Criticized for the delay in compensation after the passage of Hurricane Irma in September, the insurers explain that they are "faced with an unprecedented situation", with an amount of damage amounting to 1,8 billion euros.
In Saint-Martin, insurers, criticized for the delay in compensation after the passage of Hurricane Irma in September, say they are "faced with an unprecedented situation", with damage amounting to 1,8 billion euros.
Case by case
"We are aware of the impatience," said Arnaud Chneiweiss, the general delegate of the French Federation of Passage Insurance in Saint-Martin at the end of last week, accompanied by Stéphane Pénet, the director of damage insurance and of responsibility. "You also have to understand that this is an unprecedented situation and that the situation is difficult because each contract has to be treated on a case-by-case basis," said Arnaud Chneiweiss, hoping that payments would be made before mid-February.
24 victims
“You have to be aware that this has been a major event in the history of insurance since the existence of the natural disaster regime. The amount of insured damage is 1,8 billion euros, ”added representatives of insurers. In all, 24.000 insured claims were recorded on the Northern Islands. 16.000 claims in Saint-Martin for 970 million euros in damage and 8.000 claims in Saint-Barthélemy for 830 million euros.
Treatment delays
To justify the significant delays in processing files, insurers first refer to the time required to set up the process. It took around 50 days for the hundred experts to arrive in Saint-Martin. “After Irma, there was a problem of access to the island, electricity, internet, housing. It is a delay at the start that is difficult to catch up with today, ”says Arnaud Chneiweiss.
Condominiums, tax exemption, document checks
“There are many condominiums in Saint-Martin. It's quite new, ”says Stéphane Pénet. “We did not find certain owners. Some have invested in tax exemption and are completely disinterested in the property. This is a factor that lengthened the processing of files. ”
The third element of explanation concerns the experts. "All of these verification procedures
official documents and quote negotiations explain the delay in transmitting expert reports to insurers. There is also significant employment of policyholders' experts. Some moreover are in excess. But overall, litigation and negotiations slow the process down, ”say insurer representatives.
Lack of craftsmen
Finally, the small number of craftsmen present in Saint-Martin is a problem: “the volume of construction professionals is not calibrated to the importance of the work to be carried out. There is a very strong demand, the craftsmen are overwhelmed with requests and the constitution of the quotes takes delay ”, affirm the insurers. “Artisans from Guadeloupe and Martinique must come to moderate inflation. Because demand is high and prices are going up. ”
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