EMERGENCY NUMBERS | 0861 007 716 | 083 791 0121 leigh@leighgroup.co.za

7 Key Considerations When it Comes to short-term Insurance Claims

Nearly everyone has an insurance claim “nightmare” story, and it’s these stories and experiences that have given short-term insurance providers a bad rap. While we don’t deny that some insurance providers are merely “in it for the money”, we know that many negative experiences can be avoided by following a handful of simple insurance claim tips.

 

 

1. Be sure to claim in time

 

You normally have 30 days to make a claim with your insurer. Failure to do so may prejudice an insurer’s ability to assess your claim adequately, resulting in a rejection.

 

2. Keep salvage to get the most out of a pay-out

 

Salvage simply means that once a claim for a damaged item has been paid, the insurer takes ownership of the item. 

 

3. Avoid the rejection of a claim with routine maintenance

 

Policies generally note wear and tear as an exclusion. For example, buildings need to have waterproofing on the roof, as they’re exposed to sun and harsh weather conditions; these generally perish after two years. If your roof leaks following a storm due to this wear and tear, your policy may not cover the waterproofing. Routine maintenance of insured items is, therefore, essential to avoid the rejection of a claim.

 

4. Honesty is the best [insurance] policy

 

Misrepresentation or dishonest behaviour when it comes to your insurance could draw serious consequences for you. Your insurer could cancel your policy with immediate effect or declare the policy null and void from inception date, resulting in any claims being rejected. Furthermore, you could even be blacklisted and may not be able to obtain insurance again.

 

5. Don’t jump the gun when it comes to repairs

 

Don’t proceed with repairs on a vehicle, home, etc. before checking with insurers, as often they have appointed services providers to assist with these processes. Your insurer may obtain alternate quotations, and then you may not be paid out for the full cost of repair had you jumped the gun.

 

6. Carefully complete an inventory

 

Be sure to carefully complete an inventory or provide an asset register to ensure the adequacy of the sums insured and receive the correct pay-out when misfortune does occur.

 

7. Buildings must comply with laws & regulations

 

Non-compliance to laws, by-laws or regulations that are material to risk (for example, complying with building regulations) could result in an insurer rejecting a claim. For instance, if a contractor builds a wall and fails to follow South African building regulations or mixes the building materials incorrectly and the wall collapses, it is unlikely that you will be paid out.

×