Auckland, 14 November 2016 – AA Insurance is urging customers affected by this morning’s earthquake activity to focus on keeping themselves, their family and pets safe before making a claim.
“If you have sustained earthquake-related damage to your home, contents or car there is no rush to make a claim if there is no immediate need to – the first priority is your safety,” says Simon Hobbs, Head of Claims at AA Insurance.
“However, if you need urgent repairs to make your home safe, or temporary accommodation, call us on 0800 500 216. We have staff available to help customers immediately.”
“As people return to their homes, they will start engaging insurers to help assess the damage and plan for the future. We are geared up for this,” he says. “However, at this stage it is too soon to know the extent of the claims, because aftershocks are still happening. Once people have time to assess the damage they’ll start contacting EQC or their insurer, but at this stage it’s more important to focus on their own safety.”
EQC
For customers not in immediate need, there’s no rush to make a claim. EQC will be taking care of the first $115k of house and $23k of contents damage (inc gst).
“Ring your insurer first if you need temporary accommodation or have any queries,” says Simon. “Then if you have minor or moderate earthquake-related damage you should contact EQC, as it will be taking care of the first $115k of house and $23k of contents damage. You can lodge a claim by contacting EQC directly, or make a claim online via the EQC website,” says Simon.
“EQC will then let us know that you’ve made a claim with them. You have three months to make your claims with EQC for any non-urgent repairs, so you have time to look after any critical matters first.”
AA Insurance advice for what to do after an earthquake:
If you need to leave your home - take these steps, if it’s safe to do so. Don’t re-enter a severely damaged building if it seems unsafe.
Turn off the power, gas and water
Secure your home as well as you can
Take any easily portable valuables or documents with you; secure your contents as well as possible
Make sure your pets are safe and keep them with you if you can
Check on neighbours, especially if they live alone, are elderly or vulnerable
Text rather than call family and friends to keep from overloading the phone lines
If your home is damaged
Keep or take photos of any damaged items, including spoilt food if your power has gone off
If possible, pack fragile items away until the aftershocks subside
Keep clear of broken windows or roofs
Take care when cleaning up broken glass or securing roofing
Remove any fallen debris from footpaths and walkways, if you can do this safely
If your vehicle has been severely damaged do not attempt to drive it
AA Insurance customers should call 0800 500 216 for any further information
AA Insurance advises customers to be vigilant during this time, secure any breakables and valuables, and follow Civil Defence guidelines for their own safety – getthru.govt.nz
About AA Insurance
AA Insurance is an independently operated, New Zealand-based joint venture between the New Zealand Automobile Association (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 930+ staff look after over 480,000 customers with 970,000 policies.
We proudly partner with Variety NZ and Eden Park and have been consistently recognised by: Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Brands (since 2011) and Quality Service Awards for Car, and Home and Contents Insurance (since 2015), Kantar Customer Leadership Index (since 2019), Canstar Blue Most Satisfied Customers (2011-2018), and the Colmar Brunton Corporate Reputation Index (since 2015) that recognises New Zealand’s most successful companies. AA Insurance was also named Consumer NZ People’s Choice award winner for car, home and contents (2019 and 2020).
AA Insurance has an AA- (Very Strong) Insurer Financial Strength Rating given by Standard and Poor’s (Australia) Pty Ltd. For further information visit aainsurance.co.nz.
For more information please contact:
Media Team, AA Insurance, 027 406 1787, mediacontact@aainsurance.co.nz
