You submitted the documents. The inspection is complete. And now — you wait. A day, two days, a week. The phone stays silent, emails go unanswered, and the repair bills keep piling up.
If this situation sounds familiar, you are not alone. One of the most common complaints drivers have after a road accident is the slow or unfair payment of insurance compensation. But what does the law actually say? And what can you do if the insurer keeps delaying?
The Legal Deadlines — In Brief
In Bulgaria, the deadlines for paying insurance compensation are regulated by the Bulgarian Insurance Code. Here is what you need to know:
Third-Party Liability Insurance
In a Third-Party Liability claim — meaning you are the injured party seeking compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurer — the law provides the following deadlines:
➔ 15 working days from the date all required documents are submitted — if liability is undisputed
➔ 3 months from the date the claim is filed — absolute deadline for the insurer to issue a decision, even if documents are incomplete
If the insurer fails to issue a decision or pay compensation within these deadlines, statutory interest is owed for every day of delay.
Casco Insurance
For Casco claims — your own vehicle insurance policy — the deadlines are determined by the terms of the specific policy. However, the law still requires the insurer to issue a decision within 15 working days after all requested documents have been submitted.
⚠️ Important: the deadline starts running only after the insurer has received all required documents — not from the date of the accident itself. This is exactly where insurers often exploit a loophole: requesting additional documents one after another, effectively “resetting” the clock each time.
What Happens in Practice
The theory is clear. The reality is often different.
Many drivers wait months — and sometimes even more than a year — before receiving any payment at all. Insurance companies have several ways of delaying the process:
➔ Requesting additional documents one by one, days apart
➔ Ordering repeated inspections without a clear reason
➔ Disputing liability or the extent of the damages
➔ Offering reduced compensation and waiting for you to accept it
The result is always the same: you pay out of pocket while waiting — or you accept an amount lower than the actual damages.
What Can You Do If the Insurance Company Delays Payment?
If the insurer fails to respond within the legal deadlines, you have several options:
1. Send an Official Written Notice
Send the insurer a formal letter with proof of delivery, stating the date on which you submitted the documents and requesting a decision within the statutory timeframe. This creates a documented record and marks the beginning of the interest period for delayed payment.
2. File a Complaint with the Financial Supervision Commission
The Bulgarian Financial Supervision Commission is the regulatory authority overseeing insurance companies in Bulgaria. Complaints can be submitted online or in writing — and the process is completely free of charge.
3. Seek Legal Assistance
For larger claims or systematic delays, a lawyer specializing in insurance disputes may initiate legal proceedings and claim statutory interest for the delay — which can sometimes significantly increase the final amount owed.
4. Sell Your Insurance Claim
If you do not want to wait months or fight with the insurer, you may transfer your insurance claim to a specialized company and receive your money immediately.
When Does Delay Interest Start Working in Your Favor?
If the insurer exceeds the statutory deadline, it owes legal interest from the day of the delay until the day payment is made. In cases of long delays, this amount can become substantial — especially for larger claims.
It is important to keep every piece of correspondence, the dates on which documents were submitted, and all official responses from the insurer. These records become crucial evidence if the matter reaches court.
The Most Common Mistakes When Waiting for Compensation
➔ Accepting the first offer without checking whether it reflects the actual damages
➔ Waiting without written proof — verbal conversations with claims departments have no legal value
➔ Repairing the vehicle before inspection — this may invalidate your claim
➔ Missing the claim deadline — the limitation period is 3 years from the date of the accident
➔ Not knowing your rights — insurers often rely precisely on this
Don’t Want to Wait?
At Claimster, we buy out insurance claims under Third-Party Liability and Casco policies. Instead of waiting months for a response from the insurer, we can pay you a fair amount within 48 hours of signing the agreement.
➔ No lengthy negotiations
➔ No stress or paperwork
➔ No waiting — the money can be with you the very same day
At Claimster, you may also assign us to collect your insurance claim on your behalf — against a commission payable only upon success.
And finally, if you wish to speak with a lawyer, Claimster can recommend an attorney specializing in insurance claims.
Have questions? Contact us at +359 88 596 7297 or info@claimster.bg.
