Ageas rolls out extreme weather measures ahead of Storm Ciarán

As Storm Ciarán approaches Southern England and Wales, Ageas UK has unveiled a comprehensive set of measures to aid customers impacted by the impending extreme weather.

The insurance provider has activated diverse emergency support tools — incorporating both technological and human — to mitigate the need for claims and expedite the insurance process for affected individuals.

It has also equipped its network of brokers with crucial information, aligning with its commitment to bolstering brokers in the personal lines market. Some initiatives introduced by the insurer in anticipation of Storm Ciarán this week include:

• Deploying weather surge teams to bolster the availability of claims experts for prompt customer assistance and claims processing
• Granting increased autonomy to call handlers, allowing them to authorise emergency payments of higher values, particularly to aid flood victims in procuring essential items following home evacuations
• Implementing a rapid settlement tool for accelerated claims disbursement, with some claims settled within as little as an hour
• Introducing online claims reporting, affording customers the option to report specific claims online instead of through a phone call, if preferred
• Preparing the utilisation of video technologies to hasten damage assessments, enabling customers to showcase real-time damage during home insurance claims
• Engaging the supply network to fortify resources supporting affected customers
• Disseminating proactive advice to customers via social media, local Press outreach in affected areas, and through the new online storm hub, with customers in high-risk areas to receive proactive calls from Ageas
• Equipping brokers with critical updates, advice, and contact details for claims assistance to pass on to customers

“We know that many people, including our customers and our brokers’ customers, are currently in the path of this storm and so we’ve invoked our emergency weather plan in readiness. We’ve blended cutting-edge technical capabilities, including use of AI and digital journeys, with traditional human support to ensure we can be there for them in their time of need,” Ageas UK claims director Stephen Linklater said.

In other recent developments for the personal lines insurer, Ageas also completed the sale of its life insurance businesses in France.

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