What was Ireland like before the insurance lobby became so powerful?

Ubbquittious · 11-05-2018 11:34AM #1

They really have pulled a fast one on us when they opened virtually every person in Ireland to unlimited liability for any potential mishap that can be tied back to them in some way.

Was there a sick-house full of people who were being left to rot because there was no multi-million pound compensations handed out to people who tripped and broke a leg?

Were there more unusual and powerful cars on the road before the insurance industry became the unofficial gatekeeper of what car you get to drive without spending megabucks in insurance?

Were there more market stalls and small businesses quickly set up off-the-cuff because you didn't first have to spend ages trying to prove to the insurance company that you were suitably qualified to run the said business?

Hector Bellend · 11-05-2018 11:41AM

We used to drink and drive and do stupid sh1t thats now covered by health and safety legislation

mikemac2 · 11-05-2018 11:43AM

ICI
PMPA
Quinn
I’m not sure about Setanta

Levies over decades to pay for these ^^^^

Beasty · 11-05-2018 11:47AM

Can't blame the insurers for doing their business. Think they would be delighted if claims came down resulting in lower premiums and arguably more profit for them.

It's the court process and risks of what appear to be totally disproportionate awards that drives this.

Captain Obvious · 11-05-2018 11:47AM

We all farted rainbows and drank Guinness from our home taps.

washman3 · 11-05-2018 11:49AM

Hector Bellend wrote: »

We used to drink and drive and do stupid sh1t thats now covered by health and safety legislation

And now we use mobile phones while driving and text while not looking at the road ahead, and a large percentage of the population thinks that's ok because 'shure they're all doing it'

Ya, we have really come a long way....;);)

Ubbquittious · 11-05-2018 11:49AM

Beasty wrote: »

Can't blame the insurers for doing their business. Think they would be delighted if claims came down resulting in lower premiums and arguably more profit for them.

It's the court process and risks of what appear to be totally disproportionate awards that drives this.

If claims are higher then the insurance industry as a whole is playing a bigger numbers game. All they have to do is keep their profits the same as a percentage in order to clean up

Also people won't bother buying insurance if the consequences for not having it are small

Hector Bellend · 11-05-2018 11:51AM

washman3 wrote: »

And now we use mobile phones while driving and text while not looking at the road ahead, and a large percentage of the population thinks that's ok because 'shure they're all doing it'

Ya, we have really come a long way....;);)

Indeed, this generation has also introduced drug driving as a new offence.

jimgoose · 11-05-2018 11:54AM

You mightn't believe this, but when I was 17 motor insurance was just as big and as limiting an issue, if not more so, than it is for youngsters nowadays.

Grab All Association · 11-05-2018 11:58AM

washman3 wrote: »

And now we use mobile phones while driving and text while not looking at the road ahead, and a large percentage of the population thinks that's ok because 'shure they're all doing it'

Ya, we have really come a long way....;);)

Only 1 ever recorded death in this country caused by a driver using a mobile phone. More people have died by lightning since 2002.

topper75 · 11-05-2018 11:59AM

washman3 wrote: »

And now we use mobile phones while driving and text while not looking at the road ahead, and a large percentage of the population thinks that's ok because 'shure they're all doing it'

Ya, we have really come a long way....;);)

Rife in the last few weeks from what I've happened to see out my particular windscreen.

I've love to tell those c units but I'm not a cop.

I'm not young but there definitely was a better Ireland back in my childhood in this insurance respect - a lot more community stuff organised as there was little red tape around things. Just more fun I suppose. We are never going back there though. There is no financial incentive to look after Joe Soap - but Joe Legal Eagle and his 'client' Johnny Scum have a gravy train rolling on it.

topper75 · 11-05-2018 12:02PM

Grab All Association wrote: »

Only 1 ever recorded death in this country caused by a driver using a mobile phone. More people have died by lightning since 2002.

Key word bolded for you.

SEPT 23 1989 · 11-05-2018 12:05PM

jimgoose wrote: »

You mightn't believe this, but when I was 17 motor insurance was just as big and as limiting an issue, if not more so, than it is for youngsters nowadays.

3200 irish pounds to drive a 1 litre when i started

washman3 · 11-05-2018 12:13PM

Grab All Association wrote: »

Only 1 ever recorded death in this country caused by a driver using a mobile phone. More people have died by lightning since 2002.

Did you get those statistics from Tony O'Brien from the HSE....
Right so, everything is grand.;)

Ubbquittious · 11-05-2018 12:18PM

jimgoose wrote: »

You mightn't believe this, but when I was 17 motor insurance was just as big and as limiting an issue, if not more so, than it is for youngsters nowadays.

There was a time back in the day when you could legally drive a car without insurance just as there was a time before the occupiers liablity act that opened the door for people suing you for their own trips and falls. Were things really that bad then?

jimgoose · 11-05-2018 12:52PM

Ubbquittious wrote: »

There was a time back in the day when you could legally drive a car without insurance just as there was a time before the occupiers liablity act that opened the door for people suing you for their own trips and falls. Were things really that bad then?

Of course not! People watched what they were doing, looked where they were going, respected other people's premises and property, and in most particular made sure to drink at least a gallon of porter before getting into a car, to relax them and improve the driving experience. Happy fuckin' days, bah! :cool:

hightower1 · 11-05-2018 12:56PM

Started driving at 21, bought a 1.3ltr for 600eur... cheapest quote was (wait for it) FOUR THOUSAND EURO!

Needed it for work so paid up, dropped to 3000 the next year and I felt like I won the lottery :-D

(For the record, that was 12 years ago)

jimgoose · 11-05-2018 12:58PM

hightower1 wrote: »

Started driving at 21, bought a 1.3ltr for 600eur... cheapest quote was (wait for it) FOUR THOUSAND EURO!

Needed it for work so paid up, dropped to 3000 the next year and I felt like I won the lottery :-D

(For the record, that was 12 years ago)

2006, eh? That was the year I bought a 3-litre Jaaaaag (still have it) and was somewhat miffed when my premium went from (IIRC) €550 to over €800. :pac:

Ubbquittious · 11-05-2018 12:59PM

hightower1 wrote: »

Started driving at 21, bought a 1.3ltr for 600eur... cheapest quote was (wait for it) FOUR THOUSAND EURO!

Needed it for work so paid up, dropped to 3000 the next year and I felt like I won the lottery :-D

(For the record, that was 12 years ago)

Things were bad in the early 2000s but before that we didn't have this codology of thousands of pounds for insurance at all.

Richard Hillman · 11-05-2018 01:01PM

donegaLroad · 11-05-2018 01:03PM

Ubbquittious wrote: »

They really have pulled a fast one on us when they opened virtually every person in Ireland to unlimited liability for any potential mishap that can be tied back to them in some way.

Was there a sick-house full of people who were being left to rot because there was no multi-million pound compensations handed out to people who tripped and broke a leg?

Were there more unusual and powerful cars on the road before the insurance industry became the unofficial gatekeeper of what car you get to drive without spending megabucks in insurance?

Were there more market stalls and small businesses quickly set up off-the-cuff because you didn't first have to spend ages trying to prove to the insurance company that you were suitably qualified to run the said business?

Insurance companies are private, for-profit companies. Car insurance is compulsory in Ireland.

Its like shooting fish in a barrel for the insurance companies, and the only way is up... so expect further hefty rises.

jimgoose · 11-05-2018 01:15PM

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

3200 irish pounds to drive a 1 litre when i started

What year was that S, out of curiosity?

11-05-2018 01:48PM

Ubbquittious wrote: »

If claims are higher then the insurance industry as a whole is playing a bigger numbers game. All they have to do is keep their profits the same as a percentage in order to clean up

Also people won't bother buying insurance if the consequences for not having it are small

it's a lot more complicated than that, the central bank is now very very hot on insurance companies and their solvency so they have all had to build up their cash reserves.

if you have too much time on your hands and are having trouble sleeping, read up on the solvency II regulations that all european insurance companies have to adhere to.

If you can be bothered to read it, then it will explain why actuaries are not only exceptionally well paid people, but also incredibly dull.

hightower1 · 11-05-2018 01:52PM

jimgoose wrote: »

2006, eh? That was the year I bought a 3-litre Jaaaaag (still have it) and was somewhat miffed when my premium went from (IIRC) €550 to over €800. :pac:

Day-um, that offset all the free booze bought for you after forgetting you've left your wallet in your Jaaaag :cool:

jimgoose · 11-05-2018 01:53PM

hightower1 wrote: »

Day-um, that offset all the free booze bought for you after forgetting you've left your wallet in your Jaaaag :cool:

Exactly. Hell upon the Earth.

SEPT 23 1989 · 11-05-2018 03:22PM

jimgoose wrote: »

What year was that S, out of curiosity?

1999 I think

Barry Badrinath · 11-05-2018 03:48PM

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

3200 irish pounds to drive a 1 litre when i started

Ditto in 2001, ridiculous it was!

ohnonotgmail · 11-05-2018 04:26PM

Ubbquittious wrote: »

There was a time back in the day when you could legally drive a car without insurance just as there was a time before the occupiers liablity act that opened the door for people suing you for their own trips and falls. Were things really that bad then?

Given that car insurance has been mandatory since 1933 i dont think are many around who remember legally driving without insurance,

XLR 8 · 11-05-2018 04:53PM

Ubbquittious wrote: »

They really have pulled a fast one on us when they opened virtually every person in Ireland to unlimited liability for any potential mishap that can be tied back to them in some way.

Was there a sick-house full of people who were being left to rot because there was no multi-million pound compensations handed out to people who tripped and broke a leg?

Were there more unusual and powerful cars on the road before the insurance industry became the unofficial gatekeeper of what car you get to drive without spending megabucks in insurance?

Were there more market stalls and small businesses quickly set up off-the-cuff because you didn't first have to spend ages trying to prove to the insurance company that you were suitably qualified to run the said business?

Yes ðŸ˜€

professore · 11-05-2018 04:57PM

Ubbquittious wrote: »

Things were bad in the early 2000s but before that we didn't have this codology of thousands of pounds for insurance at all.

Back at the end of the 80s it was £2k+ when £2k was a hell of a lot more money than it is now.

cantdecide · 11-05-2018 04:57PM

jimgoose wrote: »

You mightn't believe this, but when I was 17 motor insurance was just as big and as limiting an issue, if not more so, than it is for youngsters nowadays.

I started driving back in 2000 and my first insurance when ran through a reverse inflation calculator and converted from IR£ to € comes to over €7,500 for a 1.4 fiat and paid it because I basically had no choice. My one and only alternative was almost double.

That doesn't mean I don't have pity for youngsters these days. It's still way too high and as far as I'm concerned, hitting young people with car insurance of thousands is a form of age discrimination. They aren't allowed charge pensioners €7,500 for health insurance so why is it just fine the other way round?

What was Ireland like before the insurance lobby became so powerful?

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