THE majority of Australians believe insurance companies try to unfairly avoid paying out after natural disasters.

They also believe insurance companies try to underpay when they do agree to a claim.

Polling by UMR Research early last month of 1000 people found that when they were asked to think of home insurance, and whether insurance companies tried to unfairly avoid paying out after natural disasters, 69 per cent agreed and 15 per cent disagreed.

When asked if they believed that insurance companies tried to underpay when they did agree to pay out, 61 per cent agreed and 13 per cent disagreed.