We hope all our Canterbury members are safe and coping with the after effects of the earthquake.
We've made 4 of our reports free for 2 months to assist victims of the earthquake:
- House and contents insurance – including making a claim and EQC cover advice
- Trade rates – advice on hiring a tradesperson and resolving disputes
- Portable gas cookers – test results for single-burner and two-burner models
- Solar- and dynamo-powered torches and torch radios
We'd also like to clarify our advice on using portable LPG heaters – while we don't generally encourage use of these, using one for emergency heating is definitely preferable to having no heating at all.
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Followed all the advice for making an EQC claim. We are number 15910 out of 100,000 claims. Due to our severe roof damage we are on the urgent list but have yet to see EQC.
Our insurance company State/IAG has been great. They appointed a loss adjustor who arranged an architect to draw plans detailing damage so quotes could be obtained for repairs.
Unfortunately they have notified EQC our repairs will exceed $160,000. Instead of being able to proceed with sending our plans to Hawkins Construction we have now been told EQC wish to attend the site ASAP. Since we have waited 3 months in a wet house for their urgent response I am hoping their ASAP response will be less than that.
We had a builder prepared to start repairs ie a new roof the week following the quake but because of EQC we have not been able to weatherproof our home for 3 months. My partner has had to build 2 shed roofs in the hall and bedroom to collect rain water to run out the window. We are still sleeping in our lounge and put tarpaulins and buckets out each time it rains.
Debbie