Insurers have now received more than 27,800 claims for the south-east Queensland hailstorms that impacted the region on Sunday 23 November and Monday 24 November.
As power returns to homes more claims are expected to be lodged over coming days.
The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) is warning impacted residents to be wary of disaster chasers.
Disaster chasers are opportunistic individuals who may offer quick-fix cleanup, repairs, and inspections, often demanding upfront cash payments for shoddy or incomplete work.
Some disaster chasers pressure homeowners to sign a contract on the spot for future repair work and may promise their insurer will pay.
This can leave the homeowner liable to pay a commission or inflated repair bills not covered by their insurance policy, as insurers will only pay for approved work that is covered by a policy.
Residents who believe they may have been approached by or signed with a disaster chaser should seek guidance from their insurer.
Tips for identifying and dealing with a disaster chaser:
- An insurer will not send a tradesperson or builder for repairs to your home without notifying you and providing you with details
- Speak to your insurer before agreeing to any repairs or rebuilding work to make sure your insurer will cover the work
- A tradesperson or builder who is working for your insurer will not ask you for payment
- If in doubt, ask for identification such as a builder's licence or driver's licence, and ring your insurer to check
- If you sign a contract with a disaster chaser, you have a statutory 10-day cooling-off period. Your insurer can help you end the relationship with the disaster chaser
