Loss adjusting body to counter negative images of people living in caravans over Christmas
The Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters (Cila) is attempting to avert negative press coverage over people still living in caravans during Christmas following the summer floods.
Cila will publish a document outlining the crucial role loss adjusters played and continue to play in the aftermath of the floods, along with the successes the industry had in handling claims and drying out houses.
Cila president Malcolm Edwards said it was important for people to know what loss adjusters had been up to, which was why the association would be releasing the comprehensive statement.
He said: “We want to make people aware of what the issues are and that it isn’t inactivity on the part of the insurance industry, but circumstances.”
AMG managing director, Kevin Wood, said he fully supported the Cila message, and that it was imperative the insurance industry shared the positive stories that came out of the summer’s catastrophic events.
He said: “There were some hard stories, but when you get 60,000 claims that is inevitable.
“As we are approaching Christmas, and the end of the year, we know from experience that the media latches on to these anniversaries.”
Wood said on the whole media coverage of the flooding had been very positive with most recognising the challenges of the insurance industry in dealing with the catastrophes and handling claims.
On the whole, Wood said there were more people back in their homes than he anticipated in the immediate aftermath of the flooding.
Statistics gathered by the ABI show an estimated 8,500 flood victims won’t be back in their homes by Christmas. But the ABI said 65% of the overall victims would have moved back into their homes.
Insurers mull concerted legal action against water companies
Insurers could pursue legal action against water companies in the wake of the summer floods – but are unlikely to band together in an attempt to recoup some of the billions spent on claims.
Last month, an independent review body set up by Hull City Council found that Yorkshire Water had ignored over a decade of warnings that could have limited the extent of flooding in June.
But sources said insurers were likely to await the outcome of a potential legal action by Norwich Union before acting.
A spokesperson for Zurich said the report was not conclusive, and ruled out the possibility of collaborating with other insurers.
Allianz property claims manager Harry Rule said that recovery prospects were “not a priorityâ€.
“There is a meeting of the Property Claims Forum in February when the insurers represented will discuss this issue in full,†he said.
ABI head of property, Justin Jacobs emphasised that the issue of recovery was “a matter for individual members to resolveâ€.
Hull City Council is also consulting lawyers.
