Stay Alert: How to Spot and Avoid Disaster Chasers After Extreme Weather

In the wake of severe storms, communities not only deal with fallen trees, damaged roofs and power outages, they’re also seeing the unwelcome return of disaster chasers. These opportunistic operators move quickly through storm-affected suburbs, looking for vulnerable households under pressure to make fast decisions.

Disaster chasers may offer cheap, fast repairs or to “manage your claim”, but their work is frequently unlicensed, incomplete, or never carried out. This can cause delays, communication issues, and unfavourable outcomes for you as a policyholder. It may also leave you responsible for inflated costs, as DSH Insurance only recognises licensed and approved repairers.

How to Stay Protected and Compliant?

  1.  Contact DSH Insurance first: Before signing anything or booking repairs, speak directly with us. We can confirm what’s covered and arrange trusted emergency repairs.
  2. Be cautious of special deals: Doorknocks, free inspections or “limited time offers” are major warning signs. These may sound tempting but often require you to sign an authorisation form granting access to your property, access to a cash settlement made against your DSH Insurance policy and an accrual of fees or charges. This   potentially can lead to complications associated with the accepted general insurance claims and assessment process.
  3. No Upfront Payments: When working with trusted tradespeople referred by DSH Insurance, you'll never be asked for payment upfront. Be wary of third parties who claim there are no 'out of pocket' expenses and steer you toward a cash settlement. They often deduct a portion of the settlement as their service fee, which can impact the funds available for your property repairs.
  4. Check their Identity: DSH Insurance will always inform you before sending a tradesperson to your home. If you are unsure, ask for identification or call us to verify.
  5. Take your time: You are not obligated to agree to anything on the spot. If you accidentally sign a contract, remember you have a statutory cooling-off period during which we can help you understand the agreement you are entering into and highlight the fee’s, charges and potentially interest charged to you as the party entering into a formal contracted agreement.

After a storm, stress levels run high, and disaster chasers rely on that. Staying alert and speaking to DSH Insurance first can save you from costly complications later.

Contact DSH Insurance at dsh@dva.gov.au or call 1300 552 662

More information from Insurance Council of Australia