Insurance nightmare: How to successfully fight for your compensation!

Insurance nightmare: How to successfully fight for your compensation!

Consumers in Germany often face challenges when it comes to the settlement of claims by insurers. Today, various authorities are reporting that the number of complaints to the Consumer Arbitration Board for Insurance has risen sharply in 2024. Over 21,000 complaints were filed, with the most common issues relating to motor insurance, followed by concerns about legal protection and life insurance. According to BaFin, there was an increase of more than 10% in complaints, which rose to over 8,400. These developments make it clear that many consumers are dissatisfied with the response of their insurance companies.

The insurance ombudsman's office has developed into an important contact point for mediating between policyholders and providers. Your arbitration work is playing an increasingly important role. In 2024, the ombudsman achieved a success rate of 52.4%, which gives many consumers hope for a quick and fair solution to their problems. For amounts in dispute up to 10,000 euros, the decisions of the ombudsman are binding, while for higher amounts only recommendations are made.

Options for action in the event of damage

After an event of damage, insured persons should act quickly by mitigating the damage and informing the insurance company immediately. Critical steps include comprehensive documentation of the damage, including photos and written communication with the insurance company. If you wait longer than usual for feedback from the insurer, it is recommended to set a deadline of 7 to 14 days. If there is still no response, the insured person can submit a complaint to the board of directors of the company.

The ombudsman's office is not the only point of contact in such cases. Consumer advice centers and insurance advisors are available to offer support in the event of damage. Particularly in complex matters that involve existential risks, consulting a consultant can be advantageous. The legal route, on the other hand, is often associated with high costs, especially if the amounts in dispute exceed 10,000 euros. In these cases, consumers should consider legal aid or activate existing legal protection insurance.

Grounds for complaint and responsibilities

The most common reasons for complaints brought to the arbitration board are inadequate payment by insurers or delays in claims settlement. These problems are often attributed to increased workloads and staff shortages. In the area of ​​damage, there are also specific problems in various insurance sectors, such as disputes over the no-claims category in car insurance or over burglary damage in household contents insurance.

It is important to note that the ombudsman does not examine complaints about hospital, nursing care or credit insurance, nor does it handle disputes that are already pending in court or other arbitration boards. The ombudsman's office also does not take into account complaints that are obviously hopeless or claims that are time-barred.

Consumers who would like to find out about their options or do not know how to formulate their complaints can also complain to BaFin online and view the current complaint statistics. This offers an additional incentive for active participation and education in the often complex insurance market, which is associated with uncertainty for many consumers.

For more information on this topic please contact daily news comprehensive details available while Financial tip provides additional explanations on the role and functioning of the ombudsman's office.