If you feel you have nowhere to turn with business insurance problems, it might be time to contact the ombudsman.

Remember to remain calm when calling your insurance broker so that your claim is taken seriously and that you can explain the complaint in question more effectively.

Five common questions to ask your short-term insurer:

• Is the ombudsman’s ruling cast in stone and are you bound to the decisions made? Consumers are bound by the ruling of the Ombud but can take further legal action against their insurance company if the ruling is unsatisfactory.
• Is the underwriter bound? The underwriter is bound by the ruling of the Ombud and needs to follow this course of action.
• Is approaching the Ombud and lodging a complaint a costly affair? The Ombud is 100% free and is a service for all those that feel they need to go a step further.
• What is the responsibility of the insured? No policy covers everything. It is up to you to choose the right short-term insurer, update your asset register regularly, and know exactly what is covered.
• How long will it take for you to get answers and closure? Dispute resolution can take three to four months, depending on the complexity of the issues.

Disagreements with your short-term business insurance broker:

Should you and your business insurance service provider have a dispute, it is a great idea to put all grievances in writing and ensure that you furnish all facts clearly and chronologically.

Don’t forget to supply all written complaints with your insurance policy number and ID number.

If you are complaining verbally over the phone, make notes of the date, time, and person’s name as reference.

You and the Ombud:

The moment you have a problem or disagreement with your business insurance company is not the time to approach the Ombud.

You have to prove that you have tried to resolve the business insurance issues at hand and if you have a broker the first point of entry in resolving any issues through your broker.

If after all these steps there is still no resolution, then it is time to contact your insurance Ombud.

You will need to fill out an application form so that the Ombud can tackle the problem efficiently.

Once arguments from both sides have been heard, a ruling is made.

If you have come to the end of your tether regarding business insurance claims, it is time to take it up with the Ombudsman.