Keep safe, no rush to make a claim - AA Insurance

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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 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

For more information please contact:
AA Insurance Media Team
027 406 1787
mediacontact@aainsurance.co.nz