INSURANCE OMBUDSMAN

I want to file a complaint against my insurance company for the mental agony I have suffered due to the inordinate delay in the settlement of an insurance claim, which necessitated, among other things, repeated visits to its office. What is the procedure for filing a complaint with the insurance ombudsman?

First, you need to approach the insurance ombudsman under whose jurisdiction the servicing office of the insurance company against which you want to complain falls. The complaint must be in writing and accompanied by the documentary evidence of the circumstances giving rise to the dispute, nature of loss sustained and relief sought from the ombudsman.
The ombudsman will first try to settle the dispute through mediation between the parties involved. If a settlement is reached through mediation, he will make recommendations as he deems fit, within one month from the date of receipt of the complaint.
If the complaint is not settled through mediation, the ombudsman will pass an award, which he thinks is fair in the light of the facts and circumstances of the complaint. Such an award is passed within three months from the receipt of the complaint. If the award is acceptable to the complainant, in this case you, the insurance company needs to comply with it without fail. If the ombudsman deems fit, he may award an ex-gratia payment.