France storm insurance: Briton’s payout delayed over proof request
Insurer sought evidence other homes were storm-damaged
A homeowner whose property suffered severe damage after a storm in June has complained that her insurance payout was stalled pending confirmation that other houses had also been affected by the strong winds.
Sue Pover, who is in her 60s, moved to France from north-west England in 2012 with her husband and four children.
The couple carried out extensive renovations on their house and outbuildings, just outside the village of Meigné-le-Vicomte, in Maine-et-Loire, and installed a swimming pool last year.
Storm causes extensive damage
“Having finally completed everything, we were hit by a storm on Saturday June 27, which caused absolute devastation,” Ms Pover said.
The storm completely demolished their hangar, which had their car inside, and carried at least 30 metal sheets across the fields.
Her husband’s new shed disappeared completely, and the storm damaged the roof of the house and smashed their heavy wooden garden furniture to pieces.
The couple contacted their insurer, MAAF, via its emergency helpline on June 28.
While the insurer opened a dossier and gave them a claim number, it said it would not visit the property to assess the damage until the couple sent a letter from their mayor stating that other properties in the area had been damaged.
Ms Pover said: “It was clearly pointed out to them that the building is dangerous, the car in there is leaking fuel, over 30 metal sheets from the outbuilding were carried more than 100 metres, and the holes in the house roof need immediate attention, which my husband has now had to try and repair to make it weatherproof as best he can.”
Mayor asked to confirm storm
The couple said they sent descriptions by email, with several photographs, as well as a letter from their mayor saying there had been a strong storm with violent winds and hail, which caused significant damage.
However, they say MAAF replied that it needed a letter “outlining damage to other buildings to prove it was a storm”.
As the Povers were not the only residents affected, their mayor told them he was happy to confirm this.
The Connexion contacted MAAF, which told us on July 9 it had now arranged an appointment for someone to assess the damage.
It did not clarify if it is its standard practice to request a mayor’s letter confirming storm conditions and damage to other properties.
Storm guarantee or natural disaster?
Damage of the type the Povers report would usually fall under the garantie tempête (storm warranty), rather than, for example, the catastrophe naturelle regime.
The latter depends on publication of an official decree confirming a natural disaster in the commune, whereas the former requires proof of the damage and that there were storm conditions in the area.
Insurers can normally verify storm conditions through meteorological data.
Fabien Pélissier, of broker Fab French Insurance, said the mairie often plays a role in cat nat claims, by asking the prefecture to initiate the process for recognition.
In other circumstances, it is not standard for mairies to have to get involved, he said.
