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Govt buckled over quake cash settlements, say Canterbury group

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Tue, 23 Aug 2016, 9:03AM
A quake-damaged house in St Albans, Christchurch (Edward Swift)
A quake-damaged house in St Albans, Christchurch (Edward Swift)

Govt buckled over quake cash settlements, say Canterbury group

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Tue, 23 Aug 2016, 9:03AM

A group which supports Cantabrians through their experiences with EQC says the government has buckled to insurance companies which don't want to help homeowners.

Emails from last year show insurance companies were against the government releasing a booklet which gave Cantabrians advice on the cash settlement process.

The booklet was never released, due to remaining claims being complex, and MBIE thinking there was too much risk of confusion.

The decision came following a number of emails from insurance companies urging it not to.

EQC Fix's Cam Preston says insurance companies have been forcing cash settlements on to homeowners.

MORE: Quake damage 'repairs' leaving homes in worse state

"What they don't want homeowners to now know is what their true entitlements were."

Cam Preston said most people can't afford legal help and need some sort of free independent advice.

Yesterday, Labour's Canterbury spokesperson Megan Woods said the booklet would have helped people to get started with their insurance.

"I've heard, and my colleagues have heard literally thousands of people in our offices over the past five years, who haven't had a clue where to even begin when making a decision about cash settling and their insurance claim."

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