Couple Weathers Insurance Storm
Newcastle Herald
Saturday December 8, 2007
THE Hunter's June long-weekend storm created the honeymoon from hell for Ben and Erin Tye.
They married seven weeks before floodwater caused massive damage to their home in Gow Street, Hamilton North, and destroyed both their cars and most of their belongings, including many wedding presents.Mr Tye said on Thursday they had received an insurance payout for the cars and their belongings but a house repair claim was a nightmare.They could not settle a dispute with NRMA Insurance about the damage bill for their still-uninhabitable home, and emergency accommodation provided through their policy had resulted in them having to move five times since the storm.Mr Tye said NRMA representatives had drawn up four lists of works that did not cover the entire home repair job, including replacing buckled floorboards.To top it all off, the Tyes have run up more than $1000 in legal bills trying to settle the dispute.After being contacted by The Herald, NRMA Insurance state manager Bill Reilly said on Thursday afternoon that he had reviewed the Tyes' claim and the works would be settled in full. He said the floorboards, about which the NRMA had received conflicting advice, would be replaced, the Tyes would stay in the same accommodation until the job was completed and NRMA officials would hold talks with the couple before the end of the month.
© 2007 Newcastle Herald