Claiming on Your Buildings Insurance By Sheila Challiner At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Firstly, the best thing to do is make sure you keep all your policy details in a safe, easily accessible place, so you can put your hand on all the information you need if you want to make a claim.

If something unfortunately does happen to your home and you do need to make a claim, below are some tips to make sure it all goes smoothly.

When should you make a claim on your buildings insurance? - Make sure you do your sums first, before you make any claim. Nearly all of the insurers will increase your premiums, when it comes to your annual renewal, if you make a claim. The best thing to do is try to include a premium rise in your sums as well as the actual repair costs and your excess.

Although you are not always guaranteed an answer, ask your insurance company how much your premium is likely to increase by, if you were to make a claim. However, if you do speak to them make it clear whether you are making a claim or not.

If you have a no claims discount then it is even less clear as a claim means you will lose your discount and your premiums may go up to.

How to make a claim - To make sure you are covered for everything you think you are always thoroughly read your policy's terms and conditions. If you have to make a claim read them again to make sure you are actually covered

If you are claiming on both your buildings insurance and you contents insurance and your policies are with different insurers, make sure you sort out who is doing what. The best thing is to get the two different companies to talk to one another.

Check frequently that you do have enough insurance and always, as said above, keep your documentation in a safe place. If you tend to be forgetful then write down where this is. If you had to leave your home in an emergency, do you know the name of your insurer and how you would contact them? Perhaps leave this information with a close friend or relative so it can be obtained if an emergency occurred.

Contact the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), if you are not happy with how your insurance company is handling your claim.

Complaints - If you have a complaint about your broker or insurance company then always complain to the company first, as they may resolve it for you.

In most situations, the company does resolve it. However, complain to the FOS if it does not. The Financial Services Authority took over the regulation of general insurance on 14 January 2005, and all unresolved disputes and complaints are now handled by the FOS.

The FOS will look at a case only if you have already been through the company's own complaints procedure not come to a satisfactory conclusion. In reaching a decision, it considers the terms of the policy, and also what's 'fair and reasonable'. Decisions against the company are binding, but if you're dissatisfied, you're still free to go to court.

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