Is it true that an insurance surveyor’s report is confidential and cannot be furnished to the insured?
Hindol Sengupta, Kolkata
A surveyor and loss adjuster, although usually engaged by the insurers, is an independent professional. The confidentiality of the surveyor's report depends on the nature of assignment. For instance if a surveyor is employed as an investigator, his report is confidential and is meant for the insurers and in case of marine losses, the survey report is normally handed over to the insured. In other types of losses to the surveyors as a routine practice take a consent letter from the insured with respect to the quantum of loss thus revealing the contents of the report to the insured.