Can I refuse to pay excess?

Can you refuse to pay excess in Australia for home, car and jewellery insurance, no you cannot refuse to pay excess if you want claim paid, as excess is part of policy contract you agreed to, and insurer will deduct excess from claim payment or require you pay repairer before repair. Excess is amount you contribute to claim, $500 to $1,000 for home, $500 to $800 for car, $100 to $500 for jewellery contents, $0 for standalone specialist. If you refuse to pay excess, insurer may refuse to pay claim or reduce payment, for example $5K theft claim with $1,000 excess, insurer pays $4K only after you pay $1K, if you refuse, insurer may not authorise repair and claim remains unpaid. For car, repairer will not start work until excess paid, as insurer pays remainder to repairer. If you think excess unfair, you can complain to insurer, ask for review, or lodge complaint with Australian Financial Complaints Authority AFCA, but you cannot simply refuse if PDS says excess applies. You can choose higher premium with lower excess $100 to $300 at renewal to avoid large excess, or choose $0 excess jewellery insurance $150 to $300 per year for $10K ring. So you cannot refuse to pay excess if you want claim, as it is contractual, you must pay excess to repairer or have it deducted from settlement, otherwise claim not paid, though you can negotiate payment plan if cannot afford.