Prudential Expediting Claims Process

By Staff Writer

September 14, 2001 at 08:00 PM

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NU Online News Service, Sept. 14, 3:05 p.m. – Although Prudential Financial, Newark, N.J., does not have offices at the former World Trade Center, they do have locations in lower Manhattan: a sales office at 1 Liberty Plaza and a securities corporate office at the South Street Seaport.

All of the employees in those offices are presumed safe in connection with the Sept. 11 attacks on four U.S. passenger jets, the Pentagon and the Manhattan World Trade Center Complex, says spokeswoman Laurita Warner.

"We're unaware of any losses," she says. "We think we've been blessed."

At least part of the securities operation at the Seaport is expected to reopen Monday, along with the New York Stock Exchange, Warner says.

The condition of the 1 Liberty Plaza location is still unclear, she says.

Prudential writes life policies, group life policies, personal lines and property and casualty policies.

"The impact for us would be on life claims as well as automobiles and personal possessions that might be lost in a disaster, which come under a homeowner's policy," Warner says.

Because the exact number of fatalities and loss of personal property is not currently known, the financial impact to Prudential is not yet estimable, she says.

The company is being flexible and sensitive to employees needing claims processed, Warner says. For instance, expedited claims processing has been instituted, proof of death is not required relative to the disaster, and special accommodations are being made for late premium payments.

Phone numbers have been set up for people with claims that need to be processed as well. For life insurance claims: 800-778-2255; for property and casualty claims: 800-437-3535.

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