Making a claim (and complaining)
Lesson 9 of 13 in our free Insurance guide: a 5-minute money game with the key points below.
This lesson is in the full version.
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Questions you'll answer
Dex: 'Bro, a claims company will handle the ombudsman for a 30% cut. Bargain.' Your take?
Quick facts
- Report the theft to police, get a crime reference → Do first. Most theft claims need this.
- Find receipts, photos, serial number → Do next. Evidence of what you owned and what it cost.
- Fill in the insurer's claim form honestly → Do next. Exaggerating a claim is fraud.
- Make a formal complaint to the insurer → Only if it goes wrong. Always the first step before going further.
- Take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service → Only if it goes wrong. Free, independent — once you've complained to the insurer first.
- Myth: “Adding a bit extra to your claim 'because insurers always knock it down' is fine.” — That's fraud. It can void the whole claim and land on a fraud database.
- Fact: “The Financial Ombudsman Service is free for consumers.” — No fee to you. No need to pay a claims company either.
- Fact: “Taking photos of your valuables now can help a future claim.” — Two minutes now, evidence forever.