Friday, July 28 2006 10:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Insurance consumers are the most harassed, according to National Consumer Helpline (NCH), which receives maximum calls about policy related grievances.

"Insurance consumers are most harassed," said a study by NCH, a Delhi University project sponsored by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.

A significant number of complaints received at NCH since its commencement on March 15, 2005 were from the insurance sector, comprising both life and general insurance.

The nature of complaints ranged from partial or total repudiation of claim, dispute regarding premium payment, not effecting change of address, non compliance of directives issued by insurance ombudsman.

Consumer grievances should be totally eliminated as far as financial and insurance services are concerned, the DU coordinator of the programme Sri Ram Khanna said.

Consumers complained about the legal construction of the policy clauses minutely incorporated in the document.

Complaints were also registered for deduction of amount paid as first premium even if the plan was not accepted within 15 days of acceptance period.

Interestingly, most of the complaints received pertain to claims relating to motor vehicle and medical insurance.

In motor vehicle claims, problem arises when a insurance company downgrades the claim of the insured by alleviating estimation of damages.

"Heath insurance in India has most dissatisfied customer," the study said.