How do I make a claim on my insurance policy?

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Tips on how to go forward when you need to take action with your home or insurer

For many of us, we can go through life without ever needing to make a claim on our home or contents insurance policies. Very often, it’s our car insurance policies that take the hardest treatment; minor bumps and scratches, accidental discoveries in car parks, unforeseen circumstances and incidents.

However, with the weather becoming more extreme and intemperate as global warming causes more profound and deep extremes in warm and cold, as well as harsher winters and fuller rains, the need to claim on homes damage, or even damaged contents, is an issue worth thinking about.

If you do need to make a claim with your insurer, where do you start? Allianz Your Cover (www.yourcoverinsurance.co.uk) provides you with steps you should take when making a claim.

1. Find your policy

Locating and re-reading your insurance policy is the most important first step in making a claim. Why? Because you might read your policy and realise that you’re not actually covered for it; or you may need to be very specific about the actual damage/incident and the problems incurred, so that you make sure you get the right treatment and compensation for it. If you’ve got several insurance policies, identify the one which will have the least excess/lowest impact on your future claims.

2. Make the call

Many insurers take their claims over the phone – or even on the internet. Normally you would be sent a form to fill in; again this can be done online, but for many of us the most reassuring way remains to talk to an assistant with the insurer who can take you through the necessary steps.

3. Be as detailed as possible

When you make your claim, try to give as much objective and clear detail as possible; make sure that you are not leaving out any important information, and that you take notice of any minor-seeming details or damages.

4. Take notes of all communication

Then you need to be on-hand to keep a note of all the details on your claim; this is especially important for car insurance or claims which involve third parties or other insurers. Getting a witness or several witnesses is always useful, and making sure you have all the details of the other person involved.

5. Track your claim

One benefit of online insurance is that you have easier access to your own accounts and can keep track of a claim, rather than simply waiting on a letter. Make sure you keep a paper copy of any final or important documents.