Southerly by David Haywood

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Southerly: Tower Insurance Have Some Bad News For You

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  • BenWilson, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    Ditto. All I'm seeing is "we're sorry, but...".

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • recordari, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    That's my reading of it too.

    Carefully chosen words, that still let them off the hook, by my reckoning.

    enough already…

    The expectation of sanity seems wholly unrealistic. However, the degree to which David, yourself and manner others from in the thick of it all can continue to string sentences together is both remarkable and appreciated, to repeat what Andrew said above.

    All the best.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • rcg25, in reply to Sacha,

    interesting interviews - i hope David will be able to call Tower's bluff on the repairs and get them to estimate the cost of repairing the foundations to comply with the building code.

    however one comment that the financial advisor made in the second interview - that insurance wasn't about being 'better off' afterwards. As if any of us could possibly be 'better off' than we were before September! The insurance companies will certainly do whatever they can to limit liability, and i'm sure would pay out nothing if they could get away with it. We have to defend ourselves, and look out for our interests, both individually and collectively.

    Christchurch • Since Jun 2011 • 3 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey, in reply to Hebe,

    Who would be liable: elected officials, council staff, the council itself?

    Council itself i.e. ratepayers. Elected reps have indemnity in law, and I think Council pays for staff indemnity.

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report Reply

  • Gee, in reply to rcg25,

    however one comment that the financial advisor made in the second interview - that insurance wasn't about being 'better off' afterwards. As if any of us could possibly be 'better off' than we were before September!

    I thought the point of insurance, particularly total replacement insurance, paid over years and years at well above the book price policy premiums, was to at least not be worse off, particularly when you are already dealing with everything else that comes with any insurance event, let alone nearly 8000 aftershocks, no water for 9+ months, etc., etc.

    My thoughts to David + family and everyone else on this thread who is going through this. Good luck and best wishes for getting the companies to play fair.

    Canada, eh • Since May 2011 • 78 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Hebe,

    Who would be liable: elected officials, council staff, the council itself?

    Part of the secret negotiations was probably agreement from the insurers and reinsurers to drop any legal action against Council, in exchange for allowing dodgy loopholes like the one the Hay/Haywoods now face. Effectively people like them are indemnifying Christchurch ratepayers against some of that other expense.

    Doesn't really match the fine words from government about all New Zealanders sharing the burden, does it?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Thomas Johnson,

    I think your ‘thoughts’ shows a astonishing lack of empathy, Thomas. Imagine yourself in our situation: you’ve specifically taken out ’Total Replacement” insurance; you’ve paid your insurance bills for years without complaint; but when you lose your house as a result of an earthquake then the insurance company doesn’t honour the “Total Replacement” policy.

    Fair comment. I was not considering your invidual situation enough, but more responding to Islander's comment that it was all the fault of National/Brownlee, and a kind of building impetus for the government to "do something" - maybe use CERA to force full payouts on insurance companies. There will be a consequence of such actions beyond "sticking it to the man".

    The consequence could be that earthquake cover in ChCh is simply not available, as the council is finding. Of course, that might happen anyway.

    Perhaps a better option would have been to organise individual valuations as at August 2010, but this would be logistically difficult - as you noted in the interview w.r.t engineering reports.

    Regardless of all this I wish you and your family the best in achieving a solution that puts you in a better position.

    Wellington • Since Oct 2007 • 98 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Thomas Johnson,

    maybe use CERA to force full payouts on insurance companies. There needs to be an understanding that there would be a consequence of such actions beyond "sticking it to the man".

    True, never without cost.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • andin, in reply to Thomas Johnson,

    maybe use CERA to force full payouts on insurance companies. There will be a consequence of such actions beyond “sticking it to the man”.

    So can one part of "the man" can stick it to another part of "the man"? Does it require them to get out of the bed they share? Or can it be done lying down? Is it kinda like a butch/bitch relationship and they take turns as to who's on top. Oh I could riff for hours.

    The consequence could be that earthquake cover in ChCh is simply not available, as the council is finding. Of course, that might happen anyway.

    Oh yes that other relic of a bygone age, Insurance against "Acts of God". Great way to make money as long as "God" isn't being a prick.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • David Haywood, in reply to Thomas Johnson,

    Regardless of all this I wish you and your family the best in achieving a solution that puts you in a better position.

    Thank you, Thomas -- much appreciated!

    Dunsandel • Since Nov 2006 • 1156 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Thomas Johnson,

    I never wrote that "it was all the fault of National/Brownlee." That is your singular misreading. I said -"STUFF the government!" Because the incumbent government has made a large number of decisions, without much communication with the real stakeholders - citizens of Canterbury & the rest of ANZ - and is perceived to have made some of these decisions - at least- for the benefit of other parties entirely.

    Note the "perceived."
    Unless you are in CHCH/have family there/or have visited regularly since Sept 4, you can have no idea about what is going on.

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Haywood,

    Have you considered the role that Fletcher Building should take. It seems to me that this company is in the unique position to a. hold the rebuild contract and b. to be able to give an independent and master builders assessment of your house and a proper estimate of the damage done and likely costs. This should form the basis of an insurance claim, not the assessment of someone who is a vested interest in protecting n insurance company.

    Since Jun 2011 • 7 posts Report Reply

  • David Haywood, in reply to Gee,

    My thoughts to David + family and everyone else on this thread who is going through this.

    Thank you, Gee.

    And I should emphasize that my sympathy and good wishes are also with everyone else who finds themselves in this position. Some of the stories on this thread (and those I've received directly by email) are heart-breaking; and I can see that there are many people in a much worse position that myself.

    Dunsandel • Since Nov 2006 • 1156 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Gee,

    I thought the point of insurance, particularly total replacement insurance, paid over years and years at well above the book price policy premiums, was to at least (be) not be worse off

    and fit for purpose must slot in there somewhere too...

    and thanks folks for the commiserations on my minor loss (in the greater scheme of things...)
    I think it's time to put my remaining comics and books on TradeMe, unless anyone knows of a better outlet - wish I trusted paypal and eBay - but I ain't up to the stress and trust of international transactions...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • recordari, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    I think it’s time to put my remaining comics and books on TradeMe,

    Please tell us where and when if you do. If only so we can underbid the unsuspecting and ramp up the prices for you.

    BookieMonster NZ might have some helpful tips on selling books via Trademe too.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to rcg25,

    interesting interviews . . . however one comment that the financial advisor made in the second interview - that insurance wasn't about being 'better off' afterwards. As if any of us could possibly be 'better off' than we were before September!

    While he was rather more restrained than some of the pseudonymous online commentators, financial advisor Andrew Nuttall was somewhat less than straightforward with his attempts to cast aggrieved policyholders as victims of their own greed. Also the merest suggestion of collective action seemed to give him an attack of the vapours.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    One of my brothers is v. good at selling specialist lit stuff like comics et al - please dont hesitate to contact me via e-mail if you think we could help-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Ben,

    Just heard from friend in red zone who is with Vero - same story as above. I'm sitting in the orange zone and really not looking forward to this s**t storm ahead. Just unbelievable, we need to get on with our post earthquake lives, we have enough worries with the state of our city, job market etc... GV and forced expulsion from your land is not a great start.

    Since Jun 2011 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • carmen houlahan,

    I know it is not replacement but will you be entitled to the Government pay out of the 2007 GV?

    otago • Since Jun 2011 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Jeanette King,

    @carmen

    I know it is not replacement but will you be entitled to the Government pay out of the 2007 GV?

    The trouble is, in David and Jen's case, and many others too it seems, that the 2007 GV is way short of what they paid for the house. So if they accept this option they will have a serious loss of equity. So Option A will leave them out of pocket. This is what made me annoyed about the talking head who was on Nine to Noon after David today, saying that people shouldn't be trying to make money from the situation. All the residents want is to be able to preserve their equity and make the best of moving on to a new future.

    Ōtautahi • Since Oct 2010 • 43 posts Report Reply

  • andin, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    I think it’s time to put my remaining comics and books on TradeMe

    That's going to be a wrench. Good Luck!

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    Hmmm, so there were warnings including warning about sub-strate problems leading to serious damage. These were well known at the time. So who's at fault now?

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    If anyone's seen Billy Connolly's The Man Who Sued God - co-written by none other than our very own Fred Dagg - well, multiply that by several tens of thousands, and it's not far-fetched to see ChCh heading towards that kind of scenario.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • webweaver,

    Jolly good coverage of the insurance loophole by John Campbell tonight.

    Story here

    Video here

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 332 posts Report Reply

  • Kris V, in reply to David Haywood,

    I can see that there are many people in a much worse position that myself.

    I hear that a lot these days... except perhaps from those who would benefit from the realisation...

    Hubby has just been in hospital for back surgery & had to listen to one of his nurses detail the damage to her house. That was fine, until she started complaining about the damage sustained at their 'other' house in Diamond Harbour, and their holiday home somewhere else. The smile got a bit strained at that point.

    Shakeytown • Since Nov 2008 • 61 posts Report Reply

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