Independent claims preparation for individuals and businesses.
If your insurer has rejected, underpaid or simply stopped responding to your claim, you don't have to accept it. NKH Advisory acts for you — with the same engineering rigour, industry standing and 60+ years of combined experience the insurance market relies on.
Has your insurer done any of these to you?
These are the situations we deal with every day. If any of them apply to your claim, you should speak to us before accepting the insurer's decision.
Claim flatly rejected
Your insurer said your loss is "not covered" or cited a policy exclusion — but gave you little or no technical explanation for why.
Claim unfairly reduced
You claimed R400,000 and were offered R110,000. The insurer's assessor produced a low figure with no independent engineering backing.
Claim simply not actioned
Weeks or months have passed. You've heard nothing, been passed between departments, or received no written decision at all.
"Wear and tear" used against you
Your claim was declined on the basis that the damage is attributed to wear and tear or lack of maintenance — without any independent assessment.
Settlement below reinstatement cost
The amount offered won't come close to actually repairing or replacing what was lost. Real reinstatement costs have been ignored.
Municipal or infrastructure claim stalled
Your claim against a municipality or public entity for infrastructure damage, flooding or public liability has been unresponsive for months.
Your own expert — at the table where decisions are made.
Your insurer appointed an adjuster to represent their interests. NKH Advisory represents yours — with the same technical rigour, the same industry standing, and the same playbook.
Independent damage assessment
We conduct our own forensic assessment of the loss using ECSA-registered electrical, civil and mechanical engineers. Our figures are defensible.
Policy and coverage analysis
We review your policy in detail, challenge exclusions applied incorrectly and identify coverage your insurer may have overlooked or misinterpreted.
Quantum preparation & negotiation
We prepare a fully documented, technically substantiated claim quantum and negotiate directly with the insurer on your behalf — in writing and in meetings.
Dispute resolution and NFO referral
If the insurer won't move, we guide you through formal dispute processes including referral to the National Financial Ombud (NFO) with full supporting documentation.
Municipal and SOE claims
We handle claims against municipalities, SOEs and public entities for infrastructure damage, flooding, road defects and public liability — including those that have stalled for months.
Project-managed recovery
Once a settlement is secured, we can manage the entire reinstatement project — scoping, contractor appointment, oversight and final account — so you're restored, not just paid out.
From first call to settlement — you're never alone in this.
The process is straightforward. Most clients are surprised by how quickly we can assess their situation and tell them whether they have a strong case.
Free consultation
Call or email us. We listen to your situation, review the insurer's decision and give you our honest assessment — at no charge.
Independent assessment
We deploy our own engineers and adjusters to assess the damage independently. No reliance on the insurer's assessor or their figures.
Claim preparation
We build a fully documented claim package — technically substantiated, policy-referenced and defensible in any dispute forum.
Negotiation and recovery
We negotiate directly with the insurer on your behalf, escalating to NFO or legal channels if needed, until your claim is fairly resolved.
Mini case studies — claims we've helped recover.
Anonymised summaries of typical outcomes. Insurer types are described in general terms; claim values are indicative of settlements achieved in matters of this nature.
After the storm, the insurer's assessor said most of the damage was pre-existing wear and tear. NKH came in, did their own engineering assessment and showed the full extent of the storm damage. The final settlement was more than three times what we were first offered.
Our commercial premises were flooded and the insurer rejected the claim entirely, citing a drainage maintenance exclusion. NKH reviewed the policy wording, challenged the exclusion and negotiated a full settlement within two months.
The municipality's infrastructure failure caused significant damage to my property and the claim had been sitting with them for eight months. Within six weeks of appointing NKH, we had a formal response and were in negotiation.
We know how South African insurers and municipal claims teams operate.
Our team has decades of experience working inside the South African insurance industry. We understand exactly how short-term insurers and public entities approach claims — and where disputes most often arise.
Property damage quantum disputes, engineering exclusions applied broadly, business interruption underpayments and wear-and-tear rejections on commercial risks across manufacturing, retail, logistics and property portfolios.
Underpaid property claims, storm and water damage losses, geyser and burst-pipe disputes, and rejected claims where homeowners are told the damage is gradual rather than sudden.
Municipal insurers and self-insured municipalities present some of the most delayed and unresponsive claims in South Africa. We have specialist experience in public entity liability and infrastructure damage claims.
We handle disputed claims against any short-term insurer or underwriting manager in South Africa — across commercial, industrial, personal lines and specialist portfolios.
Your rights as a policyholder.
- You are entitled to a written reason for any claim rejection or reduction — by law.
- You have the right to dispute any settlement offer before accepting it.
- You generally have 90 days from the decision to lodge a formal dispute or NFO complaint.
- Your insurer's loss adjuster works for the insurer — you have the right to appoint your own.
- An independent assessment can form the basis of a challenge to the insurer's quantum.
- NFO complaints are free and available to all individual and small business policyholders.
Transparent engagement — no surprises.
Your first consultation costs nothing. From there, we discuss the most appropriate fee structure for your specific claim before any work begins.
We assess your situation, review the insurer's decision and give you our honest opinion — with no obligation and no charge.
For qualifying claims, we work on a percentage of the recovered settlement — meaning we only earn when you recover. Ask us if your claim qualifies.
For complex commercial or engineering losses we provide a fixed-fee proposal before commencing — fully transparent, no hourly surprises.
Frequently asked questions
What is claims preparation and who is it for?+
Claims preparation is independent, expert support for policyholders — individuals and businesses — whose insurance claim has been rejected, underpaid, delayed or disputed. We assess the loss, build a fully documented claim and negotiate with your insurer on your behalf.
When should I appoint a claims preparer?+
Engage us as early as possible after a loss, or immediately when an insurer rejects your claim, applies an exclusion, attributes damage to wear and tear, or offers a settlement significantly below the cost to reinstate. You generally have 90 days from a decision to formally dispute it.
Do you work on a contingency or no-win-no-fee basis?+
For qualifying claims, yes — we can work on a success-fee basis where our fee is a percentage of the settlement recovered. For complex commercial or engineering losses we offer a fixed-fee proposal agreed upfront. The initial consultation is always free.
How long do I have to dispute my insurer's decision?+
South African short-term insurers must give you written reasons for any rejection or reduction. You typically have 90 days from that decision to lodge a formal dispute or refer the matter to the National Financial Ombud (NFO).
Do you handle municipal and public liability claims?+
Yes. We routinely act for property owners and businesses with claims against municipalities, metros, SOEs and public entities — including infrastructure failure, flooding, road defects, sewer damage and occupier liability matters that have stalled for months.
Which insurers do you take on?+
We act against any South African short-term insurer, broker or self-insured public entity — including OUTsurance, Standard Bank Insurance, Bryte, Budget and Dial Direct. Our team has decades of inside experience across the market and understands exactly how claims teams approach quantum, exclusions and dispute escalation.
My insurer said "wear and tear" voids my claim — can this be challenged?+
Yes. "Wear and tear" is one of the most over-applied exclusions in South African short-term insurance. Where damage is in fact sudden and accidental, or where the insurer has not produced an independent engineering assessment to support the exclusion, the rejection can be successfully challenged. Our ECSA-registered engineers regularly overturn wear-and-tear rejections with defensible technical evidence.
Can I complain to the NFO if my business claim was rejected by a direct insurer?+
Yes. The National Financial Ombud (NFO) handles complaints from individual policyholders and small businesses against direct insurers, brokers and underwriting managers. The NFO process is free. We prepare the full NFO complaint pack — policy analysis, independent assessment, quantum and submission — to give your matter the best chance of a favourable outcome.
You have 90 days to dispute. Don't let the clock run out.
A rejected or underpaid claim is not the end of the road. Contact us today — the first conversation is free, and it costs nothing to find out where you stand.
Johannesburg · Durban · Countrywide South Africa · Free first consultation. This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Fee structures vary by claim type and are confirmed in writing before engagement.