29-12-11, 09:37 AM
In many ways I am not surprised. I too tend to look at such matters a bit dispassionately cos at the end of the day we are not truly fully protected by our insurance companies, and we do always tend to buy from the cheapest insurance company( rather than best as ranked by their customers).
Insurance companies are out to make a profit , not be benevolent to their customers.They have liabilities to us, but that is the end of it, they are not charities .In any " own fault" accident they will always try to minimise their outgoings. This term " market rate" nearly always gives them the right to settle claims entirely to their own bias.Its only in third party liability claims we will get anywhere near full compensation since there is always the threat of legal action to make the other side cough up.As much as we might hate the ambulance chasing lawyers, in truth its their proliferation which keeps insurance companies in some degree of check.However for own fault claims...we are at the mercy of the insurance company.And it seems they do get their " payback" at this time.
I also have had a few experiences of insurance companies ignoring correspondance if it doesnt suit them. Its utterly frustrating at times, and it would be intersting to see if the ombudsman does anything to help this chap.
I dont think Hastings Direct are the only guilty party either...I have had similar treatment from the Co-op and E bike.Both companied failed completely to acknowledge urgent communication from me, luckily not to major detriment to myself.The Co-op in particular still not replying to 2 letter sfrom me for a year. You do get to the point where you wonder igf you are flogging a dead horse.
Oddly in my family we have had one good "just" settlement from a claim, and that was from a small insurance company. :\
Insurance companies are out to make a profit , not be benevolent to their customers.They have liabilities to us, but that is the end of it, they are not charities .In any " own fault" accident they will always try to minimise their outgoings. This term " market rate" nearly always gives them the right to settle claims entirely to their own bias.Its only in third party liability claims we will get anywhere near full compensation since there is always the threat of legal action to make the other side cough up.As much as we might hate the ambulance chasing lawyers, in truth its their proliferation which keeps insurance companies in some degree of check.However for own fault claims...we are at the mercy of the insurance company.And it seems they do get their " payback" at this time.
I also have had a few experiences of insurance companies ignoring correspondance if it doesnt suit them. Its utterly frustrating at times, and it would be intersting to see if the ombudsman does anything to help this chap.
I dont think Hastings Direct are the only guilty party either...I have had similar treatment from the Co-op and E bike.Both companied failed completely to acknowledge urgent communication from me, luckily not to major detriment to myself.The Co-op in particular still not replying to 2 letter sfrom me for a year. You do get to the point where you wonder igf you are flogging a dead horse.
Oddly in my family we have had one good "just" settlement from a claim, and that was from a small insurance company. :\