We are the voice of insurance and long-term savings | Contact us

General FAQs

  • Is the ABI an insurance company?

    No, the ABI is not an insurance company. It represent's the UK's insurance, long term savings and investment industry.

  • Can the ABI find me an insurer who offers a particular type of insurance?

    No. If you are looking for insurance cover, or are having difficulty obtaining cover, you should contact an insurance broker who will help you find appropriate cover to your needs. Contact details of your local broker, or one who specialises in the type of cover you are seeking, can be obtained from the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) website or by telephone on 0870 950 1790.

  • Does the ABI help with customer complaints and if so, can it punish insurers who have treated their customers unfairly?

    No. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates the actions of insurance companies, not the ABI. The FCA can be contacted on 0800 111 6768.

    If you have a complaint, you should first write to the insurance company concerned. If you are not satisfied with the company’s response, you may take your case to the independent complaints body for insurance, the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) to see if they can help. The FOS can be contacted on 0800 023 4567.

  • I am trying to trace an insurance company that may have changed its name or I cannot find my policy documents.

    Consult the Policy Detective website for help tracing insurers and policies.

  • My relative recently died and I am trying to find out whether they had a life insurance policy. I have no policy document, how can I trace the policy?

    If you are trying to trace a life insurance policy, but do not know the name of the company, you can use this free-to-use online service from Gretel. You may also wish to check the person's bank/credit card statements (direct debit/standing order payments can be used by them to identify the insurer).

  • How can I trace the life insurance of a missing relative?

    If you are looking for the life insurance of a missing person you can contact Missing People, an independent charity funded by donations that aims to guide people who are looking for missing relatives, Missing People has produced an information leaflet on dealing with a missing relative's financial affairs – life insurance (pdf 248kB).