This course covers the rights and remedies available to policyholders when an insurer denies a claim, disputes the amount owed, or delays payment beyond what is reasonable. Across six lessons, the material addresses how to read a denial letter and identify the specific grounds cited, how to assess the strength of each ground and determine which ones can be challenged, how to prepare and submit a structured response, the legal framework for bad faith in Canadian insurance claims handling, the limitation periods that apply to coverage disputes in Alberta, the dispute resolution options available including negotiation, appraisal, mediation, and litigation, and what practical steps a policyholder should take in the first days after receiving a denial. A single scenario, a denied theft claim at a retail business, threads through all six lessons.
A small clothing retailer in west Edmonton received a two-page letter from the insurer three weeks after reporting a theft at the shop. The letter was the first communication the retailer had received from the insurer since reporting the loss, and its contents were deeply unwelcome. The letter stated that the insurer had completed its investigation and had determined that the claim was not covered under the terms of the policy. The claim was denied in full.