Poolman Reminds Residents About Hail Repairs Posted on 8/29/2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jim Poolman
August 29, 2002
701-328-2440
Bismarck, ND - North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Jim Poolman today reminded residents who incurred damage from the June 2001 hailstorm that they have a limited time to get their repairs completed.
Homeowner's policies normally provide 180 days to complete repairs after a claim is made. Poolman encouraged companies to relax that standard after the large number of claims filed after the June hailstorm. The large number of claims combined with the limited number of contractors was putting consumers in the position of not being able to get the work done within the timeframe allowed by insurance companies.
"We continue to encourage companies to work with consumers to allow them to get their repairs completed," Poolman said. "But it is important that consumers communicate with their insurance company if their repairs have not been completed, especially if they do not expect to get the repairs completed within this construction season."
If residents are waiting for a contractor to get their work completed, it is important that they inform their insurance company so that the claim is not automatically closed out and the consumer loses the remainder of the dollars owed to them.
The June hailstorm of 2001 cost an estimated $230 million with approximately 60,000 claims.
