KNYSNA NEWS - A local insurance brokerage has shared five easy tips on how to get your claim processed.
“At present there’s incredible pressure on the system. A lack of resources means frustrations are mounting and tempers are flaring. As an industry, we must work together to communicate with our clients and to process their claims as quickly and as efficiently as possible,” says Dan Payton, CEO of Garden Route Insurance Brokers.
Losing your home and personal belongings to a fire is a devastating experience. The last thing you want is your insurer giving you a hard time when you claim.
1. Claim as soon as possible
Call your broker immediately and get the process started. If you don't act fast, you could fall to the bottom of a list of policyholders who have fire insurance claims, and it could be a long time before an assessor reaches you.
2. Secure your property
Your insurer expects you to take reasonable care of your property, which means securing your property from further damage:
• Cover holes in the walls and roof to protect the inside from the elements.
• Board up windows or fences to prevent looting.
• Move property at risk of further damage (eg. move furniture out of a boarded-up room).
3. Find temporary housing
For the next nine to 12 months, find a temporary place to stay and ask for an advance on your final claim settlement.
If you have suffered a total loss of your home, send a written request to your broker for financial assistance to obtain things like clothing, food and travel expenses. Also, send your broker a copy of your new lease or an invoice from your guesthouse. Your broker can use this information to claim up to 25% of the sum you’re insured for.
4. Make a list of everything
Start making a list of everything you lost as soon as you can and don’t throw anything away. It will be easier to prove that you genuinely lost the items if you hold on to them for an assessor to see – even if that means just having photographs. If you don’t have evidence, the insurance company may refuse to compensate you.
5. Get own repair, replacement quotes
Insurers will send out their own assessors. You don’t have to accept the figures they provide – should you disagree with the quotes your insurer provides, ask you broker if you are able to secure your own quotes for comparison purposes.
Processing insurance claims can be a frustrating and time-consuming exercise for both the insured and the insurer. It involves countless calls, emails, letters, and exchange of documents. Try to remain patient and allow the system to work for you.
For more information contact Michelle Tilburn on 081 324 4660 or michelle@suretimes.co.za.
ARTICLE: TEREASA DIAS
'We bring you the latest Knysna, Garden Route news'
