Insurance holding off paying compensation

Dandare1977

Guys... Had accident several yrs ago and was awarded £35000 comp of oct 15, why on earth is it taking so long for insuarnce company to issue funds, im now into waiting 16 weeks, is this normal, insurance state that they are waiting on a certificate to say that im not in receipt of any benefits etc, working man for 30yrs.. So could someone shed light on this for me.. Before i explode ... Many thanks

RikM

Drop them a line asking to know what rate of interest they will be paying you while they hold onto the money...?

oldhand

Can only say 16 weeks is not a long time for insurance people.It amazes me how in these days of email etc they still use letters both to each other and to you rather than phone or email,but then again they can charge more for a letter. What tends to happen is the insurance company pay the solicitor who then takes whatever they are owed and then they issue you with one of their cheques which again takes time.
It is sometimes your solicitors fault as they get paid from insurers and for whatever reason hold onto your payment.I do know of one in belfast notorious for this,.I wont mention them by name but the initials W.N.will let you know if they are yours...

Dandare1977

Thanks for reply guys... Im not well up too date when it comes too claims etc, but should i believe everything my solicitor tells me, or is there such a thing as to were she could be waiting on some kind of certificate, and old hand, is 16 weeks not that long really?? Just here all these belfast stories about people getting there payments in 2/3 weeks etc.??

Dandare1977

Does that really happen, or just a belfast rumour??

oldhand

Dandare1977 wrote: »

Does that really happen, or just a belfast rumour??

My late brother had personal experience with firm I mentioned,claim was settled and he rang them(he always had to ring them) in I think it was september few years back to be told they (solicitors ) expected payment within a few weeks.No word fromthem by end of september so he rang and surprise surprise was told the solicitor was going to ring him that very day,told him still no word but they were going to send a strongly worded letter to insurance company.
October came and went and he rang again to be told he should have received a letter from insurance to sign accepting the money and agreeing it was full and final settlement before money could be released.
He had received nothing but within a few days the letter arrived but it was from his solicitor to sign accepting full and finalpayment.This he did and brought it down in person.Solicitor told him they had sent strongly worded letter off and were still awaiting an answerbut "hoped" to receive word and perhaps money before xmas.He finally received his money xmas week but only due he believed toringing the solicitor each day and calling in person when he was in city..He always believed the money was in solicitors account all that time...

Dandare1977

Thank oldhand, just last week she said too me that she could give me a letter of undertaking, so i could take to my bank and get a loan, until its all sorted, but im still confused as too what letter it is she talking about, ref the government issuing it as to if im on benefits etc... Crazy, oh and today is the 5yr of this going on lol

saverbuyer

16 weeks really isn't that long to wait especially when you take Christmas into account.


All these stories of "money resting in the solicitor's account"... The award will be paid into a separate client account. The solicitor can't access the money and use it for general expenses. The Law Society would have a fit. It would get flagged during an audit. You are dealing with multiple parities and bureaucracy. Everything is sent by post. Everything checked and rechecked.


And yes, you should believe what your solicitor tells you. They are your representative, they work for you. They have no reason to lie to you.


2-3 weeks? From claim to payment? From award to payment? No chance.

Dandare1977

Thanks saver buyer, that makes me feel alot more at ease, you sound like you know alot, if you dont mind me asking, the certificate from the government, are you able to advise what this thing actually is, maybe im getting it wrong?? But some to do with insurance company waiting gov cert or something.... Thanks saverbuyer

saverbuyer

The insurance company would have to inform the Compensation Recovery Scheme of your award to see if they have to pay any social security benefit you would have received as a result of the accident. The insurance company is responsible for paying back any benefits you receive due to the accident.


If you haven't received any benefits, the insurance company want a certificate to confirm. They'll want to close the file. They are waiting on the scheme sending the certificate.

Dandare1977

Bingo.... Thats the answer i was looking for saverbuyer, thankyou so much for clearing that up for me, and as ive never claimed benefits, the certificate thing should be straight forward, only now waiting game etc.. I listen to people saying theyve received there comp in 4/5 weeks etc, thats why i was a little worried... Thanks again