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An insurance company has paid up for damage done by a rat while a woman was on holiday.
A Marton woman arrived home from a two-week holiday in January to find blood from defrosted meat in her freezer soaking into the floor, and a "hideous" stench in the air, The Manawatu Standard reports.
Investigations revealed a cord at the back of her fridge-freezer had been bitten through by a rat ruining the appliance and its contents.
AMI Insurance initially told the woman that she was not eligible for any compensation, as her policy did not allow for damage caused by rats or vermin.
She argued the damage to the fridge-freezer resulted from the damage caused by the rodent, and the company agreed her claim was valid - paying out around $2000 after excess, the woman said.
AMI insurance area manager Greg Nixon said contradictory wording in the insurance policy had caused confusion for staff.
The wording stated "there is no cover for damage caused directly or indirectly by rodents or vermin."
But in fact, though the company won't pay for specific damage by rodents, the policy does cover any resultant damage.
"It was very quickly clarified, and we have moved on," Mr Nixon said.
- NZPA
