your insurer pay out for your claim. 3. Contact the police If your claim is the result of criminal activity, a burglary or vandalism you will need to report what's happened to the police. To prove your claim in genuine, you will need to get a crime reference number from the police before your insurer will consider paying out. The same applies if your claim relates to a lost item - you just need to contact your local police station to file a report 4. Pay your excess asap It's likely you'll need to pay your excess fairly soon in the claims process and it's a good idea to do this promptly as your insurer is unlikely to take things further until you do so. However, if your policy has a high excess and the claim is for a lesser amount it is worth double checking that it's worth proceeding. Confirm the excess you'll need to pay and find out whether it's cheaper to pay for the work or replacement yourself - i so you can stop the claim. If the cost is comparable or just a little bit extra it may be worth covering the cost yourself anyway so you avoid pushing the claim through your insurance policy. 5. Record everything Keep a clear record of your insurance claim, including who you speak to and when (note down dates and times), written quotes and any letters or emails you receive from your insurer. This will ensure you have a