General News
16 February, 2024
Long insurance battle for resident
ONE Skipton resident has called out insurance companies’ poor behavior through a recent submission to a government inquiry and an appearance on national television.
The Inquiry into insurers’ responses to 2022 major floods claims began on January 31 and is investigating the behavior of insurance companies following many complaints regarding their handling of the October 2022 floods.
Maree White put in a submission to the inquiry, and said she was surprised that she was the only individual to have done so.
“When I last looked at it, I don’t think there were any other victims from the floods from October 2022, even from Rochester,” she said.
“I think there were MPs and other official councillors and things, but I don’t think there were any other individuals that had gone through the flood.
“I was a bit surprised by that because I thought I would be one of many having something to say, so it’s a bit of a surprise to see that I was just one.
“I just hope that they pay attention to what I have written and use it instead of brushing it aside.”
Ms White’s home was inundated to 40cm during the flood event, which damaged seven homes and six businesses in Skipton.
Her home was built in 1854 and only had minor issues at the time of flooding, but the insurance company claimed there were issues with the house that affected the flooding damaged.
The insurance company claimed the house lacked damp proof barriers, which were only introduced in 1875, as well as claimed the presence of trees and a tuft of grass in the house’s gutters resulted in the company refusing the claim on the grounds of major maintenance issues unrelated to the flood.
Ms White said she had wanted to do something to ensure insurance companies were held accountable for their behavior.
“My main reason for putting a submission in was so that they heard someone who’s gone through it’s point of view – how difficult it was to deal with insurance, what some of the roadblocks that insurance was putting up were, the behavior of insurance,” she said.
“I’m just hoping that they learned from some of the things that have happened and make some changes.
“It shouldn’t have been so traumatic. It should have been easier; it was much worse than dealing with the flood itself dealing with insurance.
“You pay your fees, it shouldn’t be so difficult.”
Ms White’s house remained damp for four months, which resulted in mushrooms growing in the living room and black mould spreading across all the rooms.
Speaking on national television last Tuesday, Ms White said the insurance company did not provide any form of assistance in the clean-up efforts, leaving her with a house still gutted from mouldy plaster.
Ms White is not alone in feeling insurance companies do not treat customers well.
Previously a publican in the town, Josh Nixon witnessed the devastation of the 2011 floods in Skipton.
He said he did have flood insurance, but it was not for inundation from the ground.
“I had flood insurance, but for flood from above, not inundation,” Mr Nixon said.
“They wouldn’t cover anything. Unless the roof blew off the building and I got flooded that way, they wouldn’t cover inundation from the ground up.
“After a three-year battle with them, I just gave up.
“They certainly have not changed one little bit. They didn’t want to pay out then, and they don’t want to pay out now.”
Mr Nixon said he feels insurance claims now did not feel any different from when he tried to make a claim in 2011, saying the hurdles and work piles required made claiming “Nearly impossible”.
“At the end, the poor buggers that have been flooded out through the top of Victoria, I don’t know how they’re going to go,” he said.
“Then what happens when they rebuild, and they get flooded again? How do they get insurance, because there would be no insurer that would insure them, not that you can afford to have.
“My experience with experience with insurance companies when it comes to flooding is not very good.
“I hope the people can keep their fight up and actually get paid out; if they’re paying a premium on a policy, they’re entitled to get paid, in full, for what they signed up to insure.”
For Ms White, her battle was long and difficult.
“There were some really difficult days, really dark days where I struggled mentally and emotionally and wondering if it was worth persisting,” Ms White said.
“I felt like I had to decide between my mental health and the house – what was I prepared to sacrifice to get some resolution. It was really tough.
“Life goes on as well; my father died in July, so I had to deal with his death on top of that. He was on a farm, so I had all his livestock and animals.
“Dealing with that, as well as insurance; it was a really heavy burden to deal with.”
Only four weeks ago did Ms White’s claim get settled, with the CEO of her insurance company apologizing to her via a phone call.
Ms White said she still feels the settlement is not real.
“I’m waiting for the ‘we made a mistake’,” she said.
“It doesn’t feel like it’s completely done, and because nothing’s changed physically here, it really doesn’t quite feel like its over.
“It’s been 15- 16 months now – it’s been such a long drawn out process that I can’t believe it’s been resolved.”
