By Jessica Rowe
Hundreds of angry elderly residents have demanded answers from their insurance companies at a special forum in Christchurch.
Some say they'll have to wait up to five years to get a new home, and that many of them could be dead by then.
Avondale resident Mike Freeman's home was badly damaged in the earthquakes. EQC says it's a rebuild, but his insurance company says it’s a repair.
He’s never spoken at a public meeting before but today he couldn't hold back, challenging his insurers to come and live in his house.
“I'm with IAG unfortunately,” he says. “I wish you did say it was a rebuild, sorry, you’re still saying it is a repair. Come and live in it.”
Mr Freeman was joined by several hundred disgruntled elderly at a meeting in Parklands this morning, venting to insurance company representatives from IAG, Lumley, AA Insurance, Vero and Southern Response.
“We're insured with IAG. Our representative tells us five years before we will be looking at these sorts of issues,” says Christchurch resident Ross Alexander.
A recent survey of 1000 Christchurch residents found minnow insurer Lumley was the best, and New Zealand's biggest general insurer IAG the worst of the lot.
“All I can do is apologise,” says IAG spokeswoman Renee Walker.
“We will do what we can, we're here in front of you to say we haven't done enough but we we’ll do what we can to help you move forward.”
Many complained that simply communicating with their insurance company was difficult, a problem acknowledged by Insurance Council CEO Chris Ryan.
“The response is probably slower than anybody would desire, but it is a firm belief that we have done as well as we can in almost impossible and extremely difficult circumstances. It's not an excuse and we will come through this,” says Mr Ryan.
IAG now says it's hoping to have all of its assessments completed by Christmas, and 75 percent of its residential claims completed within three years..
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