What does the Settlement Mean?

How to File a Complaint with the Oklahoma Insurance Department O n e of the most unpleasant things t o d o is file a co mp laint o n anybody. For some o f us, the transgression must be pretty severe t o follow t h r o u g h with filing a complaint. Unfortunately, some may have t o be filed t o get the service you require a n d deserve. This is especially t r u e when it comes t o homeowners’ insurance.

Having a quality experience d u r i n g your insurance claim is vital.

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Reasons for Filing a Complaint Accuracy a n d speed are t he two most i m p o r t a n t com ponent s in ge t t i ng y ou r life b a c k in o r d e r af t er a n insurance claim. If these two aspects are failing, there c a n be legitimate g r o u n d s t o file a complaint. According t o t he O kl ahoma Insurance De p a r t m en t website: “A c om plaint is justified if there is a violat ion o f state law, rules, o r policy provisions o r if t here is a c o n t in u o u s c onc er n a b o u t a pr ac t ice o r service t h a t is considered below cust omary business.”

Typically, act ions t h a t b r each what is s t at ed above include a g en t m ish a n d lin g , u n ju st cla im d en ia l, claimdelay, unresponsiveness, unsatisfact ory set t lem en t , misrepresentation, i n f o r m at i o n request, o r cancellations. Be sure t o be clear o n t h e infringement(s) t h a t have oc c ur r ed when filing yo ur complaint.

As it per t a in s t o delays, it is st at ed in t he O k lahoma Insurance D e p a rt me n t Rules, C h ap t er 15, Sub C ha pt e r 3-5, Sub-section (b) t h a t every inquir y relating t o t he claim should b e re s p o n d ed t o within 30 days. After those 30 days, if there is n o response f r o m your insurance company, you have legitimate g r o u n d s t o file a complaint.

Furthermore, g r o u n d s t o file c a n also be insu cient reimbursement. If you feel a n d have p r o o f f rom o t h e r vendors t h a t y ou r insurance c o m pan y has n o t p a i d o u t appropriat ely, there c ould be a reason f or a legitimate co m p lai nt as well.

There c a n b e various o t he r reasons f or wanting t o file a complaint. Be sure t h a t your c om plaint is legitimate a n d has t r ac t s with t he O k la h o ma Insurance D epart ment protocol.

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How to File a Complaint Filing a c o mp la in t is fairly simple. You c a n visit t he O k laho ma Insurance D e p ar t me n t website, https://www.oid.ok.gov, click t h e subtitle “Industry/Regulations” a n d choose t he “file a complaint” tab. You are t he n direct ed t o choose between a n online f o r m a n d a p a p e r form.

Next, t h e webpage instruct s you t o fill t he f or m o u t completely, p rov idin g as m u c h det ail as possible, sign t he form, provide copies of policies, all correspondence, payments, any contracts, o r any t hing else t h a t per t ains t o yo ur claim a n d t he m a d e complaint. O nc e you are satisfied with t h e i n f o r m a t io n a n d every i n p u t with a n asterisk is filled out, you c a n s u b mit y ou r complaint.

If you are filling o u t a p r i n t e d request f or assistance, be sure t o fill all o f t he requ ired fields with t he p r o p e r information.

O n ce t h a t has been completed, you must send it to: OKLAHOMA INSURANCE DEPARTMENT 400 NE 50th St. O kl ah o ma City, OK 73105

Things to have Prepared Being p r e p a r e d f o r t h e com plai nt is imperative t o get t he desired response. Make having all correspondence, inc luding emails, p h o n e calls, letters, o r pigeon letters, p r e pa r ed a n d d o c u m e n t e d a priority.

This will c o n fi r m any a n d all response, o r lack of response, between you a n d t he insurance company.

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Furthermore, have any payment s o r c o n fi r m a t i o n of payment s c o p ie d o r saved so t h a t you also have a r ec or d of mo ne t a ry interactions. This is i m p o r t a n t if dollar figures need t o b e c o m p a r e d a n d disputed. This will also come in h a n d y if this escalates t o where you need more legal consultation.

Be sure t o have a very g o o d working knowledge of y our policy.

Know exactly what you are covered f o r a n d all of t he exclusions t h a t may b e present. Seek c larifi cat ion o r c o ns u lt a t io n t o u n d e r s t a n d t he entirety of y our policy further.

You will only have g r o u n ds f or a legitimate c omplaint if t here is a b r ea ch in rules a n d ethics o r your policy.

What Next?

By law, yo u r insurance c o m pa ny has 20 days f rom t he receipt o f t he Insurance Department's receipt t o r es pond a n d d ef e n d its position. Hopefully, y our c om plaint was settled a p p r o p r ia t e l y a t this point.

If, f o r whatever reason, you are n o t satisfied with t he result of yo ur complaint, please seek f u r t h e r assistance by contacting a b a d f a it h at t orney o r a p ub l ic insurance adjuster. Doing this c a n c o n fi r m whether y our c omplaint has h a d legitimate gr o u nds a n d assist y our claim henceforth.

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