WANNON MP, Dan Tehan, is issuing a stern warning to the country’s insurance companies: Step up for Casterton residents, or you will be named and shamed.

The Federal MP is urging all residents – both private property and business owners – to meet with him at the Albion Hotel from 12 noon today, with details of ongoing issues with insurers following the October hailstorm, which decimated the town.

“We want to hear from anyone who is getting nowhere or not getting what they need from their insurers – we’re not going to deal with the assessors anymore, we’re going after the CEOs of these companies, with both barrels blazing,” he said.

The warning comes after four months of communication with relevant insurance companies, which had so far failed to resolve seven complaints received by his office, over claims made following the October storm.

“These residents have come to me because their insurance companies are failing to meet their obligations when it comes to repairs after the storm damage, or even communication,” Mr Tehan said.

“We have got four that we have been able to help with, but there’s another seven that we’re getting very frustrated with, we have tried everything we can to get them to meet their obligations and there’s been no co-operation at all.

“The issues are about not getting decision made on whether things can or should be repaired or replaced, some in terms of getting the go-ahead for builders to be able to do the work, getting the final assessments done.

“In some instances, there’s no fair value being quoted.

“And there are tricky ones, where the landlord was not insured.

“So we’re at the point now, we’re ready – if the affected residents are happy for us to do it – to name and shame these companies and the next step will be to go to the Financial Services Ombudsman.

‘There is the Insurance Council, but these matters have gone beyond that – it’s bordering on gross incompetence or complete indifference; either way, it’s simply and utterly not good enough.”

The Casterton News has been approached by several residents in recent months, who have reported ongoing concerns with their insurers’ attention to the storm damage and their policies.

A number of residents have reported insurers who have indicated they cannot or will not carry out repairs due to the age of buildings or buildings not being ‘up to current building codes’.

“When I built my verandah, it was done with a planning permit and a building permit and whatever else was needed, by a qualified builder and it passed inspection,” one elderly resident reported.

“But now (the insurer) is saying they can pay me out to have it repaired, but they cannot do it because it does not meet the building standards.

“How am I supposed to fix it and it’s hard to find someone to get these things done, right now.”

Another senior resident said her insurer told her they could not find anyone to carry out the required work and she would have to find someone herself.

One phone call to a company in a nearby town had secured the service needed.

“They obviously did not try very hard,” she said.

There have also been several reports of companies advising property repairs cannot be funded due to ‘dilapidated’ or ageing buildings.

“Houses in Casterton are old and this house was old when I bought it, not that long ago,” a resident stated.

“They’re saying the insurance is not responsible for fixing it, because it’s old, but they’re still happy to take my premium payments every month.”

None of the residents who had approached The Casterton News had given permission for their names to be published, or their insurers’ – a measure Mr Tehan said was understandable.

“They’re worried their insurers will not work with them or delay the work even longer and that’s why they’re not saying anything and why, with their permission, it’s time to go public if they’re happy for us to name and shame these companies,” he said.

“The property owners have done everything right, their homes or buildings are built to all of the rules, they pay their premiums and these companies are just trying to make excuses as to why they cannot honour their end of the bargain.

“The sad reality is they’re simply not doing their job properly and it makes a huge difference in these residents’ lives.

“And I’d challenge these people – the CEOs of these big companies – to come to Casterton and get a sense of what happened here that day and what people have had to deal with, since then.”

Anyone with concerns over insurance company delays or responses is urged to attend the meeting with Mr Tehan and his staff at 12 noon today at the Albion Hotel; any relevant paperwork or correspondence received with regards to claims, may be helpful.