Point of Law
An insurance policy is a contract between you and the company. You are entitled to question the rejection of a claim if you think the company is being unreasonable.
Email templates about insurance
Use these draft letters as a guide when you need to put your complaint about insurance in writing.
It can be difficult to know how to go about making a complaint. So we’ve put together these templates you can use to help you stand up for your rights. Use these as a guide for writing to an insurance company if it rejects or disputes your claim, or if you wish to reject its offer.
How to complain when the insurance company denies liability
[Date]
[Policy number]
I wish to dispute your rejection of my claim on the grounds that [state reason why claim was rejected].
The policy states that [quote wording]. The damage to my property was caused by [cause] and was not due to [neglect, etc] as you suggest. I have enclosed a report from [relevant expert] which supports my argument [details of report].
I believe that I am covered by the terms of this policy and am entitled to the amount claimed. I would be grateful if you would review your decision to reject my claim and let me have your answer as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely
[Name]
How to dispute their response
[Date]
[Policy number]
On [date] I claimed on this policy for [describe damage] which occurred on [date].
Although you have reviewed the matter and upheld your original rejection of my claim, I believe that I have supplied sufficient evidence to you in the form of [describe] to prove that my claim is covered by the policy.
I believe that I have been unfairly treated and unless you can offer some proposals for settlement within 14 days, I intend to refer my complaint to the Disputes Tribunal.
Yours sincerely
[Name]
Point of Law
As with any dispute, you can make use of the Disputes Tribunal if the claim is less than $15,000 or $20,000 if you and the company agree. You can also take complaints about insurance to the office of the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman once you’ve gone through the company’s own complaints process.
Member comments
24 May 2019
Correction
The link supplied just above the “Got a problem?” heading is to the Government Ombudsman
The correct link (to the insurance and financial ombudsman) is;
https://www.ifso.nz
Member comments
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