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Breaking stories
Solicitors offer flood victims free services
By Sean O’Riordan
A firm of solicitors has offered it services free of charge to flood victims who may be experiencing difficulties with their insurance companies.
O’Hanlon & O’Dowd solicitors say they want to give something back to the people of Glanmire, Co Cork, who have supported their business since it opened three years ago.It is estimated that more than up to 60 houses were flooded in the Glanmire area on Jun 28. Nearly 20 businesses were also affected.
Most of the victims were in Meadowbrook Estate, but householders also suffered in Glanmire village and Sallybrook.
Micheál O’Dowd said he had heard from a local councillor that a number of householders were experiencing difficulties with insurance companies.
As a result, he and his business partner Peter O’Hanlon, who have a premises in the town’s Crestfield Shopping Centre, decided they would offer their services free of charge.
“Firstly, it’s important for householders and business to study closely their insurance policy and see exactly what is covered,” said Mr O’Dowd.
“This document must be interpreted in plain English, and not what the insurer would like it to say. There is a rule of law that where a document such an insurance contract is unclear it will be interpreted against the party who prepared it.”
Mr O’Dowd added that it is not customary for insurance policies in Glanmire and Riverstown to exclude flood cover.
“There are a number of avenues open to a person dissatisfied with how an insurer is dealing with the claim,” he said. “One option is to go to court. In recent years people have begun to use the Financial Services Ombudsman.”
The Financial Services Ombudsman is a statutory arbiter that deals independently with complaints from consumers about their individual dealings with all financial services providers that have not been resolved by the providers.
Mr O’Dowd said people making a complaint against an insurance company should ask the company for their ‘final response letter’ and then fill out a simple form downloadable from its website.
“The ombudsman will take the matter from here,” he said.
“We will assist any person in the Glanmire area who is having difficulty in dealing with their insurer and we will not seek any professional fees from any Glanmire residents in respect of this.”
Jim Healy, chairman of Meadowbrook Estate Residents’ Association said he was “very grateful” that O’Hanlon & O’Dowd solicitors were offering their help free of charge to local people.
Mr O’Dowd was speaking just 24 hours after the Bishop John Buckley of the Diocese of Cork and Ross said insurance companies “have a moral obligation” to pay out claims made by flood victims.
He also said interim payments should be made quickly to help people get back on their feet.
* www.financialombudsman.ie/about-us
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