Letter: Flooded resident doesn’t accept city’s excuse

Editor’s note: This letter is in response to the article “City sees record number of claims in 2014” published in the July 9 edition of Northern Life.

I think it is important that every resident understand how this claim system works for future reference given that claims are on the rise.

In February, my home, along with 10 others, was heavily flooded as a result of what we were told was a t-joint that was connected earlier that fall to make way for a new Zulich subdivision in the area.

There is no aging infrastructure here as my home is around 10 years old. Something was not connected properly, and, as a result, there was extensive damage.

Most of the damage was covered by insurance, but exterior land/lawn, which is now bumpy and uneven causing water to pool, is not covered.
Robert Walz, the city co-ordinator of insurance and risk management at the city was very friendly, and sent me a claim form to complete.

I completed the form that day, and about a week later received a notification that the city was now sending my case to its so-called “third-party agency.” This third party, Canadian Shield Adjusters, sent a letter two days after the first letter came back citing they had investigated and the city was not negligent and not at fault.

This one-day so-called “investigation” was really no investigation at all. Cam Cottrell was simply looking at a piece of paper sent by the city to him indicating it was a watermain break, and what I learned was that as long as they say “watermain break” the city is off the hook 100 per cent.

Beware.

As claims go up, I suspect more and more paperwork will be signed off as “watermain break,” so the city can cover itself and its cash.

Anastasia Rioux
Sudbury