Water damage at a hair salon

Mon, 29.04.2024, 08:00

What was supposed to be routine electrical work put Caroline F’s whole hairdressing business at risk. Luckily, she had good insurance. This story shows how her company survived the damage – and why it’s important for SMEs to get to grips with risks.

When the pipes burst

Caroline F.* assumed all was fine as the electrician fiddled with the boiler in her hairdressing salon. The trouble was, the electrician then made a mistake: he bypassed the boiler incorrectly. The water kept heating up hotter and hotter, shooting through the pipes until they burst. In just minutes, Caroline’s salon was under water.
 
Anyone running an SME can understand how Caroline F. felt at that moment. The company you’ve poured all your energy into is in jeopardy. She called Helvetia. Claims expert Marco Sen was able to help fast.
 

Under water – but not sunk

As an insurance company, Helvetia has a large network of trade contractors to help customers swiftly and easily. So Marco Sen soon found suitable partners who cleared up the hairdresser’s and organised the drying process so that the damage could be limited quickly.

More than just property damage

It sounds simple, but it doesn’t come cheap: the property damage amounted to around CHF 50,000. Then there were costs of CHF 15,000 for the clean-up and drying procedures. Last but not least: Helvetia reimbursed its customer Caroline F. a further CHF 20,000 for lost business.
 
As this example shows, the financial consequences of damage like this can be devastating. An SME cannot foot this cost alone. Claudia F. is definitely happy that she took out the right insurance cover.
 
What does claims expert Marco Sen particularly like about his job? "As part of the Helvetia team, I can help people in difficult situations and work with customers to find suitable solutions. Our help is by no means just financial. Often our customers simply appreciate the fact that we are there for them. Because for those affected, an event like this is a shocking, unprecedented occurrence. For the team at Helvetia, on the other hand, it’s just part of the day job that we put our heart and soul into."

Getting the right insurance cover

Regularly assessing, discussing and finding appropriate solutions to risks is essential if you run an SME. The best way to do this is to meet one-to-one with an expert. Our SME Check also provides an initial overview of the insurance situation. In just five minutes, you’ll be given valuable recommendations.
*Name changed by the editor

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