We’ve all got that friend who’s had an insurance claim rejected and now believes the entire insurance industry is out to get them. They’ll tell you how they paid their premiums, submitted their paperwork… And still walked away with nothing but frustration and a broken fridge.
But it’s not always that cut and dry. A lot of the time, claims are rejected for proper and totally avoidable reasons. The last thing we want is for you (or anyone else) to go through the same experience. We’ll bet you don’t want that either, so instead, let’s learn from your friend’s experience.
Here are the most common reasons why claims get denied, as well as a few tips to help you stay on the right side of your policy.
The doors weren’t actually locked
This 1 sounds obvious… But it happens more often than you’d think. If your home is burgled and there’s no sign of forced entry, your insurer will want proof that you took reasonable steps to secure your home.
Just pulling the door closed or forgetting to lock a window could mean your claim is rejected.
So… Before you leave the house, double-check everything. It’s a 2-minute habit that could save you thousands.
We should point out that there are burglars out there who are well able to break-in without leaving any signs of forced entry. You should still report the theft to the police and get a police report to submit to us so that we can look at all the evidence before we make a judgment.
The item wasn’t specified
Oh boy, this is an awful and awfully common reason for rejected portable possessions insurance claims. Essentially, high-value items like laptops, cameras and engagement rings often need to be listed individually on your policy. You see, portable possessions cover is split into 2 lists.
The 1 list is for lower value items that fall under a general amount, like R3,500 or R5,000, which you don’t have to tell us about. These items will just be covered and can be claimed for.
Don’t forget, for unspecified portable possessions you need to speciafy a total amount on your policy schedule and we’ll insure up to R2,000 per item.
But there are items over this value, like a R30,000 laptop. If this gets stolen and it wasn’t specified, your claim could be declined.
The fine print wasn’t read
We get it… Reading insurance docs is about as exciting as defrosting the freezer. But the details matter.
Some policies require an alarm system to be activated when the home is unoccupied, while others have conditions around waterproofing or electrical compliance.
If you miss these little details, your claim might not be paid. The best defence? Make time to read your policy docs or ask your insurer to explain anything you’re unsure about.
The claim was submitted too late
Most insurers, including us, expect you to report incidents within a specific timeframe.
Depending on the incident, you might have 24 hours to report to the police and 48 hours to report it to us. The maximum time you have to report an incident to us, is 30 days.
Sometimes people wait a while so they can get all the details they think will be needed, but actually, even if you don’t have all the details right away, let us know as soon as possible.
Our motto? Early notification is better than no notification.
Neglect or poor maintenance was to blame
Insurance covers unexpected damage… Not neglect. If your ceiling collapsed because you ignored a roof leak for months, your claim could be rejected. Likewise, if your geyser rusted out after years of skipping servicing… That’s on you.
Regular maintenance helps keep your home in good shape… And your cover valid.
It’s not about being perfect… It’s about being prepared
Look, the fact is that just because your friend’s claim was denied, it doesn’t mean yours will be, too. The king’s insurance is there to support you when things go wrong… All we ask is for you to do your part. Give us accurate info when asked, report incidents as soon as they happen, and we’ll do everything in our power to make this process as smooth and efficient as possible.
Click here for a commitment-free insurance quote or you can WhatsApp us on 0860 50 50 50