AA Insurance offers support to Gabrielle-battered Hawke’s Bay customers

AA Insurance has teamed up with AA New Zealand to base its teams in Hawke’s Bay for this week. The insurer has placed its Hawke’s Bay cyclone support teams in the Napier and Hastings AA Centres from Monday to Friday of this week

Previously based at the local community hubs, the AA Insurance teams will be on hand at the specified locations to offer personal support to customers with questions about their insurance cover. The teams will also assist those who need help in lodging a claim related to damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

AMI, State, and NZ previously mobilized their Major Event Response team to support the many insureds severely affected by the destruction caused by the extreme weather event.

“A face-to-face chat”

“We know this is a very difficult time for many of our customers in Hawke’s Bay and that a face-to-face chat could really help right now,” AA Insurance operations general manager Simon Hobbs said. “The Napier and Hastings AA Centres are centrally located with reliable hours for customers to pop in if they need help to lodge a claim or have questions about their insurance.”

The AA Insurance teams on the ground can be approached for claims help and other disaster relief support during the following dates:

• Napier AA Centre: Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm, at 33 Carlyle Street, Napier South
• Hastings AA Centre: Monday to Friday, 10:00am to 4:00pm, at 521 Heretaunga Street West, Hastings

Hobbs also reminded customers with severe damages to their property or insurance, as well as those who need immediate assistance, to call AA Insurance on 0800 500 216. Flood-damaged vehicles are of special note, as they can be very dangerous to drive until deemed roadworthy again. ICNZ chief Tim Grafton recently detailed guidelines on how insureds can deal with flood-damaged vehicles.

With insurance claims for the extreme weather event being the biggest priority right now for NZ insurers, Hobbs also asked those with non-urgent claims to lodge them via the official site at aainsurance.co.nz.

AA Insurance’s presence at the Napier and AA Hastings Centres in Hawke’s Bay will be reviewed each week based on customer needs. AA New Zealand also noted that while the teams at other AA Centres nationwide will assist customers with general insurance queries, specific claim lodgement or questions will refer these customers back to AA Insurance.

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