Sinn Féin General Election candidate, Cllr Johnny Mythen is challenging Michael Darcy TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for Financial Services and Insurance, claiming that many people, who have been hammered by high insurance premiums in recent years, will find it hard to stomach that insurance companies have refused his request that they inform policy holders when a claim has been made against them.
Speaking to WexfordToday.com, Cllr Mythen said his party has been questioning Minister D’Arcy on the progress made by the Oireachtas Finance Committee over the last two years into the report on rising insurance costs that was agreed by the Committee. The report made over 72 recommendations.
“In terms of implementing these recommendations, the insurance industry has dragged its feet, been too slow in acting or has flatly refused to co-operate at all,” said the Enniscorthy-based councilor, who added; “The issue of insurers informing policy holders of a claim against them is contained in recommendation 8. The Minister wrote to the insurance industry asking them to accept this over a year ago. Nothing has happened since.
“Meanwhile, we see more and more obstacles put in front of claimants and awards being cut. It seems that the only ones to benefit from the renewed focus on insurance costs are the insurance companies themselves.
“Another recommendation was that more precise information be supplied to returning emigrants seeking insurance. Once again the insurance companies had to be chased and hounded to provide accurate information on their websites.
EDITOR’S NOTE; About 15 years ago I had a situation where the drivers’ door was opened into the path of an oncoming vehicle and some damage occurred.
On legal advice, which I didn’t dispute, I admitted fault and happy that the other motorist be duly compensated and the matter be processed through the system in the normal way.
Since the claimant wasn’t injured and continued to a place of employment without loss of remuneration I questioned the claimant’s cause for compensation – did it include anything like whiplash, lost of earnings, fear of driving again etc. – but my insurance cover was reduced by 60% forthwith – no claims policy gone – however, the insurance company who paid out the compensation and I have no problem with that payment, steadfastly refused to discuss the case with me or inform me of any details that may have been contained in the Garda report.
I wasn’t challenging the claim, I was merely enquiring how the system works and checking to see if any false information had been used against me to increase the amount of compensation paid out.
My verdict is that the claimant was fair and honest in this case, but you can’t always depend on that, and I was treated fairly in this case, but why did the insurance industry decline to discuss the matter with me – their client, the lad that pays the bills and is on there side!