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The information below shows the following:

  • the number of insurance disputes received in 2007-2008
  • the number of insurance disputes received in 2008-2009
  • the percentage of disputes within each sub product category of insurance contributing to the total number of insurance disputes received in 2008-2009
  • the percentage of disputes within each insurance product category of the total number of disputes
  • the percentage increase or decrease in the number of insurance disputes received from 2007-2008 to 2008-2009

 

The link below shows how insurance disputes were spread across product lines by percentage.

New insurance disputes across product categories by percentage

 

The link below shows new insurance disputes by type.

New insurance disputes by type

 

COMMENTARY ON GENERAL INSURANCE DISPUTES

Graham Warner Manager, Dispute Resolution, General Insurance

The main influence in numbers were large insurance claims events. Extreme weather
in late 2008 and during the early months of 2009 contributed to the overall 34% increase in general/domestic insurance disputes.

The horrific bushfires in February 2009 that destroyed or severely damaged towns like Marysville and Kinglake contributed to dispute and enquiry numbers, and we are expecting to see a number of bushfire disputes come through.

Terrible storms and floods in northern New South Wales, in places such as Coffs Harbour and Urunga, also contributed to dispute increases, as did the storms that hit areas in northern Queensland, as well as Brisbane.

Another factor involved in the increase was the impact of the drought, where reactive soils under homes dry out, causing movement and cracking of walls and breaking pipes.