Iranian Inspectorate Cracks Down: Insurance Firms Given 10-Day Ultimatum to Settle Claims
In a decisive move to address public grievances, Iran’s General Inspection Organization has issued a stern 10-day deadline to insurance companies, demanding they resolve systemic delays and settle all overdue customer claims.
A Directive for Swift Action
The announcement was made by Sattar Shirali, the Deputy for Economic Affairs at the General Inspection Organization. This directive follows comprehensive field inspections of over 50 insurance claim units across the nation. Shirali reported that public dissatisfaction has been growing, primarily concerning significant delays in claim payouts.
Identifying the Bottlenecks
During on-the-ground investigations in areas like Eslamshahr and Varamin, inspectors identified key issues. The most common complaint involved the lengthy process for claim settlements and delays in receiving accident scene sketches from the police system.
Shirali highlighted a critical procedural failure: “In some accidents, a police sketch is drawn and a tracking code is issued, but it is not visible in the insurance companies’ systems. If this problem exists in other provinces, the order to fix it must be issued today.”
He also pointed out that some companies were inappropriately asking claimants to manually obtain sketches, a process that should be instantaneous and systematic.
Addressing Disputes Over High-Value Vehicles
Another significant issue addressed was the handling of claims for expensive and imported vehicles. Shirali explained that some companies refuse full compensation by citing the vehicle as “non-standard,” only paying up to the value of a standard domestic car.
He clarified that resolving this price disparity requires a revision of insurance premiums and regulations, not the denial of legitimate claims.
Reaffirming Legal Obligations
The deputy inspector emphasized that insurance law mandates companies to compensate claimants within a maximum of 15 days. It was found that some firms had extended this period to 20 working days. However, due to the Inspection Organization’s follow-ups, this违规 regulation has now been corrected.
A Mandate for Resolution and Transparency
Concluding the announcement, Shirali stated, “The Central Insurance of Iran is obliged to resolve all systemic problems, delays, and inconsistencies within the next 10 days.” The organization must then report the results to the Inspection Organization and conduct transparent public awareness campaigns.
This intervention is part of a broader effort, with seven different regulations that had caused public dissatisfaction being amended since the start of the year following the organization’s persistent follow-ups.