If you feel you have nowhere to turn with business insurance problems, it might be time to contact the ombudsman.
Remember to remain calm when calling your insurance broker so that your claim is taken seriously and that you can explain the complaint in question more effectively.
Here are five common questions to ask your short-term insurer about your business insurance issues:
- Is the ombudsman’s ruling cast in stone and are you bound to the decisions made? The answer is that consumers are bound by the ruling of the Ombud but consumers can take further legal action against their insurance company if the ruling of the Ombud is unsatisfactory.
- Is the underwriter bound? The underwriter is bound by the ruling of the Ombud and needs to follow this course of action.
- Is approaching the Ombud and lodging a complaint a costly affair? The Ombud is 100% free and is a service for all those that feel they need to go a step further.
- What is the responsibility of the insured? There is no one size fits all – and no policy will be able to cover absolutely everything when things go wrong. When it comes to business insurance cover it will be up to you to choose the right short-term insurer, to update your asset register on a regular basis and find out exactly what is covered and what is not.
- How long will it take for you to get answers and closure? The average amount of time to get results regarding disputes takes anything from three to four months, but as with all things in life it all depends on the issues involved and how complicated the matter is.
Disagreements between you and your short-term business insurance broker:
Should you and your business insurance service provider have a dispute, it is a great idea to put all the grievances in writing and ensure that you furnish all the facts and problems clearly and in chronological order.
Don’t forget to supply all written complains with your insurance policy number and your ID number.
If you are complaining verbally over the phone, it is a good idea to make notes of the date and time of the call as well as the person’s name so that you have clear reference for these.
You and the Ombud:
The moment you have a problem or disagreement with your business insurance company is not the time to approach the Ombud.
You have to prove that you have tried to resolve the business insurance issues at hand and if you have a broker the first point of entry in resolving any issues through your broker.
If after all these steps have been taken and there is still no resolution, then it is time to contact your insurance Ombud.
You will need to fill out an application form so that the Ombud will be able to tackle the problem efficiently.
Once argument has been heard from both sides, a ruling is then made.
If you have come to the end of your tether regarding business insurance claims, it is time to take it up with the Ombudsman.
