IBC information centre taking calls about Alberta flood claims

The Insurance Bureau of Canada is taking calls through its information centre related to the recent severe flooding in southern Alberta, the organization said Thursday.

According to an IBC survey, about 5,000 insurance company personnel have been deployed to work on Alberta claims in this disaster situation.

IBC’s information officer Frits Wortman has handled hundreds of calls since the Alberta floods, IBC said in a release.

The 50-year insurance veteran, who is one of the insurance professionals staffing IBC’s Consumer Information Centre, says most callers ask about the process of both filing a claim and applying for government disaster relief.

He has also advised consumers on how to proceed if they don’t agree with their insurer’s decision to deny a claim. “I tell them there’s a process to follow,” he said, including contacting the company claims manager, followed by the company liaison officer. Consumers can then also appeal to the General Insurance Ombudservice, as every insurer has an ombudsman at the ready to review the concerns of customers.

Wortman has also answered a range of complex insurance questions related to the floods, IBC said. In particular, consumers have had insurance questions related to condominiums, small business, non-profit organizations, secondary homes, rental properties.

Insured loss estimates from the flooding range between $1 billion and $3.75 billion, although total economic losses could be as high as $5 billion.

IBC’s Consumer Information Centre can be reached at 1-800-377-6378.