Stay away from Aviva
by Run From Aviva on Mar 4, 2024
1 out of 5 stars
We had a flood in our home because of a crushed sewer pipe. We contacted our insurer, RBC/Aviva who claimed that the repair was covered. Upon contacting the repair company our insurer denied our claim despite a representative from the same originally claiming that the repair was covered. In the end, it cost me just under $10,000.00. Horrible company and garbage representation. Go with anyone other than RBC/Aviva. Complete scam.
DO NOT insure with Aviva. We had two relatively minor claims within 5 years, one for wind damage and one for flood damage. The second claim was processed with no mention that doing so would mean they would not renew our coverage. In fact, we updated them on Aug 26 with all of the updates we had completed to avoid future claims and our premium actually went down slightly. Then on Sept 10th, we get a registered letter telling us our coverage will not be renewed in October! In the middle of a pandemic and they advise us 5 weeks before our policy expires that we won't be renewed, nice! I am supposed to receive a call from someone within the next 24 hours so we will see what they say but if they do not reverse this decision I will be cancelling all of my auto insurance and I may remove all of my funds from them and go elsewhere. I'm not doing business with a company that behaves like this! I suggest you look elsewhere for insurance!
We made a claim for water damage resulting from a broken hose on the washing machine in our second-floor laundry room. The contractor responded quickly with the delivery of a dehumidifier, but that dehumidifier stayed in our dining room for months despite frequent calls to you and the contractor. It was finally removed when we threatened to sell it. The insurance agent and the contractor then stated that our ceiling had been stippled and the ceiling damage was a result of removal of this stipple, not water damage. This was false as the house was built in 2010 and the builder testified that no ceiling was stippled; however, both the insurance agent and the contractor steadfastly held on to this claim that this did not represent water damage. The water damage was eventually repaired, but suboptimally. The subcontractor remarked to us at the time that he was only allowed to put two coats of paint on the repair because the insurance company and contractors had stated that they would not pay for a third coat which would result in a normal-appearing ceiling rather than a defective ceiling. Subsequent to this repair, secondary lesions developed. We had a second contractor inspect the ceiling and he noted a tide mark extending beyond the kitchen into the hallway leading to our ground-level bathroom. Both the insurance agent and contractor stated that they did not believe the second contractor because they could not understand how this could happen; note that our trust levels were not high as these were the same people who stated, despite all evidence to the contrary, that our ceiling had been stippled. Furthermore, both the insurance agent and contractor should be well aware of hydrodynamics. I suspect the insurance agent and the selected contractor were in cahoots and that no one was representing our interests.
We live in a duplex that was built in 2015, we moved there in 2016. Due to some careless errors from the builder, we've had roof leaks, patio leaks, we sent photos and videos of water literally pouring through our ceiling in December 2017, it's now October 2018 and Aviva has done nothing to approve our home warranty claim. They did send an inspector in September 2018 but even after several phone calls, emails we still don't have an answer, this Randy P is terrible at follow up, but it seems to be problematic throughout the company based on all these negative reviews on here. It's now rainy season again, sigh.
YES BE WARNED FOR MANY REASONS. THEY PUT YOU THROUGH HELL FOR 20 MINUTES OF INTIMIDATION, BEFORE EVEN YOU ARE STARTING THE LINE OF COMMUNICATION... CLEARLY ALL TO COVER THEMSELVES. THEN... A COMPREHENSIVE HOME INSURANCE. It says, you are covered for water damage, roof etc... one can imagine that the roof will be covered... but cleverly, the explanation is that... based on weather condition and wind/storm at a speed of 55m/h+ that you could be covered for any damages caused to your roof... // WHAT?????.. How could this be?? Surely if you get an insurance and after 6 months, you get unlucky that something goes wrong with your roof, don't even think about to go to them for any assistance. Even in my case when I am with them more than 5 years, one can think that within 5 years... there may have been very bad weather that my roof wouldn't have been affected so to speak, and then a heavy rain caused the same damage than a storm of 55 miles... that could even damage a brand new roof... it just doesn't add up what they say... unless they say, come and insure your house, only and if you have a brand new roof... they say you are covered for accidental damage... then when you have a burst pipe under a bath, they say, you need to repair the burst pipe and we only cover you for make good... I have a 3-storey terrace house. I can't go to the roof to figure out how the leak has been caused, and their response is that for the last 3 months we didn't have any kind of hurricane type of wind of 55m/h... therefore I am not covered... TO TOP IT ALL... they further intimidate that should you make a claim, even if your claim is unsuccessful, you will be put on the list of those who made the claim and therefore should you decide to change your insurance company, you must report that YOU HAVE MADE A CLAIM, EVEN IF YOUR CLAIM GOT DECLINED with the bogus reasons good enough for AVIVA themselves. Therefore, either way, your insurance premium will get affected with a higher insurance cost. Basically, intimidation all along... to ensure that you fully understand... if you make a claim... even unsuccessful, you will be reported... all that to dissuade you to change your mind if you make a claim... your premium will go up... even if you didn't get validation to your claim during all these intimidations... no one is actually telling you honestly and openly WHAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY BEING INSURED FOR... UNLESS YOU READ A 20-PAGE INSURANCE DOCUMENT. Let us face it... most of us take an insurance because we want to be covered for the main issues... fire... water damage to the property...
We had a flood in our house and were treated badly, which caused us physical and emotional harm. No consideration was given to our needs.
6 Months ago I had a small flood (just under the hardwood in the basement, no water visible). I contacted the insurance company and they said they will send someone ASAP - and I chose their trusted contractor (My contractor said 2-3 weeks TOPS to repair/remove the hardwood/paint). 6 MONTHS LATER - I am still waiting for them to finish. The adjuster is horrible and did not reply for weeks at a time, I called them numerous times and went straight to voicemail. Kristen was most horrible adjuster I have ever spoken to. I even tried to contact another adjuster just to be met with voicemail and no response. I even escalated 3 TIMES over the phone to talk to a manager - NO ONE RESPONDED TO MY REQUESTS. Now I am sitting here just waiting, looking at my unfinished basement after 6 months of the claim going through... THANKS, AVIVA!
Giving this company a 1 star rating (minimum required) is over rating Aviva Insurance. MINUS 5 would be more appropriate for the bad experience we had with this company.
The short story:
We had a roof issue this summer that caused a leak in the house and subsequent damage to our ceiling. After contacting Aviva, their own roofer (biased?) gave a repair cost to the six year old roof of $2,000.00 and blamed the failure of the roof to workmanship by the initial roofer, that said, Aviva denied our claim totally, even the ceiling repair. For the $2,000.00 Aviva’s roofer assured us it was an easy repair. After three attempts to repair this “easy repair”, the roof was still leaking (workmanship?). On the fourth attempt the roofer did an overkill repair which drove the bill to $6,200.00 of which Aviva denied all and of course the repair to the ceiling of $800.00 (we called in an independent contractor for this as Aviva’s contractor wanted over $2,000.00). Now we’re out approximately $7,000.00. After escalating this to Aviva’s CEO, his Assistant Vice President contacted us, but didn’t seem all that anxious to help either, trivializing it all by suggesting to us that it’s ONLY $7,000.00…EXCUSE ME???...if it’s ONLY $7,000.00 why does Aviva refuse to pay any part or all of it?
Needless to say we cancelled our policy and found another company that knows the meaning of customer care.
If you’re still going with this company, may you have better luck.
P.S. While waiting for the roofer to find a time to do the repair, we asked him to put up a temporary tarp. Another $350.00 and the tarp leaked as well (workmanship?).
Apt. flooded by the upstairs tenant, she admitted liability---I have FULL REPLACEMENT, ALL PERILS...they have not honoured that. Also paid for coverage to put me up in a hotel if my residence was not liveable during flood mitigation...Aviva did not secure a hotel/motel...excuse--they do not have a direct billing account service or company credit card for that service; my friend used their credit card. Aviva maintains that abnormal destructive humidity levels are not caused by water, pictures, witnesses and expenses verified by a commissioner of oaths, made no difference...badgering, intimidation tactics - phone call after phone call---this company used to be Pilot, named by Readers Digest as "Insurers from Hell"--Pilot is Aviva....Leopard does not change it's spots
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Like everyone else, they are just the worst in every possible way. 14 weeks out and no project scope for repairs, no approvals given to replace electronics, repair or replace furniture, etc. Important documents, that could and should have been saved as per my policy, sit molding in a gutted home. Decisions/denials are made with no explanation or justification and if you press them for an answer they will stop responding to you. I've yet to be financially compensated for any out of pocket expenses (hotels, Airbnb, meals) $20K and counting. I had a fire water main break in my condo, obviously not my fault, I had the water to building shut off before the firemen arrived, saving $100,000s of dollars as my actions prevented other units from being damaged. I've provided every and all documentation they have asked for to move along the claim, but here I sit with no home, no compensation, no plan, no approvals and no end in sight. :( Run from Aviva