Insurers Stretched After Bad Weather

Every winter Britain is usually faced with enough severe weather to keep insurers busy. Financial providers are always braced for a peak during the coldest time of year, although the numbers of calls some years far exceed expectations.

Some months have seen homeowners subjected to everything from floods and strong winds to tornados; the need for home insurance has become apparent. So many people have experienced problems as a result of recent storms that firms have had to draft in extra staff to cope with the volume of calls.

The head of customer service at a leading high street bank commented: "Storms can cause serious damage to properties in a matter of seconds and of course anyone affected will want to get things back to normal as soon as possible. The best way to make sure your claim is dealt with quickly and efficiently is to contact your insurer as soon as the damage is done."

He urged customers to be patient if they are kept waiting on the line, as they can get "extremely busy" when call volumes are higher than normal. The company has advised anyone who does need to make a claim to check the details of their home insurance policy to make sure what damage it actually covers.

It is also recommended that homeowners keep records of any developments that could affect their insurance claim, such as whether they have had to make temporary emergency repairs. People are also being asked not to dispose of damaged items, as they may be required if a loss adjuster is sent to assess the damage.

Although having to go through the process of a home insurance claim can be stressful and traumatic, small bits of bureaucracy can prolong the process. To help speed up the claim, homeowners have been asked to double-check their completed forms to make sure there are no gaps or omissions. Insurers have also urged people to have their policy number to hand, as they will need to quote the number if they are dealing with their provider on the telephone.

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