Insurance claim refused, reduced or delayed?
Insurers often rely on the reasons on the right. Many can be challenged, especially when the policy wording or the facts have been misread.
- Non-disclosure
- Policy exclusions
- Late notification
- Underinsurance
- Alleged fraud
- Wear and tear
- Not a covered event
- Incorrect valuation
- Missing evidence
You paid for cover. We help make sure you get it.
When an insurer refuses or underpays a claim, it can leave you facing serious financial pressure. We review your policy, the evidence and the insurer’s reasons, and tell you honestly whether the decision can be challenged.
We help individuals and small businesses with complaints, ombudsman referrals and, where needed, court claims.
Claims we help with
For personal and business policies.
Home and buildings
Fire, flood, storm, escape of water and theft.
Motor
Write-offs, theft and disputed valuations.
Business interruption
Lost income after damage or forced closure.
Commercial property
Shops, offices, stock and equipment.
Travel
Cancellations, medical costs and lost belongings.
Life and critical illness
Refused or reduced payouts.
Income protection
Claims stopped or refused.
Liability and indemnity
When your insurer won’t cover a claim against you.
Claim refused? Find your next step
Answer two quick questions. This is general guidance, not legal advice.
Have you made a formal complaint to your insurer?
Have you had a final response, or has it been 8 weeks?
Two ways to challenge an insurer
After your complaint, there are usually two routes. We’ll help you choose the right one.
Financial Ombudsman Service
- Cost to you
- Free for consumers and most small businesses.
- Time limit
- Usually within 6 months of the insurer’s final response.
- Compensation
- Awards are capped at a set limit.
- Outcome
- If you accept the decision, it’s binding on the insurer. If you reject it, you can still go to court.
- Best for
- Most personal and smaller business claims.
Court claim
- Cost to you
- Legal costs and court fees, with some costs recoverable if you win.
- Time limit
- Generally 6 years for a breach of the insurance contract.
- Compensation
- No upper limit on what the court can award.
- Outcome
- A binding court judgment.
- Best for
- High-value claims, or where the ombudsman route isn’t available.
Meet your solicitor
Qamar Uz Zaman
[Qualifications, when you qualified, and your experience with insurance disputes.] You deal directly with Qamar, who reviews your policy and the insurer’s reasons personally.
- Honest view of your claim
- Policy wording checked closely
- Firm, clear complaints
- One point of contact
- English, Urdu and Punjabi
- SRA regulated
What our clients say
[Real client review from Google.]
[Real client review from Google.]
[Real client review from Google.]
Frequently asked questions
My insurer says I didn’t disclose something. Can they refuse my claim?
Not automatically. For consumer policies, the insurer can usually only refuse or reduce a claim if you failed to take reasonable care when answering their questions, and it made a difference to whether or on what terms they would have insured you. Even then, the remedy should often be proportionate rather than a full refusal.
What about business insurance?
Businesses have a duty to make a fair presentation of the risk to the insurer. If that duty is breached, the insurer’s remedy depends on what it would have done if it had known, so a reduced payout may be appropriate rather than refusing the whole claim.
How long does my insurer have to deal with my complaint?
Up to 8 weeks to send a final response. After that, or once you receive the final response, you can usually take the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
My insurer is taking months to pay. Can I do anything?
Insurers must pay valid claims within a reasonable time. Unreasonable delay can be the subject of a complaint and, in some cases, a claim for the losses the delay has caused.
What is underinsurance?
If you’re insured for less than the true value of what’s covered, some policies reduce your payout in proportion. We can check whether your insurer has applied this correctly.
Should I accept the insurer’s first offer?
Not before you’re sure it’s fair. Once you accept a settlement, it can be very hard to reopen. We can review the offer and the evidence behind it.
Tell us about your claim
Send us a few details and we’ll get back to you within [one working day].
Prefer to talk?
- Phone
- +44 7925 273896
- Qamar@lcssolicitor.co.uk
- Office
- [Street address, Town, Postcode]
- Opening hours
- [Mon to Fri, 9am to 5:30pm]