London and Country Mortgages has signed a deal to integrate the UnderwriteMe comparison service into its sales process.
This will allow L&C intermediaries get underwritten “buy now” prices, as well as simple quick quotes, and allows applications to be made to a range of insurers using one common application process.
The move means that all 300 of the firm’s mortgage and protection advisers will be using UnderwriteMe to offer protection to their clients, after it goes live in around six months time.
Michael Aldridge, sales director for London and Country, says that the decision to re-engineer the existing protection process was not one that was taken lightly.
“However, being able to quote, underwrite and apply through one process is a real market first and something we cannot ignore.”
Phil Jeynes, head of sales and marketing at UnderwriteMe, added that to have the firm make UnderwriteMe an integral part of their sales process is another step forward for the market as a whole.
The comparison service pilot started in August with protection specialists LifeSearch and will be on general release to directly authorised intermediaries in 2016.
Currently, seven insurers are committed to being represented on the service: LV, Royal London, Canada Life, Partnership, Scottish Friendly, Exeter Family Friendly and Old Mutual Wealth.
peter.walker@ft.com
