Lawyers automate this, so why don't airlines?
The actual problem is not easyJet, though. They are complaint to the letter of the law. The problem is the law which is written in a way that allows easyJet to make the claims process as painful as possible.
I have gone through this with a lot of stuff, most notoriously when dealing with landlords. On its face the law seems consumer friendly, but only when you try to use it, do you realize that you need to spend months/years wrestling with the company to get your measly few hundred euros back, and you might even need to engage a lawyer.<p>I guess although engaging the lawyer seems optional at first glance, it is really the only way to get anything done.