5 Easy Ways to Making a Successful Home Insurance Claim

If you've taken out insurance and something happens like an accident, fire, theft or flood then the likelihood is you need to make a home insurance claim.

This can be a very worrying time and it is imperative you do this properly, otherwise you could find your claim rejected. This is the last thing you want after paying your premiums for years!

If you need to make an insurance claim then you need to get in touch with your insurance provider ASAP and ask them to post or email you a claim form.

Also, if the claim is of a significant value (usually over £3000) it might be wise to employ the services of a loss assessor. They specialise in helping you get your full entitlement under the terms and conditions of your insurance policy - and they usually work on a small percentage of the settlement, meaning it's in their interests to get you as high a settlement as possible.

When you have received the claim form make sure you fill it in properly and make sure you keep a duplicate for yourself.

Check the following factors before you send in your claim:

1. You're definitely protected for what you're declaring for.
2. You're within the deadline for making a claim.
3. How much the excess is. If you have a high excess, and the claim is small, it may not even be worth making an insurance claim.
4. Check the dreaded small print, and make sure there isn't any criteria that could stop you from claiming (the type of locks etc).
5. Whether it's a new for old plan. The insurance company can deduct for wear and tear, so the amount you get may be less than the cost of replacing them new.

You'll need to include duplicates of all certification that will help your claim, such as invoices and receipts. Be sure to retain copies of these in case your insurance provider turns down your claim.

Sometimes your insurance provider may also ask if you have other policies (such as contents insurance) in place. It is very important you let your provider have these details on any additional cover.

Perhaps the most important piece of advice is not to overstate or embellish your insurance claim. We have seen many instances where this has resulted in a rejected claim, or a reduced settlement.

Do you always have to make an insurance claim?

You don't have to claim on your insurance, even if you're eligible to do so. In some cases, if your claim is relatively small, you may decide not to as your future rates could increase by more than the quantity you have stated.

Important: even if you don't want to declare on your insurance coverage, you must always tell your insurance coverage provider about an incident. If you don't report it, you might discover that this results in problems further down the line.

Dean Foster is an insurance claim expert, and the owner of Foster & Rowe Ltd - the UK's leading Loss Assessor.

After 20 years of working for some of the top loss adjusting companies, we became "poacher turned gamekeeper" and represent the policy holders interests only. We know exactly how your insurance company will try and settle your claim for less than what you are entitled to, and we use our knowledge and experience to get you your highest possible settlement.