Consumer Alert: Filing Accurate Claims
Commissioner Miller is reminding consumers about the
importance of citing accurate information when filling out insurance forms. No
matter your intentions, providing incorrect information on an insurance claim
or other form can cost you.
It’s important to be honest with your insurance company from
day one. If you are filling out an application for auto insurance and fail to
report recent accidents or tickets to try to get a better rate, this is fraud,
and it will likely catch up with you. You should also verify information, like
dates of traffic tickets, the number of miles you drive each year, and details
about the make of your vehicle before entering information on an application.
Once you have been approved, inaccurate information can
still count against you when filing a claim, as it can cause you to not have
the coverage you are expecting, or void your insurance altogether. This is why
it’s important to accurately evaluate the value of your home, know the cost of
the trim package on your car, and keep a
detailed home inventory.
It’s also important to inform your insurance company about
things like home security systems, driver safety courses, and your teen
driver’s good grades to make sure that you get any discounts that are available
to you.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners has more
information on insurance
fraud on their website.