Private insurers join Christchurch earthquake claim resolution service

Friday, 15 February 2019

The Greater Christchurch Claims Resolution Service was launched by Minister Megan Woods on October 9.

Private insurers have jumped on board a government scheme to help resolve outstanding Canterbury earthquake insurance claims.

Launched in October, the Greater Christchurch Claims Resolution Service (GCCRS) offers claimants settlement advice, mediation, engineering expertise, legal guidance and dispute resolution services.

Although anyone yet to settle was able to seek help from the service, only those dealing with EQC and Southern Response were initially able to directly access the most recent reports relating to their properties.

Private insurers have joined a Government service aiming to help settle the remaining Canterbury earthquake claims. (File photo)

Insurers IAG, Tower, Vero, FMG and MAS have now signed on to the scheme. All services offered by the GCCRS will be made available to claimants dealing with private insurers.

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Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister Megan Woods says this is further progress for those people with unresolved claims.

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So far, 623 homeowners have signed up to the GCCRS, of which 75 have reached settlement.

Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister Megan Woods said the systems through which the private insurers would work with GCCRS would be finalised in the coming weeks, but the service was ready to help all homeowners now.

This was further progress for those people with unresolved claims, she said.

Insurance Council chief executive Tim Grafton says the council is pleased to see private insurers involved with the service.

So far, 623 homeowners have signed up to the GCCRS, of which 75 have reached settlement.

Tower CEO Richard Harding said only customers could start the GCCRS process and Tower strongly believed it should be expanded to let insurers initiate it as well.

He said the small number of remaining claims were very complex, and Tower supported any mechanism that helped customers and insurers work through them.

IAG chief executive Craig Olsen said the company had been working proactively with the Government and industry to settle the last remaining Canterbury earthquake claims as quickly as possible, and was confident the GCCRS was a service of value.

Insurance Council chief executive Tim Grafton said the council was pleased to see private insurers involved with the service. The GCCRS was helping to resolve complex claims, he said.

When it launched, insurance advocate Ali Jones said private insurers had been 'woefully absent' and urged them to get involved with the GCCRS.