Some homeowners affected by Fiona still making insurance payments 6 weeks after storm surge
CBC
Two homeowners in Port aux Basques hit by post-tropical storm Fiona say they've been making insurance payments on houses they'll never live in again, and they can't understand why their insurance company has delayed so long in sending out letters of denial.
The storm surge from Fiona six weeks ago destroyed Debbie Farrell's house and caused significant damage to the house owned by Velda Tapp-Pretty, who has been told that her house will have to be demolished.
Still, the two women continue to make payments on their insurance policy to Aviva Insurance, even though they say adjusters have already indicated their claims will likely be denied.
"So I've been paying insurance for a house that I haven't lived in for six weeks," said Tapp-Pretty. "There's not much compassion for people."
After CBC asked Aviva Insurance for a response to the homeowners' concerns, the company contacted the women to say their letters of denial are now in the mail.
Debbie Farrell and her husband Robert Dicks have made two insurance payments since Fiona.
For Farrell, part of the reason for continuing to make payments was that she was holding hope, after being told that there was a 99 per cent chance that her policy would not cover the destruction of her home.
"I'm paying it because there's a one per cent chance," Farrell said early Thursday, before she was notified that her letter of denial is in the mail.
Tapp-Pretty's understanding was that she had to keep paying or she risked not getting the paperwork she needs in order to apply for the government's disaster financial assistance.
"If I don't pay and I cancel my insurance, I may not get my letter that I need to send into the government," said Tapp-Pretty earlier this week.
The delay in getting letters of denial from Aviva until now has meant that the two homeowners haven't been able to apply for disaster financial assistance.
A property has to be considered a total loss and one for which insurance won't pay out before the application process can move forward.
Other people in southwestern Newfoundland affected by Fiona are in similar situations, waiting on paperwork to be able to proceed.
CBC asked Aviva Insurance to respond to the homeowners' concerns. In an emailed statement, Munn Insurance, a broker acting on behalf of Aviva, said a homeowner can cancel their insurance policy at any time, even after a loss.
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