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How To Deal With
Your Insurance Company Regarding Claims
Having a disagreement with your insurance company can cause
you to have a massive migraine. Settling your claim with your insurance company
can be done without lawyers or going to court though and here is how.
When want to find to find about a claim that you have filed with your insurance
company the first step is going to your agent. This is the person you have dealt
with and whose commission depends on your continued patronage. If you have built
up a relationship with your agent it will be helpful. They might not be able to
push your claim through but they should be there to help you figure out what
steps to take once the claim goes above their level.
The agent can give you the name of the person handling your claim usually. If
the agent cannot give you this specific information they can definitely give you
the number needed for you to contact the claims department. Call into the claims
department to find out what the status is of your claim. If the claims
department cannot or will not help you, ask for a supervisor.
The first representative you speak to really may not be able to help you so keep
going up the chain. You should keep a notepad handy so that you can write down
the name of each person you speak to. Note what number you dialed to get to or
department you were transferred. You can also ask the insurance company reps if
they have
identification (ID) numbers as well. Many customer
service people do. This helps identify them in the future if you need to verify
who exactly gave you the information and all they would give you is a first
name.
Once you find someone that can help you be ready to talk about the specifics of
your claim. Have all of your facts in front of you so you can discuss them
easily. Have access to a fax machine if possible so you can fax the
documentation to the insurance company if necessary. If you do not have a fax
machine to use than you can send it through snail mail. When you send the
information through the mail include a cover letter and make sure you know
exactly to whom at what address the documentation should be sent to.
It is a good idea when sending the documentation through the postal service to
pay the dollar or so extra for a delivery confirmation. There are different
options at the post office for this. You can make the insurance company sign for
the package, etc. Decide which option is for you and get it. With some options
you can even track the package through the
USPS website.
Once your insurance company has your documentation hopefully the claim will go
through without any further problems. If it is not that easy you will again need
to phone your insurance company. This time if you get no where try being put
through to the customer complaint department or customer fulfillment department.
They may be able to help you or if nothing else let you air your complaint about
how the situation is being handled.
If you have exhausted all of the options by speaking to your insurance company
it might be time to go above them. If you truly believe you are being treated
unfairly or your claim is valid get your state insurance department involved.
Most all states’ department of insurance will take your complaints seriously.
They are very knowledgeable about claims and should be able to answer any
questions you have.
The department of insurance might end up guiding you to use your insurance
company’s arbitration or mediation department. This division of the insurance
company was set up to settle disputes. Your insurance issues might make you find
your own arbitrator if the company’s is too biased, which they should not be.
Read your insurance policy to see exactly what they say about using arbitration
or mediation to settle disputes.
If your have followed all of the above steps and are still getting the run
around it is time to contact a lawyer. Your insurance company might insist on
arbitration and you might be stuck with that due to what your policy states.
This does not mean that you cannot contact a lawyer to get assistance on how
best you can state your case.
Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes. It should not be
interpreted as a recommendation to buy or sell any insurance product, or to
provide financial or legal advice. This information is provided for information
purposes only.
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