There is enormous competition among insurance agencies. We sign at least one insurance contract a year—often without reading it. The problem begins when we suffer a loss. “First and foremost, contracts should be read,” advises Bolesławiec resident and insurance agent Andrzej Izdebski. “And attention should be paid to the scope in which we insure a given item and to the exclusions of liability.”
There is a price war among insurance agencies, and the consumer market is huge, so there is plenty to fight over. Dishonest sellers and dishonest agencies appear. We are required to take out some contracts. When, as a result of a loss, we try to obtain an insurance payout, problems begin. They do not always result from an agency’s dishonesty; sometimes they are caused by complete ignorance of the terms of the contract we signed.
Step one
When concluding a contract, ask your agent what you are insured against and what you should pay particular attention to. Ask about the most important points of the contract. Then find out whether, in addition to the insurance’s advantages, the agent mentioned its restrictions and the exclusion of the policyholder’s liability. This will help you determine whether the seller is honest.
Step two
Consider whether the scope of the insurance is satisfactory and how the sum insured compares with any potential losses you may incur in the future.
Step three
Check what your obligations are as an insured person. A refusal to pay insurance sometimes results from the insured person’s negligence. Clients forget about periodic technical inspections of their cars, leave spare keys and vehicle documents inside them. They do not install appropriate locks in their doors—those required by the insurance—or leave the key to their house under the doormat.
The term “gross negligence,” used by insurers in some contracts, has no precise definition in Polish law. This means that every court interpretation is valid. Not always to the client’s advantage.
Step four
When choosing insurance, compare the terms of the contract, not the premium amounts. The latter are the easiest to compare. Unfortunately, the lower the price, the more restrictions there are, and therefore the greater the insured person’s responsibility, because an insurance agency may avoid risks for which it should be liable.
Remember!
An insurance contract must be clear and readable, and its terms must be clearly presented. If they are complicated, the law protects the insured person. Courts rule in the client’s favor.
You can always ask an agent about special terms if those included in the contract do not meet the client’s expectations. The same applies to exclusions of liability. In some cases, an insurance agency may waive one of them.
There are various types of insurance, and each agency offers different terms. You should familiarize yourself with them before signing. And most importantly: set aside time to sign every insurance contract and read every document before signing it in your own name.
And the most important thing to remember: there is no insurance against everything. Unfortunately.
(information ii)