When Nicole arrived home after an evening farewell for friends at Lake Taupō Yacht Club, she was horrified to discover a precious diamond pendant she wore on a nine-carat, white gold snake chain was missing.
"There was that moment of a little bit of panic, and then I started looking everywhere."
Nicole looked high and low to find the pendant, which was given to her by family in 2017. She retraced her steps, searching the car, the house, the clothes she was wearing and the laundry hamper. She phoned the yacht club, and friends who were still there immediately started hunting, joined by staff who checked tables and rubbish bins.
The next day, Nicole emptied out household rubbish bins and sifted through the contents. She went back to the venue and combed the surrounding area. She even contacted Taupō District Council to ask if it had been washed down a drain, was there any chance it could be recovered from some part of the system?
"I was devastated," says Nicole, an investment firm compliance manager and mother-of-two. "I don't wear a lot of jewellery. To me, a few quality items are better than lots, so I have a couple of very nice pieces that I take care of."
With the search exhausted, Nicole – a customer with us for some 18 years – lodged an online claim and says a claims officer was in touch within 48 hours to outline the next steps. The claim was then accepted within the week.
"It was quick," says Nicole. "It was very easy to provide the information online that was required – like a police report and photos – and I felt reassured. I'm really happy with how it was dealt with and the outcome."
Nicole is now working with a Taupō jeweller to get a replacement piece.
