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PRESS RELEASE February 26, 1997
For Immediate release
http://www.cuconsumers.org
.....A site named Commercial Union Consumers' Forum has been established on the World Wide Web to provide a resource of consumer information about the insurance claim experiences of Commercial Union policy holders.
.....Unfortunately for the last week the registered Domain name www.cuconsumers.org has been mysteriously unavailable on some Domain Name Servers. The address www.cuconsumers.org now appears to be once again available on Domain Name Servers world wide. If the domain name www.cuconsumers.org should once again become unavailable, the site can be reached by the alternate address http://204.101.84.42
.....This site is intended to provide a forum for Commercial Union policy holders to share their claims experiences with each other and the general public. The site is also intended to be a resource for consumer information for any one considering purchasing or recommending insurance from Commercial Union.
.....The site was established as a result of the claims experience of the Shuttleworth family of Toronto who found themselves safely on the street watching their home burn and facing the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. Their experience revealed that the quality of their insurance coverage depended not just on the wording of their insurance policy but also on the quality of the companies retained by Commercial Union to carry out the numerous tasks of restoring the family's home and possessions.
.....The site is in the process of being developed. Suggestions on how the site could be developed, as well as information which could be posted on this site are welcome. Please e-mail suggestions and information to brefni@cuconsumers.org.
..... In addition to establishing a web site Mr. and Mrs. Brefni Shuttleworth have filed a Statement of Claim in the sum of $1,500,000.00 against Commercial Union Assurance Company of Canada in respect to a fire at their home at 25 Salem Avenue, Toronto, Ontario on November 13, 1995. The claim also asks for punitive, aggravated and exemplary damages in the amount of $1,000,000.00.
..... The Shuttleworth's' dispute with Commercial is another in a growing list of disputes between homeowners and their insurance companies. The Shuttleworth's had originally contracted with National Fire Adjusters a firm of public adjusters to help settle their claim.
..... The dispute centres on the scope and quality of the repairs to the building and its contents as well as the care taken by the insurance company's contractors of the Shuttleworth's' property. The claim also alleges improper payment to third parties.
..... Mr. Al Gardner of The Alex Taylor Contracting Co.Ltd ., one of Commercial Union's stable of contractors, has described the repair work done by his company as following what is a generally accepted manner which he described as a make shift way of repairing. He has also stated that his company could not repair the damage in a proper manner within the constraints imposed by Commercial Union.
..... The Shuttleworth's are incensed by the aggravated treatment they have received from Commercial Union, particularly following the death of Mrs. Shuttleworth's mother in a partially furnished apartment deprived of her few remaining possessions. The family's possession that survived the fire were seized by T G A and Son General Contracting , another of Commercial Union's stable of contractors, in order to be sold at public auction.
..... Throughout their ordeal with Commercial Union the insurance company has been represented by R.P.Insurance Adjusters Inc ., a division of Lindsey Morden Claim Services Limited as well as Underwriters Adjustment Bureau Ltd.
.....The Shuttleworth's intend to ask the Court to approve registering their claim as a Class Action. Further inquiries should be directed to the attention of Mr. and Mrs. Brefni Shuttleworth, c/o 25 Salem Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M6H 3C2.
Help others to make an informed decision
.....If you are interested in sharing your claims experience with others take the time to add your story concerning an insurance company, adjuster or contractor to our Speakers' Corner or Consumer Survey. In the past this individual experience has been unavailable with a few exceptions, other than as part of a statistic on consumer satisfaction. Become more than a statistic by sharing your experience with others.
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Commercial Union ( CGNU Group ) Consumers'
Forum
c/o B.Shuttleworth
P.O.Box 235
Postal Station E
772 Dovercourt Rd.
Toronto, Ontario
Canada, M6H 2V0
brefni@cuconsumers.org
copyright © 1997-1999 by Brefni Shuttleworth