Ruined home merits more than ‘patch-up’

CYCLONE Debbie sent a 40mtall Norfolk Pine crashing through Glenys Mitchell’s Yeppoon bathroom, shunting the house off its foundations.

Despite obvious structural damage, a building report prepared for the insurer only offered a superficial patch-up.

Ms Mitchell said she was placed under intense pressure to sign a document locking in those repairs. She refused, believing the report was flawed and the house needed to be rebuilt.

Locked in a stalemate with the insurer, QBE, Ms Mitchell contacted claims advocate David Keane from Solve My Claim

He was horrified the first time he visited the property six months after the storm and saw exposed asbestos.

Despite repeated visits from so-called experts representing QBE, no one had told Ms Mitchell about the asbestos.

Two days after Mr Keane questioned a manager at Crawford and Company, the firm that provided the building contractor and assessor for QBE, about the asbestos, workmen erected a 2m high fence around the perimeter of Mrs Mitchell’s house. Danger signs warned neighbours of the hazardous asbestos.

On December 11, the regulator officially warned Crawford for unlicensed contracting.

QBE maintained they had done nothing wrong but agreed to rebuild the house for more than $200,000, double the original offer.