Financial hardship support
We’re here to support our customers by responding to claim events with expertise, compassion and efficiency.
Financial hardship support is designed to support a customer or third-party who owes us money, including an excess under a policy we have issued. You can ask us to assess your eligibility for financial hardship support at any time.
Step 1. Contact us
We’ll ask you some questions to understand your circumstances, explain the financial hardship application process and answer any questions, please contact us.
Step 2. Complete the financial hardship application
We will ask you to complete a financial hardship application. Depending on your specific needs, the circumstances and the amount we may request supporting documentation to assist us in reviewing your application for support.
Step 3. Assessment of application
Once we’ve received the completed form and any required supporting documents, we’ll assess your application and communicate the outcome to you in writing within 21 days.
Types of Support
We have a range of options available to support you which may include:
- Temporarily postponing a payment
- Collecting a payment in instalments
- Arranging direct payment of a claim expense (eg. hire car)
Additional support aligned to your needs:
We are committed to supporting customers in financial hardship and our team will work with you to provide support that is aligned to your specific circumstances.
Auto & General Insurance Company Ltd subscribe to the General Insurance Code of Practice 2020 (‘the code’). Part 10 of the code outlines financial hardship support. The code can be accessed by visiting: http://codeofpractice.com.au/. The Code is independently monitored and enforced by the Code Governance Committee.
Frequently asked questions
Financial hardship means you are having difficulty meeting your financial obligations to us.
Auto & General assess financial hardship applications on a case by case basis to support customers based on their individual circumstances.
Financial hardship support does not include the payment of premiums however we encourage customers having difficulty making premium payments to contact our Service team.
Where a natural disaster has occurred and you need to make a related claim which has caused you an urgent financial need, we will do either or both of the following:
- fast track our assessment and the process we follow to make a decision regarding your claim, and/or
- pay you an advance amount to help ease your urgent financial need, within 5 business days.
If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our service, including the support we have offered as part of your financial hardship application, please contact us to make a complaint.
Independent support
The National Debt Helpline is a not-for-profit service that offers free, independent and confidential financial counselling to help people tackle their debt.
National Debt Helpline
