Vero Insurance offers help to disaster-battered customers

“Listen to what is not being voiced”

While communities are feeling vulnerable, this is often concealed, Vero Insurance chief customer officer Campbell Mitchell said in a press release. At times, people are pushing through without realizing that help is available.

“At times like these, insurers can often be close to what is happening in a customer’s life and can be influential in difficult conversations about a person’s wellbeing and ability to cope,” Mitchell said. “Even when a customer may not expressly say they need additional support, it’s our responsibility to listen to what is not being voiced and to identify where we need to wrap additional support around a customer.”

Mitchell also said that since the January floods followed by Cyclone Gabrielle’s arrival in New Zealand’s North Island, his team has identified close to 200 customers that are in significant need of additional care and support. As insurers get a clearer picture of the damage caused by Gabrielle, this number is expected to increase.

Mitchell and his teams have reached out to elderly people who say that they are fine but are trying to soldier on, and customers recovering from recent surgery or those who have other urgent needs to consider. He also recognized that the people Vero has heard from are only those who have been able to reach out and make the connection with their company.

“The vulnerability that we’re identifying through conversations with our customers may be the tip of the iceberg in terms of the need that is out there, and I’d encourage customers that need extra support to be open about the support they need and to take the assistance that is available,” Mitchell said.