Cr*ppy Insurance Companies ..

Kate10

I hope it's ok to have a bit of a rant about this!

I'm currently involved in a dispute with an Insurance company. I bought a permanent health insurance policy eight years ago, when I was in perfect health and running my own business. Paid premium every month, never an issue, unfortunately got very sick at beginning of 2009, struggled on but ended up having to give up work entirely six months later. Doctors say what I have is a life long condition but should be able to go back to work, starting with part time, if I manage the condition well. Obviously will not be able to go back into my own business but I really want to get back to work and am doing my best to get better and get back into work.

So anyway, made claim on insurance policy, medical reports are all clear and supportive (even their own dodgy doc agreed) ..its now nearly nine months since the claim was lodged and the claim still isn't resolved. Insurance company has used every trick in the book to stall and dodge, from denying the claim outright, to paying a "settlement" directly into my bank account without any agreement or consent etc etc. The stress of the whole thing has made managing my medical condition much harder. Our financial position is a disaster and haven't been able to pay our mortgage etc.

Anyway the point of my rant is not so much my specific problem as the whole approach insurance companies take to claimants, and the fact that they seem to get away with murder. I'm sure I will either settle my claim directly, or the insurance company will get a direction from the ombudsman to pay up, but in the meantime they have made my life a hundred times harder than it needed to be. Of course it makes sense to them ...the more financial pressure I am under the more likely it is that I will accept whatever they offer ..but the dishonesty and the cynicism is just awful. I can't help but think of all the other people out there who have had to deal with the same thing. And at the same time the same company is out there with the slickest of marketing materials selling big promises. It seems to me that there is no downside for insurance companies to play this game. I've read the decisions of the ombudsman in relation to similar cases that have gone before him, and it seems that even in blatant cases of wrongdoing, the ombudsman basically awards the benefit that should have been paid in the first place and then a very small amount of compensation which is not big enough to have any impact on the insurance company. Surely the insurer should be fined a significant amount of money when they screw with consumers like that? I'm lucky in that I am an educated person who has access to a lot of help in my difficult circumstances, but I can't help but think of the more vulnerable people out there who have been completely taken advantage of.

I just wish there was a way to make big companies pay when they behave so badly ...

Cill Dara Abu

Maybe this would be better in the Consumer threads.

AnonoBoy

Kate10 wrote: »

I just wish there was a way to make big companies pay when they behave so badly ...

Arson.



















I am of course, not serious.

Kate10

lol anonoboy!

You are probably right Cill Dara - Boards is so big I haven't really found my way around it yet!

Guill

Arson





















I am serious

sollar

I'm sure your willing to stand over what your saying. So name and shame, people should know what really happens with these companies.

RichieC

These companies are there to make money, not help you.

Cill Dara Abu

Kate10 wrote: »

lol anonoboy!

You are probably right Cill Dara - Boards is so big I haven't really found my way around it yet!

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=580

Copy and paste it here:)

problemchimp

sollar wrote: »

I'm sure your willing to stand over what your saying. So name and shame, people should know what really happens with these companies.

My thoughts exactly. The one thing they hate is bad publicity via Joe Duffy, Sunday World or the likes of Eddie Hobbs. Maybe an E-Mail to your T.D. would do no harm. Best of luck.

Kate10

Would absolutely love to Sollar but am not sure that I am allowed to?? Also until claim is resolved would probably be a mistake. When it's all over though I would love to set up a blog, and post every letter and email ....except for the minor issue that I would not like my name and medical history on the net!!

Thanks Cill Dara will do that!

ejmaztec

Money from an insurance company?:pac:

dr.bollocko

Hi Kate...
This appears to be up and running in the relevant forum now so we'll try and keep discussion to there.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056305751 is the link to the new thread for anyone wishing to contribute.