If everything goes well, making an insurance claim is simple and
stress-free – especially if you take time to get all the details right.
This article takes you through the process of making an effective claim
on insurance like home, car and travel. A little further down you’ll
find more information on life and health insurance like private medical
insurance, income protection and critical illness cover.
Be prepared – keep good records
Being prepared means you keep everything you need to hand just in
case you need to make a claim. This means keeping receipts for the
things that are insured, and keeping your policy documents somewhere
safe.
If you’ve insured valuable objects it’s a good idea to take photographs showing their condition.
Say you have a burst pipe and you need it fixed right away. Some policies state that you have to use a workman approved by the insurance company. Don’t just call your usual plumber – look at your policy, check you’re covered for burst pipes, and then get someone out to fix it who meets the criteria set out in your policy. Sometimes the insurance company will make all the arrangements for you.
Make sure you know:
When you buy your insurance policy through a broker, they’ll often help you claim. They might offer advice and support, or work with your insurance company and get almost everything done for you.
Either way, it’s well worth giving them a call before you talk to your insurance company.
Be prepared – keep good records
If you’ve insured valuable objects it’s a good idea to take photographs showing their condition.
Your claim – step by step
Step 1 – Report it
If you’re claiming for something that has
been stolen or vandalised, you should always report the incident to the
police before doing anything else. Most policies have time limits for
you to report things to the police so do it straight away.
Step 2 – Check your policy
The
next step is so make sure you’re covered for whatever has happened, and
then check if there is a procedure you need to follow. Say you have a burst pipe and you need it fixed right away. Some policies state that you have to use a workman approved by the insurance company. Don’t just call your usual plumber – look at your policy, check you’re covered for burst pipes, and then get someone out to fix it who meets the criteria set out in your policy. Sometimes the insurance company will make all the arrangements for you.
Step 3 – Find all the documentation
Having everything to hand makes the whole process go more smoothly. You’ll need: - your policy document
- receipts for anything stolen or damaged
- reference numbers – for example if you filed a police report
Step 4 – Get the facts straight
Be clear about exactly what happened so you can tell your story
factually and consistently with no missing details or exaggeration. It’s
often best to write it down. Make sure you know:
- times and dates
- details of everyone involved (the other party in a car crash, perhaps, or the plumber that fixed your burst pipes)
- exactly what happened
- what you’re claiming for – how much money you expect to get
When you buy your insurance policy through a broker, they’ll often help you claim. They might offer advice and support, or work with your insurance company and get almost everything done for you.
Either way, it’s well worth giving them a call before you talk to your insurance company.
Step 6 – Call the insurance company’s helpline
To
make the claim itself, call the claims helpline for the insurance
company. This number will usually be listed on your policy document, and
on the insurer’s website. Be prepared to give all the details and
information you worked out in steps 3 and 4.