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Other Insurance

Find out more about other insurance products like funeral insurance, pet insurance, consumer credit insurance or junk insurance.
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Carmel’s Story: Funeral Insurance

Carmel is a First Nations woman in her late 70s. Carmel’s funeral insurance was going to expire when she turned 80, and so she would soon be unable to claim on the policy. Further the cost of the premiums had become prohibitive.  Carmel was concerned about how her family would pay for her sorry business. Carmel had been getting assistance from another service but they had not been able to reach an outcome with the insurer.

Financial Rights raised a further complaint, and the insurer offered for Carmel to be able to continue the policy until she was 99, but premiums would continue, or they would refund her premiums paid to date of almost $70,000. Carmel opted for the refund and was very happy with the result.

When to get help

Read through the fact sheets below and use the sample letters selected. Give us a call if you don’t know where to start or can’t find a solution for your problem.

  • Your funeral insurance policy is getting more expensive every year but you are worried if you cancel it you will leave your loved ones footing the bill for your funeral.
  • You bought a car but the money you now owe is much higher than you agreed to, you think there are add-on insurance products included.
  • You have lost your job and want to claim on your consumer credit insurance to cover your loan payments but you have been told you are not eligible.
  • You just discovered you paid for gap or add-on insurance policies when you took out your car loan, but you didn’t want it or know about it.

Fact Sheets

These fact sheets will give you more detailed legal information about common problems that occur with other insurance products.

Sample Letters

You can use these sample letters to help you get in touch with your insurance company when there is a problem.

Contact Us

If you have an insurance question or legal problem call the Insurance Law Service on 1300 663 464

  • Monday to Friday 10am – 1pm (Sydney time)

If you need to speak to a financial counsellor because you are in financial hardship you can call the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007

  • Monday to Friday 9.30am – 4.30pm (Sydney time)
  • Please note, the National Debt Helpline is answered by both Financial Rights (our service) and Uniting (NSW.ACT) which is based in Dubbo and provides telephone financial counselling, but does not have solicitors available. Our services are run separately, neither service has access to any information or advice given to or by the other service.

If you are struggling to make a claim because of family violence or abuse issues please also visit our Financial Abuse webpage.

External Resources

Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA)

  • Ph: 1800 931 678
  • Email: info@afca.org.au
  • Web: www.afca.org.au
  • Address: GPO Box 3, Melbourne VIC 3001

Australian Securities and Investments Commission is the regulator for financial services providers.

Insurance Council of Australia owns the General Insurance Code of Practice.

Consumer Action Law Centre’s DemandARefund

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I was given step by step advice on how to progress with the next stages of my claim that is being unjustly refused by my insurance company. Destiny was very good, very helpful… I am in my eighties and find it all so overwhelming.