NZ householders unhappy with earthquake insurers

Email Print

25 June 2012

More than a year after the Christchurch earthquake, most affected householders are “greatly dissatisfied” with the performance of their insurers, according to a survey in the region by activist organisation InsuranceWatch.

The survey, which covers around 380 homeowners in the Ferrymead-Sumner region of Christchurch, found 78.7% rated the progress of their insurance claims as “awful” or “poor”, and 57.8% were equally scathing of communications with their insurers.

According to the survey 68.7% of homes are legally and physically habitable and the Earthquake Commission has inspected almost all damaged homes.

But InsuranceWatch says private sector insurers have been less prompt, with 20.5% of respondents saying their insurers have not inspected their property.

Of those surveyed 27.1% have rebuilt or will totally rebuild their properties, with the rest being repairable.

Insurers are yet to confirm in writing the rebuild or repair status of 48.7% of respondents. Of those requiring a rebuild, 23.4% have formally agreed with their insurers to the preferred rebuilding options.

Some 60% of the householders surveyed had insurance with IAG/AMI, 21% with Vero, 8% with Tower and 7% with Lumley.

InsuranceWatch spokesman David Stringer says around 400 people insured with IAG told a meeting in Christchurch they have not yet had insurance scope assessments carried out on their properties.

An IAG representative at the meeting guaranteed all would get an assessment.

“We’ll see the benefits of that in the next weeks and months,” Mr Stringer told insuranceNEWS.com.au.