10357 Insurance regulator ?

I need to know if insurance companies in Italy have any regulators/ombudsman, I took out an Italian household policy through my bank here.
One windy night in March (yes March) my roof lifted off and landed in the garden, I took photos, my geometre took photos, I have video footage of buckets on my bed, rain dripping from the light fitting, etc etc.
But 6 months on they still wont buy me a new roof, they have never written,telephoned or made contact with me, my geometre put in a quote of 12,800 euros, but I have no idea if they intend to pay me 100 euros or 12000 euros. I speak weekly with the bank and the geometre, lots of shoulder shrugging, (yes I know this is Italy) BUT if I had insured with a uk company I would have been paid within 2 weeks. Italy is not the 3rd world I paid for a service and the service is not been supplied. I have tarpaulin in the attic and it still rains in, I cannot afford to fix it until funds are in place, and the plaster is now falling off, I have bought 2 light fittings both have blown up so wont buy another. I have been patient but wonder if they are taking the puddle (ha ha) would an Italian have to wait this long, I cannot survive the winter without a roof. what can I do??

Category
Legal

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 08:23

Keeping in mind that your bank sold you the insurance policy, they have a responsibility in this matter. If you have not done it as yet, go and see the bank manager, make a big fuss, tell them that you are instructing lawyers to make claims against the bank and the insurance company if you do not get satisfaction within a week and, preferably, put it in writing as well and ask them to sign a receipt for the letter. You have nothing to loose....

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 13:22

Don't be so sure that had you bught insurance with a UK company that you would have been paid within two weeks.

November 2006 - yes, November 2006 - storm damage and water ingress caused many, many thousands of pounds worth of damage to my property and it has been an uphill struggle ever since to get the repairs done and compensation paid - which eventually led to the Ombudsman taking up the case after they offered paltry amounts and I finally blew a gasket and told them they were taking the puddle.

Two weeks after the Ombudsman requested the full file from my insurers (and almost two years since the incident), they called me and offered settlement in full - and I will receive the final payment cheque tomorrow.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 14:04

not just me thats unlucky then! enjoy the money and tell everyone you know which company not to use!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 14:40

It could be an idea for you, herealready, to see if you have got any local 'help desks' listed under 'Assocazioni per la difesa di consumatori ed utenti' in your local yellow pages. These are sort of embryonic Citizens' advice bureaus, and depend for their efficacy on the people manning the desk. Some are very good, others are pretty useless - but you'll probably get a sympathetic hearing and perhaps some advice on where next to turn. Good luck!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 01:01

The regulator is ISVAP

the claims procedure is detailed (in Italian):
[url]http://www.isvap.it/isvap/imprese_jsp/PageGenerica.jsp?numObj=191573&nomeSezione=PER_IL_CONSUMATORE[/url]

you should have a reply within 45 days.
however the local equivalent of "citizens advice" sounds very good advice.
best of luck

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 02:40

thanks for that, the web page would not open but I did get some info from similar pages, so will go to the bank "armed" with info and see where we go from here