NU Online News Service Aug. 17, 4:05 p.m. EDT
BP's claims team is in the final stages of preparing to transfer responsibility for individual and business claims related to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF).
Effective Aug. 23, GCCF will be the only authorized organization managing business and individual claims related to the Deepwater Horizon Incident, the company said in a statement.
At the urging of President Obama, in June British Petroleum agreed to put $20 billion into a fund to pay Gulf oil disaster claims. The fund is to be administered by Ken Feinberg, who was the special master of the federal compensation fund for 9/11.
BP said it has to date paid $368 million to individuals and businesses. The company said it made more than $102 million in claims payments during the first 16 days of August.
Payments to claimants in past months were $134 million in July, $93 million in June and $39 million in May, making this one of the largest claim payment programs conducted in a three-and-a-half-month period.
The GCCF will be announcing new contact and claims information this week, BP said, adding that it will ensure that anyone contacting its existing claims phone lines or websites is referred to the GCCF.
To clarify the next steps and to ensure an orderly and efficient transfer of files and data, BP announced:
o It will accept new claims into its system through Wednesday, August 18. From August 19-22, individuals and businesses will be asked to file a claim when the GCCF is operational on Aug. 23.
o BP's Immediate Action Claims Team will continue to operate through Aug. 22 for existing claimants only. The team can be contacted at 800-573-8249 and will work with those who have real emergencies with regard to an existing claim.
o Government entity claims will continue to be handled by BP's claims team.
BP said it will continue to take phone calls regarding fraud at 877-359-6281.
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