Wawanesa Home Insurance Reviews

We were deciding whether or not to claim approx $3K of house damage on insurance. The damage was an accident on our part (tree felling gone wrong) so we wanted to know if our coverage for this incident would even be valid for anything other than an act of god. Our broker wasn't sure about this so directed us to contact Wawanesa. At first, Wawanesa wouldn't even take our call and directed us to go through the broker. After some back and forth Wawanesa finally agreed to talk to us but insisted that they could only answer if a claim was filed and an adjuster investigated. We simply wanted to know if our tree damage coverage extended beyond the act of god or not. We were also advised that, whether we actioned the claim or not, filing would count as a claim made and would result in a premium increase. So they wouldn't advise us on coverage details unless we opened a claim and incurred a penalty even if we chose not to claim!!! This was outrageous so we opted to do repairs out of pocket, so much for having insurance as a safety net or even getting information on the coverage you've been paying for for years!
Will never deal with Wawanesa again.

My home was insured with Wawanesa Insurance for 28 years. My claim was initially approved in July 2018 and then in Sept. It was denied in 2018. Their 5 Step Concerns and Complaints process was a complete waste of time and I'm livid with them!
All the Department Heads disregarded my valid Concerns and Complaints. Their strategy is Delay Corresponding, Pass on the Apathy because Nobody Cares and they'll be sure to send you on a wild goose chase to waste your time. In January 2020 I began a very extensive study of the Personal Insurance Policy booklet published in May 2017 and found there is no "Inured Perils" for Property Coverage - Coverage A - Dwelling Building, aka Your Home. The Scam is "The Declarations which contain information that is unique to your insurance policy and which indicates the coverages you have purchased" does not provide coverages in the booklet. On the Declarations document under Property Coverage - Coverage A - Dwelling Building it looks like your home is insured for $$$. But in the booklet coverages do not exist. There is however a long list of "Specified Perils" under Section 1 - Loss and Damage Not Insured. I presented all of the proof to the Department Heads that their home insurance coverage is a Scam. It's a shame that Wawanesa Insurance which was founded in 1896 in the village of Wawanesa, Manitoba has sunk to a despicable level, scamming so many people with a false sense of home insurance coverages. It makes me Roar to Say Shame On Them!!!

I've had home insurance with Wawanesa for about 2 years now. I recently submitted a claim for the first time. The representative was very slow to get back to me, and when she finally did, she told me that Wawanesa wouldn't cover the source of the claim, they would only cover what was damaged as a result of the source. So, if a dishwasher leaks or roof caves in, I am to presume that they won't cover the dishwasher or roof, but will only cover other things damaged by the incident. What am I paying insurance for then?? Their low costs are not worth it if they won't cover you. When I asked the Wawanesa rep to clarify why the source of the incident isn't covered, she wouldn't answer my questions. Very unimpressed, and I will be looking for insurance elsewhere.

I had equipment breakdown coverage. This March my furnace died in -35 degree weather. I had my furnace replaced while I was at work. Wawanesa denied my claim because I was supposed to have known that I was to buy many space heaters until the part for the furnace that may have fixed it could be flown in 5 days later. No mention of paying the huge electric bill I would have had though they said they would have reimbursed for the heaters. I have pets and cannot imagine being expected to have to heat my house unsafely this way. No number of space heaters would have prevented my pipes from freezing. The fire risk would have been high and stressful when I would have to go to work. Now my renewal came on Friday, Sept 11th due to being paid by Sept 15th. Four days of which I had to work all of them. Seems they delayed letting the insurance broker have the renewals in a timely manner. Crooks, because if people don't jump to pay they would have no coverage and the 4-day time frame makes people rush to pay without thinking it through. I will be without insurance for a few days because I want to check out my options even though I will pay more. Pay over $1000 thinking I have coverage knowing they will find any excuse not to pay out or go with another company and pay more for insurance that is actually usable.

They are scam artists and fraudulent and should be arrested! My parents have overland coverage and seepage. Their basement flooded due to 4 inches of rain in a matter of 2 hours and they won't cover it even though they paid for it! It has been appealed twice already. All they care about is the money coming in! Not their customers!

I had this insurance company for 15 years for house insurance. We had hail damage to the roof twice. The first time they told us that there was no damage to the shingles, but there was damage to the eaves trough on one side and damage to the soffits. Would not pay for hail damage to the roof. Estimated damage to tin to be $900.00. Second storm a few years later. Again no apparent damage from hail to my roof. They said the damage was to shingles was done by the shinglers when the house was built. Interestingly all my neighbour's houses, behind, beside, and across the street all had their shingles replaced, some of them after both storms. They had other insurance companies covering their homes. I’m now paying the bill myself after they took my money for 15 years. I had two professional shinglers with over 35 years of experience inspecting the roof to confirm it was hail damage.

30 Year homeowner, with one previous claim. I went forward to put forth my second claim, only to be sent on wild goose chases, on quotes, estimates, reasons for caused damage etc. Only to come out with a declined claim. The same issue happened with the first claim, finally got the first one approved. Terrible adjusters who have little to no customer service skills. She even mentioned for me to read the "small print" on the policy. Just an awful experience! PLEASE if you read this switch your insurance provider today. Don't wait. After reading the other reviews I wish I would have changed YEARS ago. Excessive heat (by a fireplace malfunction, high winds and weather) caused damage to the exterior of the home. Any excessive heat or cold in which causes damage is not covered unless it's a fire inside or outside of the home.

Wawanesa just cancelled my home insurance policy and gave me 1 week's notice because I advised them well in advance (as I wanted to be honest) of a short term rental in my home (it was within the limits of what they allow for short term rentals). I have used this company for decades and paid handsomely (they are at least 30% higher than most insurance companies). They held up the process for approval leaving me in an awkward situation and then pulled the plug. I have NEVER had one claim with them. They gave this excuse: your tenants never care about your home the way you do and we don't want the responsibility. THANKS, WAWANESA, I'm glad I helped you get rich while homeowners pay through the roof (literally and for what?) for years and no flexibility in your coverage. My home is rented through an international rental agency which also insists that the tenant has their own insurance. So even with that... BIG NO, can't help you, your policy is terminated in one week. Horrible company. Bad customer service on top of it. They promote short term rentals on their website. Isn't this false advertising?

I had my roof done 2 years ago and we had a bad rainstorm and it started leaking and I pay homeowners insurance they got service master which is a rip off restoration company that hires people with no experience to come to look at our roof! And put things down on the report that are false. So I put in a claim and Wawanesa denied it like a most rip off insurance companies do they like to take our money but when Mother Nature hits our home they have a million excuses as to why it’s not covered! So, be careful about homeowners insurance it’s a rip off and a scam!!!