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Fort McMurray residents face insurance hurdles

June 9th, 2016  |  News

After losing everything you own in an unstoppable natural disaster it would be comforting for most to know that they had insurance. However, the insurance claims process has some Fort McMurray evacuees feeling betrayed and ripped off instead of getting the peace of mind they deserve.

Bruce Thompson, a 57-year-old heavy equipment operator lost his mobile home to the fire. Despite the terrible situation there was a silver lining: he had home insurance. Then the silver lining evaporated when his insurance agent told him he’d only get paid a third of the appraised value of his possessions. According to the Globe and Mail, Bruce isn’t the only one from Fort McMurray being underpaid by their insurers.

Bruce’s insurance company wouldn’t comment on his case, but he told the Globe and Mail that he’s determined to get a fair payout and has sought legal advice to do help him do so.

Other residents have reported problems with their insurance claims from long processing times to issues with low appraisal values. While not every person is having a hard time with their insurer, not every company can have great service. The situation definitely highlights the importance of knowing how to make your claim go smoothly as well as protecting yourself by looking out for yourself and not just letting the insurance company do everything for you. That means, to make sure you know the value of your possessions, your home, and get inspections and reconstruction assessments from people you trust if you feel the company’s numbers are incorrect.