Aussies getting thousands back from 'junk insurance' claims

Queensland premier accused of lying to parliament

Some Australians are getting back as much as $90,000 after forking out for unnecessary so-called “junk insurance”.

The expensive policies were either sold as vital to get a credit card, car or home loan and sometimes sneakily added on, leaving consumers out of pocket.

When Tony Herrmann took out a car loan he didn’t realise he was financially being taken for a ride.

Tony Herrmann was paying two insurance policies on his car without realising.

“I was paying two insurances for the one item,” he said.

Then Hermann found out unnecessary insurance had also been added to credit cards and personal loans over several years.

He’d been ripped off at least $8500.

“It’s disgusting people are putting those insurances on,” he said.

Dave Collier discovered he was owed more than $17,000 from his home loan.

“I thought ‘if I get $1000 back this is a bonus’, having no idea what I had paid out over the years,” he said.

It was for consumer credit insurance which protects lenders if loan repayments can’t be met due to unemployment, sickness or injury.

Dave Collier discovered he was owed more than $17,000 from his home loan.

It was something Dave was sold each time he refinanced his house, but the retired police officer says he didn’t need it because he already had income protection insurance through work.

“Effectively you’re painted into a corner of having to take the insurance out otherwise the loan wouldn’t be approved,” he said.

Both men got their cash back through Claimo, which has a no win, no fee rule and instead takes 30 per cent of any refund.

It’s just one claims management company that will investigate potential windfalls for consumers, looking at everything from mortgage protection insurance to salary sacrifice and car leases.

Australians are getting money back after being sold so-called ‘junk insurance’ policies.

Nathan Mortlock from Claimo said they’re getting some Australians up to $90,000 in refunds.

“The bank’s not going to call you to say they owe you some money, you have to do something about it,” he said.

Consumer experts say you can check if you’re eligible for a refund yourself by going through your loan contract or statements and searching for words such as “credit card insurance” or “loan protection”.