As a general practice, quality workshops appointed by an insurance company will encourage an insured to make a claim under his own policy ("Discrepancy in claims policy" by Mr Lim Jit Siong; Thursday).

The authorised workshop will assist the insured to recover his uninsured losses from the third-party insurer, which may include the policy excess and the loss of use of the vehicle for the period when it is under repair.

If the insured makes a claim under his own policy, insurers will usually take into consideration the circumstances of the accident, and in cases where it is clear that the insured is not at fault, the insurer will usually not dock the insured's No Claim Discount (NCD). This has been the agreed practice among motor insurers with regard to treatment of an insured's NCD.

However, if the insured still wishes to make a third-party claim, he is free to choose whichever workshop he wishes to have his vehicle repaired, if this is permitted under the terms and conditions of his policy.

Derek Teo

Executive Director

General Insurance Association of Singapore