TORONTO – On a rural stretch of Hastings, Ontario, a wagon sits on Don and Paula Quist’s porch holding shreds of ripped out carpet and broken baseboards – items ruined in a basement flood that followed an ice storm more than two weeks ago.
“Everything was soaked, there was about two and a half inches of water,” said Quist.
The amount of damage was estimated at between five to $8,000.
The Quist’s took it all in stride at first, even hiring contractors to start drying it out. But one phone call changed everything.
“He phoned me at 4 p.m. and he said I’m coming to pick up my fan and my de-humidifier, your insurance says you’re not covered,” Quist said.
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The Hastings homeowner claims he was mislead by his insurance company, Allstate, by allowing him and several neighbours to go on thinking they’re covered when they may not be.
“The insurance company’s saying, you have a VIP Policy Don, you’ve had it for 25 years, you’re fully covered,” Quist explained.
This was the family’s first flood which was caused by built-up groundwater and a power outage that knocked out their sump pump.
It would have been covered under Allstate’s Sewage Backup Protection, but the Quist’s were not on the sewer system because they have a septic system.
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“They did not explain to me in any way that if your sump pump fails or anything like that, that you would not be covered,” said Quist.
In a statement to Global News the company disagreed the homeowners were mislead.
“Upon our investigation we are confident that in this situation we have worked with Mr. Quist to offer him the best protection available to meet his needs and enable him to make his coverage decisions,” wrote Nicole Watts, external affairs manager of Allstate Canada.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada says it’s important to know your policy inside out and that water damage coverage in this country can be scrupulous.
“Burst pipes in the home, that’s covered. Sewer backup can be covered if you’ve got that add on to your policy. Overland flooding and seepage is not covered,” said James Geuzebroek, vice-president of communications at the Insurance Bureau of Canada.
As for the Quists, they will likely have to swallow the damages.
“Should this happen again tomorrow, I am totally covered now. I got her to put it on my policy just to make sure,” said Don Quist.
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