AA Insurance on stand-by for West Coast customers

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Auckland, 4 February 2022 - While heavy rain continues to batter the West Coast and many Westport residents prepare to evacuate, the claims team at AA Insurance is on stand-by for affected customers over the long weekend, with additional staff on-call.

“We’re preparing our staff, with reinforcements on stand-by should we need them,” says Tom Bartlett, Head of Home Claims, AA Insurance. “We’d like to assure customers that we have a very experienced team on hand to help get things sorted quickly for them during this stressful time.

“We’re keen to hear from those unable to stay in their homes who need assistance, or who require urgent repairs to their homes to keep them watertight and warm,” he says. “We’re also here for those customers who’ve been evacuated from their properties and don’t know yet when they will be allowed to return and assess the damage.

“Last July we handled almost 200 significant flood-related home, contents and car claims from the same area but we’re hopeful the early warnings and preparation underway will help West Coast residents avoid significant damage as much as possible."

Although is too early to predict the extent of damage and the number of customers who may be affected, AA Insurance’s claims team had been told to “clear the decks” in anticipation of customers in need of urgent help.

“While the team are here and ready to help, it’s important to think safety first during these types of emergencies so there’s no rush to make a claim, but the sooner you let us know, the sooner we can help you,” continues Tom.

If your home floods, AA Insurance advises its customers to:

  • Make sure you, your whānau and pets are safe and in a dry area.

  • Tune into local radio and keep updated via any government or public health websites and social media.

  • Turn off your electricity if it is safe to do so, to avoid short-circuits.

  • If there is water in your light fittings, turn your lights off and call an electrician when it is safe to do so.

  • Do not attempt to inspect or repair any damage until it is safe to do so.

  • If the floors are wet, lift your furniture off the floor to prevent staining.

  • Keep your damaged items if it is safe to do so, or take photos – this is useful to confirm what needs replacing

  • If your vehicle has been damaged or suffered flooding it may be unsafe to drive

  • Often during a storm or flood, you may not know the full extent of damage to your home, car or contents, especially if you need to leave your property. AA Insurance customers should call us on 0800 500 216 as soon as you can to report any damage to your property, especially if you need emergency repairs, or if your home becomes uninhabitable, contact us and we can help to arrange temporary accommodation for you, your family and your pets.

  • Customers with non-urgent claims can head to aainsurance.co.nz/claims to make an online claim.

About AA Insurance

AA Insurance is an independently operated, New Zealand-based joint venture between the New Zealand Automobile Association Limited (NZAA) and Vero Insurance New Zealand Limited (VINZL). Since 1994 we have demonstrated trusted expertise in home, contents and car insurance in New Zealand, and in 2018 introduced commercial small business insurance. We underwrite our own policies and sell direct to New Zealanders. Our 1000+ employees look after 500,000+ customers with more than 1,000,000 policies.

We proudly partner with Variety New Zealand – the Children’s Charity (as the lead partner of its Beds for Kids programme), Student Volunteer Army and support grassroot school sports via our Big Little Sponsorship sports grant in partnership with Eden Park. We are consistently recognised in industry awards and honours, including being voted the Reader’s Digest Most Trusted General Insurer for 13 years running, named Canstar’s 2023 Home and Contents Insurer of the Year and Outstanding Value Award winner, and currently ranked 7th amongst 100 of New Zealand’s most successful companies in the Kantar Corporate Reputation Index (since 2015).

Find out more at www.aainsurance.co.nz

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AA Insurance Media Team
027 406 1787
mediacontact@aainsurance.co.nz

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