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   How can the Insurance Ombudsman help you? - Scope of actions - Restrictions -
 How you get in touch with the Insurance Ombudsman?

 

 

How can the Insurance Ombudsman help you?


The Insurance Ombudsman is an impartial source of information and a neutral mediator in disputes.

It mediates between the disputing parties and submits neutral proposals to resolve conflicts (alternative dispute resolution / ADR).

Parties are not bound by the Insurance Ombudsman's findings. Applicants are free to accept or to refuse the Ombudsman's proposals and to take further legal steps.

The Insurance Ombudsman is bound by its Code of Conduct to full confidentiality. It only contacts an insurance company with the applicant's permission.

Mediation generally takes 4-6 weeks.

The Insurance Ombudsman provides its services in German, French, Italian and English.

The services are free of charge.

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Scope of action

The Insurance Ombudsman deals with the entire range of issues relating to private insurance, including claims of third parties.

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Restrictions

The Insurance Ombudsman does not act as a judge or arbitrator. It takes, imposes, or enforces no decisions.

The Insurance Ombudsman does not deal with health insurance matters and issues concerning branches of companies domiciled outside Switzerland. Find the insurance companies within the scope of the Insurance Ombudsman's activity listed in the section member companies.

Once a lawyer or a public authority (e.g. a court) has been involved, the Insurance Ombudsman does not intervene.

The Insurance Ombudsman does not deal with issues related to business policy or pricing policy of an insurance company.

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Can the Insurance Ombudsman help in my case?

- Is the insurance company located in Switzerland?
- Can a financial loss or any disadvantage be demonstrated?
- Is no lawyer or official body actively involved in the case?

If you can answer all these questions with 'yes', you may consult the Insurance Ombudsman.

Please enclose the following with your written application:

- Your name, your address and name of insurer.
- A clear description of the facts, the problem, the complaint and what you wish to accomplish.
- Copies (not originals!) of all relevant documents (e.g. insurance policy, general terms and conditions, all correspondence with the insurer, evidence, witness testimony).
- A Power of Attorney that authorises the Insurance Ombudsman to contact the insurance company and communicate, if necessary, the information you provided.

Important

Your application to the Insurance Ombudsman will have no effect (e.g. break, suspension) on any deadlines, time limits, etc. in force. It is your responsibility to ensure that your rights or claims do not lapse.

Musterbrief

> Address your application with these documents to:

Insurance Ombudsman
Postfach 2646
CH-8022 Zurich

Switzerland

phone: ++41 44 211 30 90
fax: ++41 44 212 52 20
email: help@insuranceombudsman.ch

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