GTA Storm   |   July 2013

The greater Toronto Area suffered a significant storm on the evening of July 8, 2013. Several major roads were flooded, public transit suffered numerous delays/cancellations and many homes and businesses experienced power outages throughout the evening and into the next day. Maintaining your safety is paramount. Please follow the recommended precautions and instructions provided by authorities in the affected areas to ensure your safety.
 
To report an insurance claim the best place to start is by calling your insurance broker, who will help you through the process.

Alternatively, you can also contact Pembridge directly through our toll-free Claims Promise Line or you can submit a claim online.

Immediately after the event began our claims department mobilized staff to handle the influx of claims being reported and we are working hard to expedite assistance to our customers affected by this storm.

 

Flood Emergency in Alberta   |   June 2013

Damage in Alberta caused by extensive flooding has forced thousands of residents to evacuate.  
Several communities have declared a state of emergency.

Maintaining your safety is paramount. Please follow the recommended precautions and instructions provided by authorities in the affected areas to ensure your safety.

Notice to Customers with Claims Due To Flooding in Southern Alberta

We know this is a difficult time for Albertans affected by flooding and we are working hard to assist our customers in the region. To report an insurance claim specific to the Alberta Flood, the best place to start is by calling your insurance broker, who will help you through the process. Alternatively, you can also contact our toll-free Claims Promise Line .Understandably some consumers may be displaced so please include your name, the best number and time to contact you, your policy number (if available) and a brief description of your claim. We will respond to you within 24 business hours once we have received your email.

Below are some helpful resources to reduce the risk due to inclement weather.

Alberta Health Flood Update and Resources
Alberta Emergency Management Agency
Before, During, and After the Flooding in Calgary
Canadian Red Cross
During a flood
After a flood
Preparing for storm surges
Preparing for power outages
What to do if you get evacuation orders

Your Insurance Broker

The Insurance Bureau of Canada website has more tips and information.
Your best insurance is an Insurance Broker. If you have any questions contact your broker.
Insurance Brokers Association of Canada

 

Update for Ontario Drivers:  Budget 2013 - What it means to you

The Government of Ontario has proposed a strategy to achieve a 15% target in overall rate reductions for the auto insurance industry on average. In order to achieve the 15% target the government has introduced legislation that would, if passed, address certain aspects of the insurance system including rising claims costs and fraud with the goal of leading to lower premiums for consumers.

It is important to note that these are proposals at this time, and for them to move to regulation, they require as a first step that the Ontario budget, tabled in the House on Thursday, May 2nd, passes by a vote in the legislature. It is also crucial to note that the proposed 15% rate reduction is not a mandated rate cut. It is not meant to be applied to individual policies. It is a target number that speaks to the government’s goal to reduce the overall industry average rate by 15%.

Pembridge Insurance believes that the government’s plan to target a 15% rate reduction can only work if appropriate regulatory reforms are in place and the government puts in place the measures needed to address the cost pressures of the insurance system in Ontario. Pembridge Insurance will continue to press the government to help deal with issues in the system such as fraud, legal delays, unclear and outdated rules, medical costs, red tape and abuse of the system, all of which have driven up costs in the industry.

The insurance industry and the government recognize there is a challenge with insurance rates and we are committed to working with them to fix the province’s insurance system for the long term, provide consumers with better options and continue to deliver exceptional customer service. It is important for Ontarians to be informed and ensure their voice is heard by our government, especially by their local MPP.

Should you have any questions, please be sure and contact a Pembridge Insurance Broker to undertake a coverage review and ensure you are receiving the right coverage for your needs, including all of the discounts that apply to you.

Read the Government of Ontario’s 2013 Budget:
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/ontariobudgets/2013/

 

Insurance Fraud

March is Fraud Awareness Month in the Insurance Industry. Insurance fraud is a serious issue. According to the Ontario Auto Insurance Anti-Fraud Task Force Final Report auto insurance fraud in Ontario is estimated to cost consumers up to $1.6 billion a year in insurance premiums.

To learn more about insurance fraud, please access our Insurance Fraud Awareness Tip Sheet.
 

Did you know?

You can make your payment to your Pembridge policy online by clicking here or you can pay your bill through online and telephone banking via your financial institution.

We have worked with the following banks to ensure that they accept Pembridge payments through their online and telephone banking systems:

• Bank of Montreal
• Scotiabank
• CIBC
• TD Canada Trust
• Royal Bank
• National Bank
• Desjardins
   

Don't see your bank on the list? Many smaller financial institutions will accept Pembridge payments. Speak to your bank to find out how to add payees to your online/telephone banking. If your bank won't accept Pembridge payments, please contact your broker.