2023-07-01 16:25:27
Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire on Saturday asked insurers to extend reporting deadlines, reduce deductibles and quickly compensate professionals who are victims of the riots, towards whom banks should show more understanding.
“We have asked insurers to be as simple as possible in handling procedures” and to “reduce deductibles as much as possible”, declared Mr. Le Maire in front of journalists following having received representatives of traders, hoteliers and restaurateurs. , insurers and bankers in Bercy.
For the Minister, “compensation must arrive as quickly as possible”, “within deadlines which must be calculated in days and not weeks” for traders and entrepreneurs affected by damage and looting committed during the violence which broke out in many many cities in France following the death of young Nahel, killed on Tuesday by a policeman during a road check.
– “One call is enough!” –
“We have planned to extend if necessary to extend the reporting deadlines,” he added.
“Declaration deadlines must be extended, but insurers must also adapt the recognition of claims”, remarked Philippe Coy, president of the Confederation of tobacconists. “I don’t think there will be enough experts in the short term, each member should be able to photograph the damage in order to be able to repair without waiting for an expert, because it will be urgent to prepare for the repairs”, he said. at AFP.
Bruno Le Maire also asked the banks for “the greatest understanding in terms of processing deadlines” from the professionals concerned.
If France Assureurs did not respond immediately to AFP’s requests, the president of the French Banking Federation Philippe Brassac assured that the banks were “present, fully mobilized to respond in a personalized way to the needs of their affected customers. by the recent riots”.
“All meeting participants are committed to simplicity and speed,” he added in a statement.
A deferral of payment of social and tax charges for companies in difficulty will also be possible. Traders are also demanding a delay in the repayment of state-guaranteed loans (PGE) granted during the health crisis.
After four nights of unrest, there are regarding ten shopping centers and more than 200 large retail chains attacked and looted – including 15 burned down -, 250 tobacco shops but also 250 bank branches, stores of all sizes , fast food establishments…
“It’s hyper critical and there is really very significant damage,” Alain Di Crescenzo, president of CCI France (chambers of commerce and industry) told AFP.
– “Not enough” –
“We are at several thousand shops” – including 400 in Marseille alone on Friday -, with a predilection for sporting goods, food and optics. A balance sheet all the heavier according to him as many security guards have asserted their right of withdrawal.
Crisis cells have been reactivated in each department and “we want to provide quick and strong responses”, said Bruno Le Maire, noting that “90 to 95% of traders are covered by claims and damage insurance” and 53% by business interruption insurance.
Each CCI has also opened a crisis unit — including psychological –, according to Mr. Di Crescenzo, who is also calling for aid to compensate for deductibles, operating losses if they are not insured, the payment of security guards and partial unemployment. He also wants, more prosaically, priority in the police stations for traders so that they can easily declare their claims.
For Murielle Bourreau, vice-president of the French Federation of merchant associations, the gesture of Mr. Le Maire “will not be enough”.
“I hear yet another postponement (of charges) following the one we had following the Covid, that we had following the pension reform or the yellow vests. I think that the traders will be taken by the throat once moreover”, she declared on the set of BFMTV, denouncing the passage of the procedures of compensation too cumbersome.
In addition, the possibility of extending sales for one week for affected businesses is being studied.
“The sales started very well, tourism is doing very well. We have so many chances, so many assets in this country, we must preserve them”, pleaded Olivia Grégoire, Minister Delegate in charge in particular of SMEs and trade.
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