James Harris Investigations is celebrating 25 years in the Income Protection business. To mark this event we are proud to announce that we will provide 2 Free Desktop Investigations for every 3 Full Investigations of two days or more. In addition we have made a special reduction in the all inclusive prices for full investigations – See Fees Page.

Chairman & Managing Director, Jim Harris, commented “I wanted to mark our Silver Jubilee in the Income Protection business in a way that would help my long-term customers. I hope that the offer of free desktop investigations and the reduction in our fixed, all inclusive, prices for full investigations will be helpful”.

The new price structure is all inclusive for standard investigations. There will be additional charges for clients who require additional people or for work to be done at weekends or Bank Holidays which can be negotiated in advance.

For further details please contact Kay Ryan on 01235 519924 or at kryan@jhigroup.co.uk

JHI is pleased to be participating in the DISPA seminar to be held on 30th October 2007 at the Royal Institute of British Architects, Portland Place, London. The seminar is for claims assessors with between one and three years experience.

For further information please see the DISPA website www.dispa.org.uk or e-mail to enquiries@dispa.org.uk

JHI were the only UK delegates to attend the Dynamics of Disability Seminar in the USA in early March. The annual seminar has become recognised as the leading disability insurance event in the USA. It is clear that the US market faces many of the same challenges and opportunities as the UK market, particularly in the area of raising public awareness of the risk of long-term disability before retirement age and the financial consequences.

US insurers also face the same challenges when it comes to the management of claims and rehabilitation. We came accross a number of interesting services available in the USA including: -
• evidence based reviews of medical aspects of claims by expert doctors who will provide an analysis and recommendations; and
• evidence based disability duration guidelines available on paper, CDRom or online.
These services are widely used in the USA and can be available to UK insurers at reasonable cost.

If any of our clients would like to share the information we gathered in the USA we would be more than happy to arrange a meeting to discuss our findings further.

For further information please contact: -
Jim Harris - jharris@jhigroup.co.uk
David Pitcher - dpitcher @jhigroup.co.uk

We have become aware that at least one firm of enquiry agents operating in the Income Protection market makes use of electronic tracking devices. Such devices are a considerable advantage as the enquiry agent does not need to have visual contact to know where the vehicle is or where it has been.

While the use of such devices is legal we believe that the use of tracking devices might be considered disproportionate and attract criticism and adverse Press coverage if an enquiry agent working for an Income Protection Insurer was found to be using tracking devices. We have prepared a paper discussing the use of tracking devices and would appreciate indusry views.

Please us the “Contact Us“ facility to request a copy of the discussion paper.

Since the merger of Health Claims Bureau and James Harris Investigations in 1997 each company has retained its original brand. The Health Claims Bureau Group is pleased to announce the harmonising of the Groups brand to demonstrate the bond between the group of companies.

We have adopted a new logo, featured in this website, which will include the company name. Each component of the group will also have a “house colour” as below: -
• Health Claims Bureau Group
• Health Claims Bureau
• James Harris Investigations
• Health Claims Bureau (Ireland)
that will be featured on each company’s stationery and in the websites.

Commenting on the changes HCB Group Managing Director, Jim Harris, said “ I am pleased to introduce the new brand to reflect that our group strives to continue to improve the quality of its services and facilities available to clients”.