Insurance giant AAMI accused of underpaying bushfire claim
Insurance giant AAMI accused of underpaying bushfire claim
19 March 2009
published by www.news.com.au
Australia —
A Victoria bushfire survivor has accused insurance giant AAMI of underpaying a claim for his family home, which was destroyed during the Kinglake blaze.
RickBottiglieri said that AAMI offered him $100,000 less than what his home was worth.
He is so frustrated by the insurance company he has set up a website, UnluckyyourewithAAMI.com, to publicise his claim and attempt to find other home owners in a similar situation.
“I am also a customer who has (experienced) nothing but stress, insult(s), (and) being told he (was) a liar”, he writes in the website.
He believes that many more survivors will face similar problems when they make their own claim for lost property.
Last months Victorian bushfires, which killed at least 210 people and destroyed thousands of homes, is expected to lead to a flood of insurance claims as residents piece their lives back together.
Mr Bottiglieri said that AAMI telephone staff repeatedly called him a liar and told him to go elsewhere when inquiring about his home insurance entitlements.
Ive been insured with AAMI for six years and they only offered me $170,000 when Ive had my home valued at $280,000, Mr Bottiglieri said.
“Ive got two young children and I still cant return to my home – its just not good enough to try and cheat me out of $100,000.”
“A lot of people have been hung out to dry and are at the mercy of these insurance companies.”
AAMI has denied Mr Bottiglieris allegations, saying they have treated him fairly.
“Were happy to continue working with Mr Bottiglieri to process his home building claim – however we will investigate this matter thoroughly,” said a spokeswoman from AAMI, Emma Watts.
On his website, Mr Bottiglieri complains about the ways AAMI has treated him and asks for other bushfire survivors with similar stories to contact him.
Ms Watts said the company had already paid Mr Bottiglieris home contents insurance claim along with one full years emergency accommodation.
She added that Mr Bottinglieri had not returned previous calls by AAMI to resolve his claim.
