Car Lighting Damage - Did Not Send My Vehicle to the Correct 3rd Party Service Provider

My car suffered lightning damage when the bolt arched off a tree in my work parking lot. 3 other ****orkers cars were also hit by the arc and suffered varying amounts of damages.

For my car, it appears the lighting arced and struck via the radio antenna which suffered high-intensity burns. The electronics of the car were affected - my in car display no longer worked and all the emergency lights on the HUD were illuminated.

I reported this to Outsurance - it was a digital process, and they asked for pictures of the issue. I provided images of the burnt antenna and all the warning lights on on my HUD. They collected the vehicle and sent it to a panel beater. A PANEL BEATER! Despite me telling them numerous times that this is not a body-issue and an electronics issue due to lighting damage, they sent it to a body detailing specialist. Of course, the "specialist" came back and said even though there was high-intensity heat damage to the antenna consistent with a lightning strike, they was no evidence of lighting damage... What about all the lights on my HUD lighting up like a Christmas tree and my display looking like it is accepting a signal from outer-space? What about the fact that I reported it as lightning damage and have multiple witnesses and other affected cars?

Apparently, none of this matters, and if I want to take the matter further I need to hire another provider out of my own pocket to provide another assessment. I cannot afford to do this... I specifically pay Outsurance (a frankly ridiculous sum of money) every month so I DO NOT HAVE TO HIRE MY OWN SPECIALISTS.

Outsurance eventually rejected my claim and I took the matter to the Ombudsman who was equally as useless. They also said my only recourse was to get another specialist to look at the car and my current recourse is take Outsurance to court at my own expense.

I feel absolutely shattered. I have paid my premiums diligently for years, in fact, this is my first claim ever. There was no care given to my case - there was no further investigation. It feels like the company is very happy to collect premiums every month, but providing a proper service is last on the agenda. I don't believe it is unreasonable to expect the insurer to provide the appropriate 3rd party service provider for the issue.

I will not recommend Outsurance to any of my family and friends, and will actively encourage those who are currently with the company to leave immediately.