CAT HIT AT SEA Brisbane, Queensland AUSTRALIA  

SUNCORP can be detrimental to your wealth.

I was a SUNCORP client from when it was still a building society.

All my life I  insured with SUNCORP. Cars, houses, units, boats and life insurance . I never claimed and all was fine. Then one day I had an accident. Read on, this could happen to you. It could be your house, your car, your business.

ACCIDENT

I bought a charter motor catamaran in survey. The boat was very popular and I had to delay my departure as the owner was renting it $1500 a day and wanted to finalise  the bookings. It was maintained by professionals at SHUTE Harbour. 

Had it inspected and did everything by the book.
I then insured the boat with suncorp before starting my journey home, which is a trip of over 1000kms.

Hit at sea

On Saturday 25th April 2009 I hit a submerged object.
Arriving in front of Bribie Island  the boat started taking water fast on the left side.

Left engine was under water. Front left cabin, aft left cabin and bathroom were submerged.
I had to call VMR and get a tow to SPINNAKER SOUND MARINA.
The left side was completely under water.

Thanks to VMR BRIBIE quick response the boat was saved and towed to a beach just on time.

Damages
Damages to the engine, hydraulic ram damaged , rudder bent, hole in the hull, all electrical cables, electrical panel, batteries, starter motor, alternator, damaged sail drive, gear box damage etc.

CLAIM NUMBER 3462277H   INSURANCE POLICY PDU74561A

The contract with SUNCORP and SUNCORP advertising says RESCUE COSTS are covered, SUNCORP refuses to pay.

I cannot see how a hole in a fiberglass hull at its strongest point, bent hydraulic rams, bent  rudder tube and  engine ripped out of its mounting does not qualify as an accident at sea.

The contract says cost to dry stand are covered, again they refuse to pay.

The impacts are all in a straight line on the left ( port side ).
Blind Freddy could see  it is an impact. But no, it is my lack of maintenance says SUNCORP.

The contract says rust is covered by the insurance if submerged.

The engine leaks oil due to a rusty part, they refuse to cover.

The deal

If I accept to pay their imposed repairer for  the fitting of a new diaphragm they will pay for everything else. I have the assessor on the boat saying it will all be fixed I have SUNCORP customer relations on the phone saying all the damages will be fixed I have their repairer in front of me saying : no problem all will be fixed in 10 days. I can trust them they will fix everything, they are experts. The assessor says he is an expert in projects management he'll take care of everything. But I must sign a work order to their repairer. If I don't sign they'll pay between nothing and very little. If I sign, in 10 days it will be all fixed.  While I believe I should not pay for that work I decide to accept to get things moving.

Four months later

After 4 months of frustration waiting for the work to be completed by Suncorp.

not 10 days !!

Work is declared " by Suncorp " completed and they drop the boat back in the water. 

But.......