Insurance Assessors

Insurance companies very seldom send their own staff out to assess claims.  Usually they subcontract to specialised assessors who report to the insurance company.  Whenever dealing with an insurance assessor always ask for a business card and a contact email/mobile phone.  That way when the person disappears you will still be able to chase them up. 

Also remember that if possible makes some notes of the time, date and nature of your meeting.  ( refer to our suggested “insurance notebook”) The insurance assessor will be making notes, and it is very helpful if you have your notes in a diary form so you can remember what was said to you.  If the assessor makes promises to you or authorises you to make any payment or incur any cost, ask for it in writing, or at very least make a detailed note of the time and date when you were so authorised or instructed.  For example, if the assessor tells you that you can take steps to demolish your house or to purchase for immediate needs, make a careful note of that so that you have a record to go back to later on.  Even better send an e-mail to the assessor confirming what has been agreed.

The assessor is the representative of the insurance company.  Most assessors from larger assessing companies are bound by some fairly strict codes of ethics.  But in the end they are paid by the insurance company. 

You do not have to accept what they are saying you are entitled to, and if you do not like what you are being told, feel free to contact the insurance company direct.  Your contract is with the insurance company, not the insurance assessor.  In times of crisis, insurance companies often bring in assessors from overseas, and they may disappear quickly as they arrive.  It is important to get these people’s details so that later you have a record of who told you what.