Don’t Hesitate When Making An Insurance Claim

Posted by admin

October 2, 2008

More and more people are complaining to the Financial Ombudsman regarding claims on their insurance policies. There appears to be some confusion about what exactly is covered in a policy and how a claim should be made.

According to the Daily Mail, here are some tips to help ensure your insurance claim goes smoothly:

Car Insurance Claims

Immediately call 999 if you, or someone else, have been injured or there is a road traffic danger. Also, if you experience a hit and run or the driver is intoxicated, call 999 straight away.
Avoid claiming it was your fault in an incident. Do not offer to pay for damages. Leave this to your insurer and if the other person tries to do the same, be sure to tell your insurer.
Be calm and write down the time and date of the incident as well as any names, addresses, phone numbers of those involved, including witnesses.
Ask the other driver for their car insurance details as they are required by law to share this information with you.
Grab your mobile phone and take snap shots of the scene, the vehicles involved, etc. in the event the other driver tries to shift blame.
Write down as much information as possible whilst everything is fresh in your mind. This may include a sketch of the street layout, the weather conditions, if there were witnesses, where you and the other driver were before and after the accident, and so on. The point is to detail as much as possible while you can remember.
If police arrive at the scene be sure to ask for their names and ‘collar numbers’ so you can pass this information on to your insurer as well.
Don’t hesitate to inform your insurer immediately

Home Insurance Claims

If you suddenly experience a problem, like a leaky pipe, call your insurers straight away. Your instinct may be to call a plumber but your insurance firm may have a list of local emergency assistance companies who can get out to you very quickly.
Double check your policy to find out if any emergency assistance is covered.
Be sure you understand the conditions of your policy. For example, if your insurer says to submit claims within 48 hours, then you should heed this advice to the letter.
After emergency repairs are underway, take photos of the damage and provide as much detail as possible so your insurer can process your claim quickly.
When it comes to personal items be sure to save receipts in case you are asked to provide proof of purchase. If you own expensive or valuable items then double check your policy to see if they would be covered.
Avoid over exaggeration of damage to your home or belongings. Intentionally falsified information could lead to a full rejection of the claim.

Travel Insurance Claims

Be sure to tell your travel insurance provider up front about any health issues, including those that require medication. In the short term you could be paying more but if you need to make a claim and you did not mention pre-existing conditions then your claim could be rejected.
Make sure your travel insurer offers a 24 hour emergency line and keep this number handy
If a theft occurs be sure to report it to local police within 24 hours. This record will help you in your claim. If you wait til you arrive back home it could be too late to receive compensation.
In the event something happens whilst staying at a hotel for example, you may need a letter from them to corroborate your story.
Be sure to write down what happened, the circumstances, where you were, at what time, etc. Did you take precautions to avoid this loss? If so, let your insurer know you were acting responsibly.
Be aware of any excess you must pay when making a claim. If your loss is less than your excess you may just want to avoid making a claim at all.

Remember, you have a right to complain about rejected claims from your insurer. Simply contact the Financial Ombudsman Service at 0845 080 1800 or send them an email at complaint.info@ financial-ombudsman.org.uk

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