Below are a number of links to blogs (stories) from the internet both from every day people and legal blogs. These blogs question the Ombudsman and their independence from the insurer. The Ombudsman has referred to the insurer as their client. Is this their true meaning of independence or does this show that in fact they are in bed with the insurers who pay their bills.
These are the authorities that we rely on for the truth when making claims, we suffer enough when it comes to disasters only to suffer more at the hands of the Ombudsman.
This is Les and Linda's story
.
These are the authorities that we rely on for the truth when making claims, we suffer enough when it comes to disasters only to suffer more at the hands of the Ombudsman.
This is Les and Linda's story
.
 |
Fanning the flames
February 24, 2004
February 24, 2004
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Les and Linda Thurbon outside their new house in Duffy, Canberra.
Picture: Penny Bradfield
Picture: Penny Bradfield
This link will take you to Les and Linda story written by William Birnbauer reports. This story shows the true value and meaning of loyalty by the NRMA and IAG. Fanning the flames
This link will take you to an article called NRMA Insurance Woes and goes to show the level of services one can expect from the NRMA. NRMA Isurance Woes
This link will take you to ausauto News Artical called NRMA Insurance heads NGE's Most Griped Companies list. NRMA Insurance heads NGE's Most Griped Companies list
This link will take you to a site called Not Good Enough Australia's most leading consumer website that analyses consumer feedback to alert consumers everywhere to the most complained about companies and the NRMA are leading. NGE NRMA Gripes
This link takes you direct to a Aussie Legal forum, comments made in this forum state how the Ombudsman referred to the Insurance company as their client. This only stands to question the true independence of the Ombudsman that is finance by our very own policies. So how can we expect this process to be truly independent when making determination that so effect our lives day to day. Aussie Legal
This link takes you to the lawyer blogs who writes about Insurance Law and the impact of the Newcastle/Hunter region storms. Lawyer Blogs
This link take you to an article written by Fairfax Digital on insurances and comments from the public on their experiences. Sydney Morning Herald
This link is to LAC Lawyers article that explains why claims are usually denied by insurance companies and give you a general guide line for what to look for in your policy. Why are claims often denied.
This link takes you to an article by Fairfax Digital that talks about insurance and it is driving quality builders away. Insurance driving builders away
Copyright©2009 R Deren All Rights Reserved
Update 27/12/2009
Reporter: David Eccleston
Broadcast Date: November 25, 2009
Adam Thomas has put his job and his career on the line to fight an insurance giant - he says people are being ripped off.
According to Adam, this is how it works. When an NRMA assessor checks a repairer's quote to fix a third party NRMA accident claim, they offer the driver a cash settlement. They go through the quote scrubbing out many items needed to fix the car - like paint, sandpaper and work shop preparation.
"They're saying they only have to pay for those items if the vehicle is repaired, however under insurance contracts they are to reimburse the claimant for their full loss and their full loss is the total cost to repair, and the total cost repairs include these items," explains Adam.
The average repair bill is $2,500 - Adam claims they're making ten percent or $250 on every cash claim. In Sydney alone there's 55 claims a day.
Terry Flanagan has been in the repair business for 50 years. He claims NRMA/IAG are the only insurer who refuse to pay for what the industry calls "allowances and consumables".
"I would have to say NRMA are the worst insurance company out there at the moment, ten years ago they were the best, they have dropped to the bottom of the barrel," says Terry.
"My opinion is they do this because the car owner is uninsured and he is trying to get the money out of them and the longer they delay him in the end he is willing to accept anything to get by," says Terry.
Graham Judge works at Flanagans.
"In the last 24 hours we've had 6 repairers fax us examples where NRMA assessors are putting these items on report on the quotes. I think it's widespread, we speak to a lot of repairers, same thing is happening... customers are being ripped off," Judge said.
It's only when you go to the repairer with the cash settlement that you realise you don't have enough to pay for repairs.
Mohamad is just another fed-up repairer.
"It makes me very, very angry because we're made to look like the bad person. In the wonderful world of advertising they draw the picture to the consumer that they're trustworthy and they're looking after the consumer, but this is the truth, they don't care - it's about cost," says Mohamad.
In a statement dated 9th November, the NRMA strongly denied any wrong doing.
Later, they told Today Tonight they were "trialling a new third party settlement process" and "reviewing Third Party payments to around 1000 people".
They added: "NRMA Insurance no longer uses this process and wants to make sure that any third parties that had a claim over this time were not disadvantaged."
Today Tonight approached a number of organisations for comment. The Insurance Ombudsman, ASIC, and the ACCC. They all claimed it was out of their jurisdiction or said they were unable to comment.
Says James McCall of the Motor Traders Association: "All of the material uncovered by your program has been confirmed as being correct - they've been quite stunned by this and they have assured us that they're moving to compensate those consumers who have been undercut."
"They spend hundreds of millions of dollars on promoting their corporate image and all of that can be undone in a second through behaviour like this," McCall added.
In the last three weeks Adam Thomas has lost his job.
"They're saying because I'm not cooperating with them, my employment's been terminated effective immediately."
Adam's now hoping another employer will reward his honesty.
"I'm satisfied, I wanted the public to know what they are doing and I wanted it stopped and the last thing I'm hoping for is for those who are responsible to be made accountable."
Reporter: David Eccleston
Broadcast Date: November 25, 2009
Adam Thomas has put his job and his career on the line to fight an insurance giant - he says people are being ripped off.
According to Adam, this is how it works. When an NRMA assessor checks a repairer's quote to fix a third party NRMA accident claim, they offer the driver a cash settlement. They go through the quote scrubbing out many items needed to fix the car - like paint, sandpaper and work shop preparation.
"They're saying they only have to pay for those items if the vehicle is repaired, however under insurance contracts they are to reimburse the claimant for their full loss and their full loss is the total cost to repair, and the total cost repairs include these items," explains Adam.
The average repair bill is $2,500 - Adam claims they're making ten percent or $250 on every cash claim. In Sydney alone there's 55 claims a day.
Terry Flanagan has been in the repair business for 50 years. He claims NRMA/IAG are the only insurer who refuse to pay for what the industry calls "allowances and consumables".
"I would have to say NRMA are the worst insurance company out there at the moment, ten years ago they were the best, they have dropped to the bottom of the barrel," says Terry.
"My opinion is they do this because the car owner is uninsured and he is trying to get the money out of them and the longer they delay him in the end he is willing to accept anything to get by," says Terry.
Graham Judge works at Flanagans.
"In the last 24 hours we've had 6 repairers fax us examples where NRMA assessors are putting these items on report on the quotes. I think it's widespread, we speak to a lot of repairers, same thing is happening... customers are being ripped off," Judge said.
It's only when you go to the repairer with the cash settlement that you realise you don't have enough to pay for repairs.
Mohamad is just another fed-up repairer.
"It makes me very, very angry because we're made to look like the bad person. In the wonderful world of advertising they draw the picture to the consumer that they're trustworthy and they're looking after the consumer, but this is the truth, they don't care - it's about cost," says Mohamad.
In a statement dated 9th November, the NRMA strongly denied any wrong doing.
Later, they told Today Tonight they were "trialling a new third party settlement process" and "reviewing Third Party payments to around 1000 people".
They added: "NRMA Insurance no longer uses this process and wants to make sure that any third parties that had a claim over this time were not disadvantaged."
Today Tonight approached a number of organisations for comment. The Insurance Ombudsman, ASIC, and the ACCC. They all claimed it was out of their jurisdiction or said they were unable to comment.
Says James McCall of the Motor Traders Association: "All of the material uncovered by your program has been confirmed as being correct - they've been quite stunned by this and they have assured us that they're moving to compensate those consumers who have been undercut."
"They spend hundreds of millions of dollars on promoting their corporate image and all of that can be undone in a second through behaviour like this," McCall added.
In the last three weeks Adam Thomas has lost his job.
"They're saying because I'm not cooperating with them, my employment's been terminated effective immediately."
Adam's now hoping another employer will reward his honesty.
"I'm satisfied, I wanted the public to know what they are doing and I wanted it stopped and the last thing I'm hoping for is for those who are responsible to be made accountable."
Adam Thomas story on Today Tonight Insurance Insider
I can understand the frustration of Today Tonight after approaching the governing authorities, like ASIC, ACCC and the Insurance Ombudsman. I myself have hit the same walls. The very laws put in place to protect the consumer only protect big giants like IAG.
I have very little doubt that (IAG) NRMA will do enough to compensate those that have been ripped of by them. I was one of those in the following interview with Today Tonight, to this very day I have yet to be contacted by them. (IAG) NRMA have yet to answer to Today Tonight, in regards to the documents that were altered to defend their case with the Ombudsman. For those who saw the show, those documents were the ones I was waving in their face.
For those who missed the show, I will be uploading the video very soon.
It's time we took a stand, (IAG) NRMA have placed the lives of consumers and our the lives of our children at risk, with poor quality and unsafe repairs that could one day cost the lives of our children.
Its time to change to an insurer that has good morals and puts the consumer first over cost.
I can understand the frustration of Today Tonight after approaching the governing authorities, like ASIC, ACCC and the Insurance Ombudsman. I myself have hit the same walls. The very laws put in place to protect the consumer only protect big giants like IAG.
I have very little doubt that (IAG) NRMA will do enough to compensate those that have been ripped of by them. I was one of those in the following interview with Today Tonight, to this very day I have yet to be contacted by them. (IAG) NRMA have yet to answer to Today Tonight, in regards to the documents that were altered to defend their case with the Ombudsman. For those who saw the show, those documents were the ones I was waving in their face.
For those who missed the show, I will be uploading the video very soon.
It's time we took a stand, (IAG) NRMA have placed the lives of consumers and our the lives of our children at risk, with poor quality and unsafe repairs that could one day cost the lives of our children.
Its time to change to an insurer that has good morals and puts the consumer first over cost.