Legal Insurance

**miltonlouw** · 15th December 2009, 07:15 AM

The cost of taking legal action can be prohibitive. Could you afford to claim compensation if you were injured in an accident, unfairly dismissed from work or had a dispute with a business?

A friend of mine has had legal insurance for the past three years and believed he was covered. About a month ago, he was accussed of being involved in a theft syndicate at his work. He immediately called his legal insurance company, but was informed they do not cover criminal cases.

He was taken for a polygraph test (is that legal in Namibia), and informed that he had failed the test. This led to him leaving the job that morning to go speak to his legal insurer.

Yeah right. They do not cover the expenses for a labour case either.

WHAT is it with insurance companies that do not want to pay claims? If you complain at NAMFISA they do very little to help.

If I am going to buy legal insurance I expect:
Bail Assistance
• Bail negotiations and applications on members’ behalf
• Depositing of the bail amount/issuing of bail guarantee on behalf of arrested member
Civil Law
• Bank and insurance matters
• Blacklisting
• Building and construction matters
• Contractual disputes
• Debt collection
• Letters of demand
• Litigation
• Personal injury claims, etc
Criminal Law
• Fraud, theft, robbery or assault
• Arrests
• Bail applications
• Consumer issues
• Driving under the influence
• Reckless driving
• Search warrants, etc.
Family Law
• Ante-nuptial contracts
• Custody disputes
• Divorces
• Family violence matters
• Interdicts
• Maintenance disputes, etc.
Labour Law
• Dismissals
• Disciplinary proceedings
• Pension payout disputes
• Restraint of trade agreements
• Retrenchments
• Unpaid wages
• Working condition

Surely this is not too much to ask?

Unregistered · 15th December 2009, 07:55 AM

No, not too much to expect; But you will not get it!

**Galaxy** · 15th December 2009, 02:43 PM

I don't have this type of insurance so cannot comment directly on it. What I do know is that with insurance of any type it is well worth spending the time and effort to read the fine-print, and then read it again, and asking questions before signing the dotted line. Where things are made easier for consumers in many other countries is that the insurance companeis have to explain to you in plain English what you are covered for, and what not.

I suspect that in our country the onus is on us to make sure we know what we are getting ourselves into, and that it is not on the insurance company to make sure it has properly explained everything to you?

On another note: What was your friend actually insured for, if it was none of the itmes you listed?

**miltonlouw** · 16th December 2009, 06:05 AM

Thanks Galaxy.

The point is still: what was he insured for if not what he needed? Insurance is supposed to give peace of mind - not just take premiums.

**juikk** · 16th December 2009, 02:55 PM

Legalshield is the best insurer for the mentioned types of cases. i recently derived such benefits without remotely feeling any cost whatsoever. ;-)

**miltonlouw** · 17th December 2009, 06:24 AM

Juikk, same insurer as my friend.

It seems that he was sold over a telephone and not personal selling where his own needs should be taken care of by a broker. This mas selling of a product that might / or might not cover your needs is the problem for many consumers.

**juikk** · 29th December 2009, 04:22 PM

yep Milton, I noticed even in the banking sector, the who helps you plays a major role as opposed to from which company/bank.....same goes for legalshield, MTC, leoTM ,etc etc. It is the customer experience individuals leaves you with.......quite interesting and noteworthy....