No-Hassle Insurance Claims Management
The following article is from the Which? magazine, published in May 2015.
The acid test of an insurer is how it handles your claim. Find out which treat you fairly, and which fight you all the way.
Some insurers can turn a calamity into a nightmare. If you’re claiming on your insurance, you’ve most likely already had a bad experience such as a car accident or a burglary. So unsympathetic staff, frustrating delays, shoddy repairs and miserly payouts can add insult to injury.
In our latest survey of members who’ve made a claim in the past two years, one in five were less than satisfied with their claims experience. One member told us he was left homeless for a year after a burst water main flooded his property; his insurer refused to pay for alternative accommodation and halved his claim. He describes his ongoing fight for a fair settlement as ‘a traumatic experience’.
Industry figures show that more than 4.5m car and home insurance claims were made in 2014. In our survey, 6% of car and 14% of home claims were fully or partially rejected – some undoubtedly for the right reasons. However, six in ten of those whose claims had been rejected didn’t take further action, mainly because they didn’t think it was worth the hassle or didn’t know what to do.
How to avoid claims hassle
Our research identified five common problems in the claims-handling process. Follow our tips on how best to avoid or deal with them.
- Delays
PROBLEM: Insurers are slow to acknowledge claims, respond to communications, carry out investigations, or reach decisions.
“Long delays, slow response to questions, zero feedback on progress.”
ACTION: Pick an insurer that scores highly for overall claims satisfaction, speed and customer service. Don’t be afraid to speak up if you’re unhappy about delays.
- Repairs
PROBLEM: Repairs that are poor quality or take too long to deal with. Frustration with the inability to choose your own tradesperson.
“(Insurer) arranged the repair at an incompetent garage who gave very poor service.”
ACTION: Most insurers have a panel of tried and tested tradespeople. Speak to your insurer if you’re unhappy with the chosen trader, or would prefer to use your own. It should be prepared to negotiate. You will probably be asked to obtain quotes for the work.
- Proof of claim
PROBLEM: The insurer will want evidence that the loss occurred, plus proof of ownership. But this can lead to disputes. If the insurer suspects fraud, this can lead to stressful investigations.
“I was made to feel like a criminal when I had been the victim.”
ACTION: Respondents were asked for proof in 81% of home insurance and 49% of car insurance claims. Keep receipts or invoices to prove ownership. Take photos of high-value items and any damage done. Report the incident to policy and get a crime number.
- Value of settlement
PROBLEM: Disagreements over the amount that the insurer agrees to pay out for a claim. Complaints that vouchers had been given instead of cash for items such as jewelry.
“They offered only £4,000 on a whole house of contents.”
ACTION: Keep a file of receipts for high-value items to prove their worth. Get an up-to-date valuation for antiques. Look out for policies that offer ‘new for old’ replacements.
- Policy small print
PROBLEM: Claims can be rejected if the policy doesn’t cover the incident being claimed for, or you haven’t complied with a policy condition.
“The rules they referred to in the policy document were very vague.”
ACTION: Before you buy a policy, check the details carefully so you know what it does and doesn’t cover. Most place responsibility on the policyholder to take all reasonable steps to prevent loss. For example, most car insurers won’t pay out if your car is stolen because you left the keys in the ignition. Watch out for single-item limits for unspecified valuables on home contents insurance policies, as items above that value won’t be covered. Choosing a Which? Recommended Provider will ensure you get good cover because Which? experts have analysed the policy and rated it highly.
