When in September and October 2024 the disaster struck the Lower Silesian, Opole, Silesian and Lubusz voivodeships, the landscape after the catastrophe looked dramatic.
Huge water, gigantic losses and a moment of truth for insurers
The flood directly affected 230,000 people, and nearly 5,000 of them had to hurriedly leave their property during evacuation. For insurers it meant one thing: an avalanche of compensation claims. In such extreme conditions it is easy to be tempted to cut costs at the expense of human tragedy.
The enormous losses caused by the flood also meant a large number of claims directed to insurance companies. Therefore it was necessary to very carefully check whether companies were honestly and diligently handling the cases of affected consumers.
– emphasizes Tomasz Chróstny, President of UOKiK.
The office scrutinised the claims settlement procedures. Result? Surprisingly, this time the financial sector did not earn a universal slap. Most cases were closed efficiently. The rate of refusals turned out to be marginal, ranging from only 1‑4 % depending on the company.
Negative decisions did not stem from malice but from hard facts: exclusions in general contract terms, waiting periods or the simple fact that the policy was not extended. Interestingly, consumers filed complaints in only 3.5 % of cases, showing that crisis procedures passed the exam.
See also: UOKiK accuses companies from Lower Silesia! Millions in fines threaten them for setting wages, benefits and more.
Main sins of algorithms, or a survey of the head
What did UOKiK point out, given that the refusal rate was marginal? The devil is in the details, specifically in the so‑called client needs and requirements analysis forms (APK). Today's artificial intelligence and advanced databases allow perfect risk profiling, yet insurers treat APK surveys as a necessary evil, completing them minimally.
The questions are often absurdly general – algorithms and agents prefer to ask about burglary with break‑in or running a business in a salon, instead of truly examining the geolocation and technological profile of the property.
UOKiK clearly states that companies must analyse clients’ individual needs more deeply. A modern home is, after all, a complicated technological ecosystem. If the insurer does not explicitly ask about modern components, the client may wake up with worthless paperwork.
See also: UOKiK strikes a well‑known company! Over 2 million PLN fine. The company’s free products were not that good.
The inflation trap and technological head‑spin: how not to lose assets?
The rise in construction and interior finishing costs in recent years literally launched into space. Prices of building materials and rates for installation, mounting and repair services have changed the rules of the game. If your policy has not been updated for several years, you are hit by under‑insurance.
The guaranteed sum from three years ago at current market prices is no longer enough even to rebuild half of a destroyed house.
When buying protection, forget about only a low premium – it is the simplest way to financial trouble. A cheap product usually means drastic cuts in coverage. You must precisely specify what and against what you protect. Pay special attention to renewable energy installations.
Photovoltaics, heat pumps or home chargers for electric cars are treated by insurers in two ways. For one they are part of the real estate, for another they are movable property with a separate, lower liability limit.
Pay attention to the maximum insurance sum and watch limits for RTV/Appliance and furniture. Finally, check the legal details: integral and deductible franchise (self‑contribution). If the deductible is 1,000 PLN and your loss is 1,500 PLN, the insurer will pay you a meager 500 PLN.
And remember – online comparators are not independent, objective judgments. They are digital storefronts of agents, showing only offers from which they earn a commission.
See also: UOKiK discovered review manipulation. Planning a vacation? Beware of the popular travel platform!
Source: UOKiK
