THE Insurance Information Service of the Irish Insurance Federation received almost 8,000 calls from the public last year, with a drop of 3 per cent in the number of complaints, and a sharp increase of 52 per cent in the number of insurance related queries.
Motor insurance was at the top of the list, with queries and complaints regarding life assurance being the next most frequent source of calls.
Information was also sought regarding household policies and under what circumstances people's homes were covered. Travel, health and critical illness insurance, and policies which were new to the market also featured on the list.
Queries were also made about whether companies were reliable practitioners.
The service advises people to address complaints to the company concerned initially, and then to contact the service if necessary, which may bring certain cases to the attention of the ombudsman.
General information such as statistics are also provided. The service is free.
The Federation's members include almost all the companies in the insurance market here, with all of the providers of such policies as household and motor insurance being members.
The Federation has moved premises as of this week to 39 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. The Insurance Information Service's new telephone number at that address is (01)676 1914.
