Despina
Lawyer · Athens, Greece
- 251 cases handled · 1 in this service
- 18+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, German, Greek
- Law, Athens University of Law
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4.95(12 reviews)
Insurance Claim Disputes in Greece
An insurance claim dispute in Greece arises when an insurance company (asfalistiki etaireia) refuses, reduces or delays the payment due under a policy after a road accident, an earthquake or fire at home, a hospital stay, a boat incident or a cancelled trip. English-speaking lawyers dispute the refusal with the insurer, take it to the Consumer Ombudsman where that fits and to the Greek courts.
About Insurance Claim Disputes in Greece
An insurance claim dispute — people search for insurance claim denied, disagreeing with an insurance claim, insurer refuses to pay, underpaid claim or insurance claim lawyer — is a disagreement with the insurance company over whether and how much it pays under the policy. In Greek the company is the ασφαλιστική εταιρεία, the policy the ασφαλιστήριο and the payment the ασφαλιστική αποζημίωση; note that in everyday Greek ασφάλιση on its own usually means social insurance, so the words here are about private insurance (ιδιωτική ασφάλιση). Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “General Insurance Claims”.
Which policies it covers in Greece
- Car insurance after a road accident (τροχαίο): the compulsory third-party cover and optional own-damage cover, including accidents with a foreign or uninsured vehicle.
- Home insurance for fire, water damage, storm, theft and earthquake, which many owners hold because the mortgage bank asked for it or because the house is let to tourists.
- Private health insurance, which many foreign residents in Greece rely on for private clinics.
- Boat and yacht insurance, travel insurance, and liability or business policies of a shop, a rental villa or a tour operator.
- Life insurance paid to a family after a death; see also dealing with a death abroad.
How a dispute usually goes
- Reading the policy and the refusal letter: exclusions, conditions, late notification, the valuation by the insurer's loss assessor (πραγματογνώμονας) and unpaid premiums are the usual reasons given.
- A written complaint (καταγγελία) to the insurer, which has to answer in writing and with reasons within a set time; an independent expert report is often obtained at this stage.
- If the answer does not resolve it: the Consumer Ombudsman (Συνήγορος του Καταναλωτή) for an out-of-court settlement, and the insurance supervision department of the Bank of Greece, which oversees insurers but does not decide individual claims.
- A claim in the civil courts. A complaint does not stop the limitation period running, so the court route is prepared in parallel.
Points to watch
- Policies and correspondence are in Greek; what the agent explained in English at the time of sale is not what binds the insurer.
- After a road accident caused by an uninsured or unidentified driver, or when the insurer itself has failed, the Auxiliary Fund (Επικουρικό Κεφάλαιο) steps in; a settlement system between insurers exists for many ordinary accidents.
- A low valuation of the damage is the most common disagreement; photographs, repair quotes and an independent assessor matter.
- Claims against an insurer become time-barred; waiting for the insurer to change its mind carries a risk.
- A claim against the person who caused the loss, rather than against your insurer, is a different kind of case.
What a lawyer does
Reads the policy and the refusal, gathers the evidence and the expert report, writes the complaint in Greek, deals with the Ombudsman and the supervisor, and files and runs the court claim — also for a client who has left Greece. A policy is a contract, so the rules of contract disputes and breach of contract apply; having the terms checked before signing, as part of contract review, avoids some refusals, and buyers arrange home cover together with property purchase.
Questions and answers
My insurer refused my claim. Is that final?
No. The refusal is the insurer's position, not a decision. A lawyer checks the reason against the policy and decides whether to press the insurer, go to the Ombudsman or file a claim.
I had a car accident in Greece with a foreign or uninsured car. Who pays?
The other driver's insurer, through its Greek correspondent, or the Auxiliary Fund when there is no valid insurance; the police report and the other car's details are what the claim is built on.
Can I pursue the claim after leaving Greece?
Yes, through a lawyer acting under a power of attorney; hearings rarely need your presence.
Is the Consumer Ombudsman compulsory?
No. It is an out-of-court option whose outcome is a recommendation; the court remains open, and the time limit for the court claim keeps running meanwhile.
4 lawyers who provide Insurance Claim Disputes in Greece
Sorted by experience in this service. Write to any of them — the reply comes from the lawyer, without obligation.
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Joanna
Lawyer · Thessaloniki, Greece
- 345 cases handled
- 18+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Greek, Italian, Spanish
- Law, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki - Universidad de Salamanca Spain- International Hellenic University- University of Cologne, Germany
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4.86(40 reviews)
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Konstantinos
Lawyer · Athens, Greece
- 28 cases handled
- 11+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Greek
- Degree in Law, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens
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5.00(1 review)
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Fotis
Lawyer · Mytilene, Greece
- 11 cases handled
- 6+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Greek
- MSc in law and informatics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
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The service dealt with my issue promptly and professionally. The lawyer was highly competent and friendly, and explained things clearly whenever I asked questions.
— Vince04 Nov 2025Insurance Claim Disputes -
Brilliant lawyer, for whom nothing was too much trouble. Others had advised me that my issue could not be fixed, yet she resolved it. I am truly grateful for her hard work, and I am very satisfied with the result.
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The lawyer is very professional and very helpful. She has helped me with problems caused by another lawyer and, when I mixed up the time of an appointment, she was very understanding and arranged another one. Her English is perfect, so we never had any misunderstandings. I would definitely recommend her services to anyone.
— Elzbieta19 Nov 2021 -
Very happy with the service.
— Bill05 Nov 2020 -
Even though the case dragged on for more than a year, I was always kept informed about the process and got an immediate answer to every question. I am very satisfied with the final result.
— Tomas05 Aug 2020 -
She replied extremely fast to my first inquiry, quickly arranged a meeting to go over the details, and answered all my questions. Reaching her by phone or text was easy, she was punctual, and she was fun and personable to talk to as well, with perfect English. After I had struggled for months to get this done on my own, she sorted everything out for me in record time. Anyone trying to navigate Greek bureaucracy should hire her, and I would recommend her.
— Ine06 Aug 2026 -
I am really happy with her. Every time I wrote she answered fast, so I never had to chase her for news of how things were going. She understood what I needed straight away and, with her perfect English, explained the parts I had not followed without making me feel stupid. She was also nice to deal with. The price was fair, and in short she got it done, so I am glad I chose her.
— Antoine03 Jul 2026 -
I cannot thank the lawyer enough for her expertise and dedication in handling my case. She was thorough and persistent and kept up good communication, in perfect English, at all times. She made a very difficult and stressful situation much easier to manage from afar. Extremely professional and knowledgeable. Highly recommended.
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She is knowledgeable, approachable and very professional, with perfect English. She went over and above to find what I needed.
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