1. What personal details do I need to tell to an insurance agent?
Different insurers require different amount of details, but the most important factor in this case is the type of the assurance one chooses. As an example, in order to conclude a car assurance, people need to provide such details as their previous motoring convictions, details about one’s driving license as well as car. Moreover, some companies also require information about the applicant’s health as well as about his or her fitness to drive. On the other hand, companies offering health or life assurance are not interested in an applicant’s driving license or car, but they will most probably require many details about the health and medical conditions of the applicant.

Nevertheless, the general personal details needed by agents are the following: your title, your first name and surname, your gender, your date of birth, your address, your telephone number, your e-mail address, and your occupation. Most of the times, an applicant’s insurance-history is also important, so one has to provide the insurer with details about his or her previous coverage. Sometimes, a copy of one’s driver’s license and job offer letter are also required as well as one’s bank statement and the last three months’ salary slip.

Although the above-mentioned details are known to be quite important factors when deciding how much an applicant’s coverage will cost, but people are recommended not to lie or hide any important personal details, as this can be crucial when it comes to making claims. So if a person does not answer all of the insurer’s questions correctly or fails to provide important information regarding the state of his/her health for instance, the insurer holds the right to cancel the coverage. So medical conditions that are not revealed on the application form and which are discovered later by the insurer can and usually do result in annulling the coverage.

2. When will I receive my policy documents?
After sending the needed documentation, applicants have to wait a few days until the insurance company sends its agent to the buyer's residence. The agent normally explains the formalities related to the coverage, and checks all the details that have been provided. Additional documents might also be needed at this step. After having verified all the documents and forms and everything is all right, then the insurer will accept the application and policy documents are sent to the applicant. The above described procedure should not take longer than 20 days.

However, with the increased competition it is more usual for insurers to provide the policy documents faster, within 1-4 working days. In this case insurers make only a single document-verification and after that they send the documents either by first class post, or via e-mail.

3. Where can I find out what I'm covered for?
Generally speaking, all the policy documents are available (so can be checked) online, on the insurer’s website. But a well-prepared policy agreement also contains all the necessary pieces of information related to the type of the coverage. Reliable insurance companies always provide applicants with a detailed description regarding what they are covered for.

4. Can I pay my insurance bill online?
Yes, due to technological advances it is possible today to pay insurance bills through the Internet, on the website of the insurer. Moreover, it is also possible to purchase the policy online and pay for it with a credit or debit card. Generally speaking, all the well-known card types are accepted. For instance, Visa or MasterCard can be used to pay for the policy and later, to pay the policy premiums. Nevertheless, interested individuals are recommended to check on the insurer’s website which card types are accepted and which are not, as this may change from time to time.

It is important to note that it is 100% safe to pay for a policy on the Internet as different data protection methods are used in order to prevent personal and payment data to be accessed by third parties.

Finally, people are allowed to pay with the credit card of someone else but only if they have the owner’s permission. Also, the original cardholder will get a receipt that contains the details of the transaction.

5. Will I be able to change my policy information online?
Yes, it is possible to make simple changes in your policy online. To arrange such changes, people need to send an e-mail to their insurers, and specify the details of the policy that need to be amended. Practically, one has to send both the original pieces of information, and the changes he or she wants to make. For instance, for a change in one’s address, an applicant needs to write an e-mail with his or her previous and new address.

Nevertheless, if insured individuals intend to make such changes that involve additional premiums, then insurers need time to calculate the new premium. Therefore insured people have to wait until an invoice arrives to them by e-mail or by post that informs about the changes.

6. Can I cancel my policy?
Generally speaking, anybody has the right to cancel their policies at any time. For those who intend to cancel their coverage, and the cover has not started yet, it is important to know that they may be entitled to a full refund of the paid premiums. If the coverage has already started, insurers generally calculate how much can be refunded. As a general rule, the sooner the cancellation, the higher the returns will be. For instance, annulling one’s policy during the first few months usually mean a 50% refund of the paid premiums. But canceling an assurance after 3-4 months can mean a 25% refund only or even less. If the coverage has been in force for 5-12 months, and the insured person wants to cancel it, this might result in no refund at all.

Nevertheless, if a claim has already been made during the current coverage-period, then people will not get any returns of the paid premiums.

In order to have up-to-date information related to policy cancellation, people need to contact their insurers either by e-mail or by phone. In both cases they have to provide the insurer with their policy numbers, the reason for annulling the policy and the cancellation date.

7. How do I make a claim?
If you want to make a claim, you have to check your coverage wording in order to see what exactly you have to do. The whole claim-procedure should be described there in details, and you need to follow it. Generally, you can make a claim by phone. The phone number of the insurer can be found in the coverage contract. You have to report the claim, and you have to provide your insurer with details regarding the claim. Insurers are responsible to provide people making claims with all the support they need. They also have to explain everything that needs to be done and ask for and check the documentation required in the process.

As an example, thefts or losses should be reported to the police, to the manager of the hotel or restaurant one stays in, or to the property owner within 24 hours. In these cases it is of primary importance for people to ask for a written report. Other kinds of damages involve other documentation or forms that are required to be handled when making a claim. So being well-informed in this regard is very important. And no matter what are the circumstances, it is of primary importance to get a receipt if you incur any expenses.

Finally, always have the coverage helpline-number with you in order to be sure you can make a claim even if you are away from home.