Media Release 13 December 2013

Southern Response Action This Monday

Southern Response / Arrow International clients are gearing up for their promised return to the Christchurch offices, on Monday.

Organisers, Steve Gurney and Ali Jones say they were contacted by a large number of Southern Response claimants following the first protest on Monday 2 December and they expect numbers to be greater this time.

“Since the last protest we've had a steady stream of emails and phone calls from people promising a turn out on Monday,” says Gurney. “Looks like we'll easily double the number, maybe more.”

Ninety-nine claimants submitted an ultimatum to Southern Response CEO, Peter Rose, last week, fifty in person and forty nine by email. Peter Rose promised to look at the claims he had been handed and resolve them “if they are resolvable".

Gurney and Jones are adamant; "We'd like to keep the door open for the possibility that Southern Response come back on Monday with offers that people can finally agree and settle on. Mr Rose has promised internal changes and solutions and we are all cautiously optimistic about that. Is it just lip service with the same old, same old? The proof if the pudding is in the eating."

“Any claim is resolvable,” says Jones, “and it would be fair and reasonable, three years on, to have claims sorted by now.”

Gurney believes that unless a significant number of the claims Peter Rose was given are resolved on Monday, there’ll be some pretty unhappy people to deal with.

"This is D-Day, crunch time. We've given Southern Response a real opportunity to come clean and sort the mess they've made of people's lives" Gurney says. "The protest on the 16th could get very fiery if there are significant numbers of customers still dissatisfied with Southern Response.”

“This is the last ditch effort for many,” he adds. “We that one woman in her early 40’s who has been fighting with SR for two years and she recently had a heart attack – she has no history of heart problems at all. She really wants to come on Monday but has decided not to, for her health’s sake.”

Gurney says the kind of stress and pressure people are under is clearly having a seriously detrimental effect on health and wellbeing. Jones agrees.

“This is fast becoming a human rights issue,” she says. “Southern Response and other insurance companies, for whom there are no consequences when they delay and treat people badly, must acknowledge the damage they are doing to our communities and the long term health of families, and resolve these claims once and for all.”

Gurney and Jones also understand that there are some moves afoot regarding a group legal action against Southern Response but have no other details other than a claimant has engaged a lawyer to gather information from claimants to investigate a group action.

ENDS

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