The Mutual & Federal Port Elizabeth team visiting one of its customers in St Francis Bay.
Mutual & Federal, a member of the Old Mutual Group, has today (Tuesday, 13 November 2012) announced that it has so far registered claims worth approximately R20 million - arising from the St Francis Bay fire disaster.
“Depending on whether more customers contact us, we might see an escalation of claims in the coming days”, says Heidi Dias, Head of Claims at Mutual & Federal.
“Our Port Elizabeth management team travelled to St Francis Bay yesterday to assess the level of the damage and to assist our clients. What we have so far ascertained is that one of our customers, the Royal Wharf complex, which consists of 10 units was badly affected by the fire, and so were two other free standing homes insured with us”, Dias continues.
Whilst the short-term insurer is awaiting a detailed forensic report concerning the cause of the fire, it has made an interim payment to one of its customers. “We had to do this to ensure that the customer gets alternative accommodation and other essentials during this tragic time”, Dias reveals.
To date, Mutual & Federal has seen an influx of claims following the October/November Gauteng hailstorms, the Eastern Cape floods and the Polokwane hailstorms.
Mutual & Federal urges all its customers to make contact as soon as possible. “It is during times like these that we want to make good on our promise of protecting what’s important to our customers”. Dias concludes.
Mutual & Federal is one of the leading short-term insurers in southern Africa.
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