Whangarei couple Brendan Woods and Ann Hermans are involved in a dispute over what they say is damage caused when a moving company shifted the couple's furniture to their new home. Pictured is some of the damaged furniture. Photo / John Stone
Whangarei couple Brendan Woods and Ann Hermans are involved in a dispute over what they say is damage caused when a moving company shifted the couple's furniture to their new home. Pictured is some of the damaged furniture. Photo / John Stone
A Whangarei couple have spent three months sleeping on a mattress on the floor as they battle to settle an insurance claim after some of their furniture was damaged beyond repair during a move.
Cancer patient Ann Hermans, 41, and her partner Brendan Woods, 50, who suffers spinal problems, paidmoving company Allied Pickfords to shift their furniture north from the Kapiti Coast in June. But when the truck arrived at their new home, furniture was broken, dented, water-damaged and nine boxes were missing.
Allied Pickfords - owned by Australian-based company Sirva - does not deny the damage, spokesman Tony Marriott said. The couple, who are unable to work due to their conditions, paid $9235 for the service, including $2307 for insurance "replacement cover regardless of the age of the item". The total insured sum was $99,745 for 297 items. Mr Marriott said the damage was about $25,000, but Ms Hermans believes it to be more like $70,000 - plus extra for lost items, medical bills and emotional damages.
Ms Hermans said items were not wrapped as promised and pieces of the couple's wooden slat bed base were snapped, so they had to sleep on a mattress on the floor.
She also felt she was not given enough time to properly check everything before she signed documents noting damage and said the delay in making the claim was because they were not sent claim forms and only got them after they "chased them up".
Ms Hermans has been battling leukaemia since 2009 and Mr Woods has had one spinal fusion. They said the ordeal was also affecting their health.
Mr Marriott said: "We totally accept that there was damage and we are very disappointed with that. It is very unusual for us to get that level of damage."
The offer of a $10,000 "partial settlement" to cover some items was declined by the couple, who then "threatened" to report the company to police and media if it did not pay the total insured amount plus extra for pain and suffering, he said.
Ms Hermans denied she was threatening the company and said they had a right to report stolen goods to police, to negotiate for the settlement price and to alert media to their plight.
The couple have set up a Givealittle page for anyone who wishes to help them at www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/helpannieandbrendon.NZME
