ICBC uses social media to solicit public input about rate-setting proposals

The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) is getting social about gathering customer and stakeholder feedback on how it sets basic insurance coverage.

Twitter was employed from 11:30 am to 2 pm on June 6 to allow the public to offer input as part of ICBC’s six-week consultation. David Clancy, a director in the ICBC’s insurance division, was on hand to answer questions. The Twitter chat was hosted by ICBC’s Twitter account, @icbc. Twitter users either sent their questions to the ICBC account or included by using the hastag #askicbc.

ICBC recently presented various options for moving toward a pricing system that focuses more on drivers and their driving records, rather than on a vehicle’s claims history. After changes are made, about two-thirds of a drivers could pay less than they do today and about one-third of drivers could pay more, notes a statement from the ICBC.

“We want to make things more hassle-free and transparent for our customers, and that includes more choice in how they deal with ICBC,” says Steve Crombie, vice president of corporate communications and stakeholder engagement at ICBC, pointing out that more than half of Canadians are using social media.