Cargo Claims

Weather is unpredictable and so much can go wrong at sea. If you’ve received damaged cargo, or it hasn’t arrived at all, follow our cargo claims process so we can get it sorted for you.

Things to do before you make a cargo claim

Inspect your cargo

Always inspect your cargo for loss or damage as soon as it arrives, to identify if any damage has happened during transit. Unpack your things immediately to check for any visible damage like holes or dampness. Even a small amount of damage on the outside of a package can mean serious damage inside. Don’t throw out any packaging without talking to us first. Our surveyors might need to see it.

Act quickly!

If something has happened to your cargo, you need to act right away to stop any more physical damage or financial loss. You can do this by taking protective measures like handling any damaged goods with care and separating any damaged cargo from sound cargo. If you don’t do this, you might not be able to claim the loss. Keep in mind that we’ll only cover cargo that is lost or damaged, not your whole shipment.

Make notes in your freight documents

Don’t give a clean receipt to the delivering carrier unless you can immediately inspect the cargo and have found no damage. If any goods are damaged or partially missing, note on the receipt that the goods are damaged or partially missing. If the exterior packing is damaged, then note “packaging damaged” on the receipt.

Don’t sign anything if your cargo is damaged.

Make sure to check the number of the packages in your cargo before signing the receipt. If you suspect your cargo is damaged, don’t sign the receipt. If you can, take photos of the packages while they’re still in the truck or container to show any damage to the packages or to prove they were stowed badly.

Our simple cargo claims process steps:

If you discover that your cargo has been lost or damaged, follow our simple cargo claims process:

 

1

Let us know that your cargo is lost or damaged right away by email. Have your policy number and claim details ready.

2

3

4

5

Documents you need to make a cargo claim

Make sure you have the following documentation ready when you make your claim:

  • Bill of Lading or Air Waybill
  • Commercial invoice
  • Insurance certificate
  • Copy of the Notice of Claim lodged against your carrier
  • Any documentation relating to the out-turn or receipt of your goods
  • Local Carriers Waybill (where applicable)
  • A copy of temperature records (where available and applicable)
  • Invoices to confirm salvage or sale price of goods (where applicable)
  • Copy of instructions to carrier regarding carriage temperature (where applicable)

File a claim

Insurance forms you need to make a cargo claim

Brokers and advisers can find more documents in the Broker & Adviser Centre

Our claims promise

We know that claim time can be particularly stressful for customers. Our claims teams aim to settle straightforward claims immediately.

If your claim is a bit more complicated, we’ll work with you and your broker or adviser to ensure your claim gets processed as quickly and efficiently as possible. Either way, we promise to treat all our customers fairly.

We’d love to hear your feedback, whether it’s good or bad. Give us feedback or make a claims complaint.

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We are a member of the Insurance Council of NZ and adhere to the Fair Insurance Code, which provides you with assurance that we have high standards of service to our customers.