maximum benefit on it from £125,000 to £150,000.
Previous medical exclusions for the cover such as pregnancy and HIV were removed to allow more consumers to protect their family's future.
Direct Life and Pensions Services Ltd are one of the UK's leading providers of life insurance, term life assurance, mortgage protection, critical illness and life insurance advice online.