What Is FIDReC Singapore? Everything You Need to Know (2026)

When you have a dispute with your insurer or financial institution in Singapore that you can't resolve internally, FIDReC is your most powerful free resource. Most Singaporeans don't know it exists until they need it — and by then, a basic understanding of how it works can make a significant difference to the outcome.

This guide covers everything you need to know about FIDReC in 2026: what it is, what it can do, how the process works, what it can award, and how to file the strongest possible case.

What Is FIDReC?

FIDReC stands for the Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre. It is an independent, not-for-profit company established in 2005 and approved by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) as the industry-wide alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme for financial services disputes in Singapore.

All financial institutions regulated by MAS — including all licensed insurers, banks, and financial advisers — are required to be FIDReC members and to participate in its dispute resolution process. This is a mandatory regulatory requirement, not voluntary participation.

FIDReC resolves disputes through two mechanisms:

1. Mediation: A trained mediator facilitates discussion between you and the financial institution to reach a mutually agreed resolution
2. Adjudication: An independent adjudicator reviews the evidence and issues a binding decision

What Disputes Does FIDReC Handle?

FIDReC handles disputes involving:

Insurance:

• Life insurance (death claims, total permanent disability, critical illness, investment-linked policies)
• Health insurance (Medisave-approved Integrated Shield Plans, hospital and surgical insurance)
• General insurance (travel, home, motor, personal accident)
• All claims disputes where the policyholder disagrees with the insurer's decision

Banking and financial services:

• Banking fee disputes
• Electronic payment disputes
• Investment product disputes
• Personal loan disputes

For the purposes of this guide, we focus on insurance disputes, which constitute the majority of FIDReC's caseload.

What FIDReC Cannot Handle

FIDReC has jurisdiction limits. It cannot handle:

• Disputes where the amount claimed exceeds the monetary limits (see below)
• Disputes involving commercial insurance for large corporations
• Disputes that are the subject of ongoing court proceedings
• Disputes where a court has already issued a judgment
• Complaints about MAS itself or government bodies

FIDReC's Monetary Limits

FIDReC handles disputes up to:

• SGD 100,000 through mediation
• SGD 150,000 through adjudication (for insurance claims)

If your claim exceeds these limits, you would need to pursue the dispute through the Singapore courts. However, FIDReC can still accept jurisdiction if both parties agree.

The FIDReC Process: Step by Step

Step 1: Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR) First

Before FIDReC will accept your complaint, you must first try to resolve it directly with your insurer through their internal dispute resolution process. This means:

1. Filing a formal written complaint with the insurer
2. Waiting for their formal written response

Most Singapore insurers aim to respond within 21 calendar days. If you haven't received a satisfactory response after 30 days, you can proceed to FIDReC.

Step 2: Filing Your FIDReC Complaint

To file a complaint with FIDReC:

1. Go to fidrec.com.sg
2. Complete the online complaint form
3. Upload all relevant documents (your policy, denial letter](/blog/how-to-appeal-insurance-claim-denial-singapore)

• Where to Complain About Insurance in Singapore: MAS, FIDReC, or MoneySmart?

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