Christchurch earthquakes

[T.W.R]

Thanks for the feedback on AMI - we'd already begun to suspect they're not the best company around....
The EQC estimate costings are quite generous - the cosmetic repairs on ours, regibbing, repainting etc were costed at 56000 but without an engineer they couldn't start on esimating structural costs.
We know of friends whose house was condemned by the EQC engineer but the insurance co has found two engineers who say it's repairable. If they don't like what one says they just keep sending engineers until they hear what they want.
The sticking point appears to be achieving current standards on older houses.
The media will catch on soon to what's going on around here and the shit will hit the fan big time....

Haven't had any issues with either AMI or the EQC. Waiting for Fletcher Construction as they're the nominated repair management authority for allocating work to sub contractors.
Already been paided out replacement costs for damaged & lost household items by EQC, cheque arrived in the mail within 2wks of the EQC assessors doing their check of the house.

Old story though, it's how you deal with them that gets results. Give them grief and they'll draw it out & make you wait

[neels]

Woohoo

Man from EQC just rang , to get the details of our contents claim to process. We haven't heard anything about our house that's wonky, draughty and creaks when it's windy, but at least soon I might have a new telly to watch while sitting in it, and the kids can have their playstation tv back so I can get the bloody thing out of the lounge.

[dangerous]

Woohoo

Man from EQC just rang , to get the details of our contents claim to process. We haven't heard anything about our house that's wonky, draughty and creaks when it's windy, but at least soon I might have a new telly to watch while sitting in it, and the kids can have their playstation tv back so I can get the bloody thing out of the lounge.

I had that call a couple a weeks back, they tryed palming me a $77 dvd player (no good to record on) a TV from wellington and $150 glasses to replace my $850 glaces... fuk em we had to meet in the middle, so we loose out big time, have given up waiting for the cheque and went an put brought a TV, DVD HD and my glases, the cheque is for 2k the TV and DVD was 2.1k on the visa.
Our amp remote was broken in half by the falling TV, I didnt bother mentening that but have just relised while tuning the TV in that severay functions like suround sound can only be switched on by remote...

[ellipsis]

....woohoo...not....chimney survived the big one and however many we've had since then, up until the last couple...didnt think they were much...but the chimney had obviously had enough....more fucken bricks...

[EJK]

4th of the month morning shakes are being a regular now.

[Oakie]

I've been de-sensitised I think. I've not felt an aftershock for 12 days.

[Grumph]

Bricks used to be $1 each secondhand....nothing but landfill now, and you'll have to pay to have them carted away.
Chimneys just quietly grind away in each aftershock until there's not enough mortar bond left to hold the bastard up. An architect we had here yesterday reckons the house is holding our chimney up...and the verandahs are holding the house up.

Wait now until we get the engineers report we've comissioned - EQC have said they'll go by his recommendations. He's told us it's fucked, EQC say fixable...
We'll see.

[AllanB]

Thanks for the feedback on AMI - we'd already begun to suspect they're not the best company around....

Hmm - EQC set mine way over the 115K. AMI have been around and agreed 100% and will arrange for Arrow construction to do a full report on the options of fixing or rebuilding a new house. Either way we need relocating while it happens (if fixing it is a full exterior strip, jack way up in the air to put in new foundations and piles, lower, regib etc etc etc ) and this is not a issue with AMI.

AMI and I are now waiting on EQC to do a land report as it will depend on what they think needs doing to the land that may determine what ultimately happens to the house.

So far I have been very happy with AMI's involvement and response but it is very early days yet.

One comment I found funny from the AMI guy - he said we had such a nice house and we'd looked after it so well that it would be a shame not to try to save it - made me laugh as if it was a bit of a shitter they'd just build a new one! Hows that fair?

Mind you I have also heard of a couple of people who have run down homes that are wrecked who's insurance companies (don't know who) have stated that they will not pay full whack on repairs as the homes were clearly not maintained to a reasonable standard (insurance states to repair to the equivilant standard it was in before the incident) - I imagine crews of builders fixing walls etc to new then a crew coming in and scraping the paint, punching a few holes in them getting them back to 'previous condition'

What I don't understand is the delay with EQC paying out the full $115k to my bank - they have stated it is well over and contacted my insurance company making it their problem so really why is the $ not paid promptly? This part annoys me as payment should not be delayed once you hit EQC's maximum.

[AllanB]

Wait now until we get the engineers report we've comissioned - EQC have said they'll go by his recommendations. He's told us it's fucked, EQC say fixable...We'll see.

In many ways I'm lucky - over $115K so EQC pass it on to insurance. I wonder what happens when EQC estimate say $60k to fix a home and the builders etc start and get 3/4 the way through and have hit the $60k mark as it was underestimated - what happens then, does the home owner wait months for EQC to turn up again?

IMO anyone who has damage under 115 needs to get their own report done as well prior to any work starting to avoid the above pitfall.

[Grumph]

In many ways I'm lucky - over $115K so EQC pass it on to insurance. I wonder what happens when EQC estimate say $60k to fix a home and the builders etc start and get 3/4 the way through and have hit the $60k mark as it was underestimated - what happens then, does the home owner wait months for EQC to turn up again?

IMO anyone who has damage under 115 needs to get their own report done as well prior to any work starting to avoid the above pitfall.

We were discussing just this with the architect yesterday...if you can find an engineer, getting a report is a damm good idea.
If your job is under the 115k mark, Fletchers subbies should handle any cost overruns at EQC expense. If it's over but repairable and you have a report at least you know whether overruns are likely and can check with your insurance co what the scenario will be.
We've sounded out a local builder who specialises in older houses out here - he looked it over and said he wouldn't want to tender as there were too many potential hidden problems. The architect commented that 1 - it is out of town & there's plenty of work closer in...and 2 It's a minefield of potential problems with plenty of easier jobs around....so if it's fixable it's a long way off.
Our insurance is replacement area for area - no dollar value menioned.

[maxf]

What I don't understand is the delay with EQC paying out the full $115k to my bank - they have stated it is well over and contacted my insurance company making it their problem so really why is the $ not paid promptly? This part annoys me as payment should not be delayed once you hit EQC's maximum.

Would speculate they're trying to regulate their cashflow - check out http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/new...er-the-rumbles , which notes they've only got $250m cash-on-hand - then it's into their $1.75b "managed global equities" before (I guess) they kick in the "$2.5b in international reinsurance"... eg they've already spent approx $100m and have all their internal costs soaring (all the extra staff), and now have to liquidate those global equities (assuming investments with fixed maturity dates, if not bonds they've got to try to sell - and even then still stuck on a v. high NZD vs the USD so the eventual value will be fluctuating too). Alternative is to draw down on their NZGovt (Treasury?) bonds which will either have fixed maturity dates (like a term deposit) or risks (if they basically auction them off on an international bond exchange).

Also guessing drawing down on the reinsurance will be an exercise in contract law rarely seen in NZ given the value - you think your insurer is pedantic for $115k, imagine the hassle/hoops for $2.5b ...

Also suggest maybe using the email address in comment #21 after the article and see if that bunch can get any action/transparency?

(If any of above is wrong, then anyone from EQC/better info please feel free to correct - I'm only a lay person who reads too many news articles.)

[helenoftroy]

Really good to hear whats happening for you guys.....

There certainly doesnt seem to be effective communication between EQC and insurance companies

I was told by EQC amonth ago when they visited that my house was fixable,still havent recieved any paperwork.Loss Adjustors visited 2 months ago they,and my insurance company have heard nothing from EQC, and are sending a structural engineer to visit this week

Havent recieved any payment for contents($3500) or temporary weatherproofing/plumbing repairs($780)

Had more internal water damage last week during the heavy rain,there are numerous cracked tiles and the large tarpaulin covering the major holes is ripping from rubbing on broken tiles....

My car has been repaired but my Ducati is stll waiting for fairings to come from Italy,10 weeks -god I miss my bike

After waiting 6 weeks ACC have declined my claim for surgery to repair my torn meniscus(knee cartilage)which I tore trying to pick up the Ducati after the quake...words cant describe my emotions when informed of this!

Feels like my entire life is in limbo and out of my control sometimes......

[ajturbo]

My car has been repaired but my Ducati is stll waiting for fairings to come from Italy,10 weeks -god I miss my bike

gee... harden up... at least you don't have a Honda...... or do you

[Grumph]

Jeez,the EQC stuffing around is par for the course at present and it's a VERY good thing that the insurance co is sending an engineer...But the bloody ACC - that's just insulting.
The "not in control of life" thing is becoming quite common now - the Mrs is stressed to the max too. Looking seriously at the Rescue remedy...
Apparently after the Newcastle (aus) quake stress levels peaked about 18 months afterward. I'd estimate that that's about when we'll be starting to see just what our insurance premiums have paid for...

[dangerous]

After waiting 6 weeks ACC have declined my claim for surgery to repair my torn meniscus(knee cartilage)which I tore trying to pick up the Ducati after the quake...words cant describe my emotions when informed of this!

thats minor, the hospital keep turning me away for something that lays me out cold... aparently Im not tinted enough or poor enough, sucks all I want to do is live my basic life.