ISLANDERS with property damaged in last week’s storm are being advised to collect as much evidence as possible – including photos and repair estimates – to speed up insurance claims.
Thousands of people have already contacted their insurers, with most claims being submitted for damaged roofs.
Tim Brangwyn, managing director of Islands Insurance, said: “We understand that many Islanders may not be familiar with the claims process.
“To assist them in navigating this, we suggest people collect as much documentation as possible. Photographs, estimates and receipts for any expenses related to the damage all enable us to process claims quickly and efficiently.
“Also, submit this information as soon as possible to initiate the claim process. We’re here to help, and early communication can expedite the process, but please bear in mind that we are prioritising customers who require alternative accommodation or whose businesses are unable to operate.”
When it came to the types of issues being faced by Islanders, Mr Brangwyn said: “The storm has resulted in a significant number of issues for our policyholders, and we have been contacted by nearly 1,000 policyholders already.
“We are doing everything we can to address these claims promptly, including with support from teams on the mainland, but are having to prioritise customers with the greatest need.
“Notably, around 70% of these claims have come from Jersey customers, with roof damage being the primary cause of losses.”
Mr Brangwyn said it was too early to say if premiums might be affected by the rise in the number of claims.
“Our focus is assisting policyholders during this challenging period,” he said. “We are committed to assessing each claim fairly and transparently. Decisions regarding premium adjustments, if any, will be made carefully, taking into account the overall impact on our policyholders.”
A spokesman for Rossborough Insurance said their thoughts were “with all of those Islanders who have been severely impacted by the devastating Storm Ciarán”.
The spokesman said the firm’s priority was “to provide assistance and to help minimise the distress of our customers following the extraordinary weather of last week”.
“We have a dedicated and expert claims team assisting customers and while we expect to see higher volumes of claim requests in the coming days, we have measures in place to ensure all customers will be able to speak to a claims adviser should they need to,” they added. “To make a claim, please call us on 500599 or email us at claims@rossboroughgroup.co.uk.”
Another major local home insurer, Jersey Mutual, said: “Due to unprecedented volume of claims, we would recommend the customer emails their insurance company with photographic evidence of the damage, and immediately contacts a relevant contractor to provide a quotation for remedial works.
“If the claim is of a serious nature, such as an uninhabitable property, it is likely the insurance company will immediately appoint an independent loss adjuster to assist the client.”
