Calls to helpline more than double

Calls to Norwich Union's pre-underwriting helpline for protection business increased at an exponential rate between 2006 and 2008, says the provider. Since it was launched in September 2006, the helpline has received over 31,000 enquiries. Less than 10,000 of these were in 2007, the provider says, with the number increasing to just under 20,000 in 2008. Norwich Union said that it expected the numbers to continue at this increased rate throughout the rest of the year.