Victims of crime in Queensland are being dealt another blow through their insurers, as major companies ditch customers who have been robbed, deeming them too high risk to cover.
Queensland woman Sarah Arbiter came home from a holiday in 2022 to find she had been ransacked.Â
“They basically emptied some drawers in the wardrobe into the doona cover on the bed and walked out the front door with a Santa sack over their shoulder,” Arbiter said.
She made a claim with her insurance company, but there was so much she would never be able to replace.Â
“I lost jewellery that I had been left from my mother that I’ll never recover,” Arbiter said.
Her family decided to move to a secure apartment this year, but she was dealt a fresh blow when she attempted to switch over her contents insurance.
“I got to the part where it says ‘Have you put in a claim for insurance in the past five years?'” Arbiter said.Â
“Well, obviously I had to tick the box yes.
“As soon as I did that, I was no longer offered insurance.”
She claims she tried several major providers but she was left with the same result.Â
She was no longer eligible as she was considered a high-risk customer through no fault of her own.Â
“Totally dumped, totally dumped,” Arbiter said.
“To be treated like this, like I’m the problem because I’ve been burgled, I don’t think that’s fair at all.”
Arbiter posted her story to social media, prompting others to come forward and share similar experiences.Â
“This is not acceptable behaviour at all,” Arbiter said.
Most of the major insurers will ask you whether you have made a claim in the last five years when you apply.Â
You must answer truthfully otherwise you will risk having your new insurance voided for any future claims.
Canstar group executive of financial services Steve Mickenbecker encouraged people not to give up hope.
“It sounds like a double whammy when they have to turn around and find a way to reinsure,” Mickenbecker said.
“You’ve got to shop around, sooner or later you’ll find an insurer that is willing to insure you.”
