While insurers continue to count the cost of heavy rain in south-east Queensland and northern NSW, “flood versus storm” claims disputes are flaring further south on the NSW mid-north coast following the deluge in late March.

Brokers in the area say insurers have been inconsistent in their treatment of victims following the wet and wild weather. And their comments suggest there’s still widespread confusion about what insurers are and are not covering.

Several brokers contacted insuranceNEWS.com.au after reports last week indicated most insurers were prepared to pay claims under storm provisions.

A NSW broker cited the Coffs Harbour event as evidence of “continued inconsistency” from insurers.

“NRMA Insurance have agreed to pay the Coffs Harbour event in March as storm but CGU has been very disappointing,” he said. “They have belatedly appointed hydrologists and are declining claims based on the flood exclusion.”

That comment brought a sharp rebuttal from CGU GM Claims Ben Bessell, who told insurance.com.au the company has paid 97% of the 627 claims received after the Coffs Harbour event.

“CGU has accepted claims where it was obvious that the damage was caused by stormwater, which our policies cover,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au. “We have denied 15 claims where the damage was caused by flood.

“At CGU we look at each claim on its individual merits and we pay claims in accordance with the policy.”

An ACT broker contacted insuranceNEWS.com.au to challenge the value of automatic flood cover offered by Suncorp companies.

“GIO’s policy is restricted to a percentage of the sum insured and will not pay on the whole sum insured,” she said.

But a GIO spokesman says the broker has “got it wrong”.

“GIO’s personal home and contents insurance policies cover any flood damage caused by rain,” she told insuranceNEWS.com.au. “The cover provided is up to the policy sum insured.”