Our Mission
. Get An Answer —->>>>
This website is dedicated to empowering consumers with insurance claims against “low quality insurers” . It will help with auto, home, marine and business claims for losses by and including fire, water, wind, flood, theft, total loss and denied claims. This website aims to help consumers with existing claims as well as “preventative maintenance” - avoiding “low quality insurers” before you have a claim. Our contributors give you their best insurance claim advice.
This website will be adding posts every few days about various insurance claim topics requested by visitors, including claim tips and commentary on media coverage and government response to natural disasters. Posts and website content are from the viewpoint of insurance claim advocates for the policy holder, not the insurer .
InsuranceClaimHelp.org was born out of frustration with “low quality insurers”, who like many big businesses today, have been allowed to do whatever they please, much like many large corporations in the early 1900’s that spawned antitrust laws and the formation of labor unions. Unfair claims practices laws mean nothing to low quality insurers, who routinely violate those laws and dare anyone to do anything about it.
Don’t count on the Media or the Government to solve this problem. The media and the government are controlled by big money. You are not going to hear in your local newspaper that European Smart Cars are getting 70 MPG when your local car dealer is buying full page ads to sell his gas guzzlers. Insurers don’t spend ad dollars just to get blasted by the media they fund. The answer to the insurance problem is YOU voting with your wallet. See below “YOU are the answer”.
The Problem - The mainstream media is more interested in ratings and advertising revenue than really helping John Doe. Consumer advocate news stories are token window dressing to make it appear that the media really cares. The government just is not doing the job. Legislators will not enact the laws needed because most legislators depend on campaign contributions and other “perks” from the big corporations. Most of our “not so honorable” honorable Judges have ignored the purpose of punitive damages. They won’t even impose a 1% of net profits penalty. And let’s face it, while we may believe that we have the best judicial system in the world, just as we believe America has the best of everything in the world, it just ain’t so. Judges get bribed here and set up with untraceable numbered off shore bank accounts, just like everywhere else in the world. The insurance regulatory Executive branch of government is mostly staffed by ex insurance company personnel, who truly believe “the insured is the enemy.” For states where the insurance commissioner is elected, occasionally a true consumer advocate gets elected. But their efforts are resisted by their own employees. More typical are insurance industry friendly insurance commissioners who master the art of propaganda – making it appear they punished a 200 billion dollar insurer with a 2 million dollar fine that should have been 200 million dollars, or “going after” an insurer who failed to donate enough money to his election campaign, taking credit for premium reductions, mass publicizing the prosecution of fraud by a little guy body shop or insurance agent (and they should go after fraud by both insurer and insured, but the point here is that they really don’t punish fraud by insurance companies). Local district attorneys are no different. They have no interest in fraud by insurers. But they eagerly go after the little guy. Local district attorneys often get much of their funding from the insurance companies themselves. So why would a district attorney want to bite the hand that feeds it?
This is not to say that there are not any good insurers or corporations out there. Companies like Nationwide Insurance, WallMart and Southwest Airlines are too few. Most of today’s consumers are suckered with slick advertising by insurers like Geico and Allstate, and cheated when it comes time to pay a big claim. Note- to those of you who say “oh, my company paid my claim fairly and right away”, I say most of you are talking about repairs to a vehicle. It’s pretty hard for an insurer to screw an insured on a vehicle repair when all you have to do is open your eyes and see if the paint does not match or the panel is not straight.
YOU are the Answer - The best way to punish or change a “Bad Boy” insurer is to take away their business, or, put them out of business. How do YOU do this? By giving your business to the “Good Boy” insurers. How do you find out who are the good boys and the bad boys? Currently, the best claims rating website of insurers and their vendors is on this website. It was donated by one of our contributors, Ron Cercone at www.uclaim.com. These ratings are by insurance consumers and their representatives who have had insurance claims. They are not insurers conducting their own surveys. They are not ratings by “A.M. Best”, which rates insurers on financial strength, for example “AAA+”. Beware insurers with advertisements like “we have a 95% customer satisfaction rating”. They are just rating themselves. Beware insurers who boast a high A.M. Best rating, which is not relevant for 99.9% of consumers. The consumer rating system here is not just insurance company ratings . It gives ratings of the insurer’s own employees and vendors. You can see ratings on their adjusters, body shops, contractors and even their lawyers. If you don’t like the adjuster assigned to you, ask for the one with the good rating, and punish the Bad Boy adjuster with a bad rating. This is how YOU, THE PEOPLE take back America from those corporate bad boys drinking their Marguerita on a Caribbean beach with your money .
August 25th, 2008 at 12:54 am #Ben
Thanks. Good news. I’ll become your regular visitor.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:29 pm #admin
Thanks Ben
October 11th, 2008 at 2:11 pm #Jolie
Hello,
Does anyone know about State Farm’s Texas mobile homeowners policies? They are written through their general Ins co. I am looking for the meaning of the following endorsement codes; FGP-4926, FGE-4886, FP-4978, FE-4669, FE4564 and FE-4706. Anyone with any information would be helpful! Thank you!
Jolie
October 16th, 2008 at 5:07 pm #admin
Hello Jolie,
If you don’t want to ask your agent for those endorsements (for whatever reason), try calling a SF agent/s in another town/s in Texas. You don’t have to give your policy number or full name, just tell them you are not happy with your current agent and are looking for another agent. Who knows, maybe they will even fax or mail you a copy of the actual endorsements. You may have to call several agents before you find one hungry enough to help you.
If your agent refused to give you copies of the endorsements and you don’t care whether he likes you are not, call the SF home office in Bloomington, Illinois and ask them. I’m sure they will want your policy number to confirm you are their policy holder first. You can even ask for a complete certified copy of the policy be mailed to you.
If you have an open claim, ask the adjuster for copies of those endorsements. If he refuses or refers you back to the agent, ask for the claim manager. If he refuses, then go straight to the SF CEO in Bloomington.
Also, try asking the other mobile homeowners who they are insured with. If its in a mobile home park, I’m sure there will be others in the neighborhood insured with SF. Ask to see their policies.
November 17th, 2008 at 12:29 pm #Jane Pytel
You mission is noble. As a 12 year insurance investigation veteran, I regret to say that “low quality insurers” are the norm, not the exception.
Perhaps I could be of assistance. Since my departure from insurance, I have taken up consumer education as a means to help people with legitimate claims problems, notably “delay, deny, defend”. In addition to my ongoing series of articles, I have also just published an ebook, Power to Profit. This book should prove to be extremely helpful for anyone who is in the midst of insurance company bad practices. You can see more about the book at my website, http://solutionsforyourinsuranceclaim.com.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:57 pm #admin
Hello Jane,
Thanks for the nice comments. Your comments “delay, deny, defend” bring to mind a comment by a former California insurance commissioner (one of the few California commissioners who really cared about the consumer). He said most insurers usual practice is “to pay as little, as late as possible.”
You are very welcome to add your comments to any posts on this website and you should add a signature to your posts something like “Jane, contributor and former insurance claim investigator” (or however you want to word it.
Thanks
November 17th, 2008 at 7:00 pm #admin
Jane, forgot to mention the commissioner’s name: John Garamendi. I think he is currently the Leutennant General. Please send me an email to info@insuranceclaimehlp.org
January 15th, 2009 at 12:46 pm #David L.
Great website, something that is surely needed to deal with the ever growing greed of big insurers. One topic worth mentioning to the sites visitors seeking assistance, is the Public Adjuster. In my opinion, this profession is the single best weapon the consumer can use. Just make sure you find a reputable one.
January 19th, 2009 at 1:12 am #admin
Welcome David,
I agree completely. There is some free advice on how to get a good public adjuster and how to retain one without risking losing part of your settlement offer to the public adjuster’s fee (if he fails to increase the settlement) at http://www.uclaim.com/aboutadj.asp .
January 19th, 2009 at 9:24 am #Jane Pytel Insurance Expert
I couldn’t disagree more. Speaking as a former insurance professional, I can assure you that the single most effective means to defeat the tactics of the insurance companies is simple - knowledge. Consumers must take control of their own claims. To share a percentage of your settlement with a public adjuster is ill advised. Additionally, I can assure you that in my experience, insurance companies fight much harder when a public adjuster appears. No, not the solution.
Since my departure from the insurance industry, I have made it my mission to assist insurance consumers from insurance companies. Sorry, but I just couldn’t let the previous comments pass withour comment.
For more information on your individual claims problems, you can visit my website. In addition to my ebook, Power to Profit, I will also be posting selected articles for your assistance. http://www.solutionsforyourinsuranceclaim.com.
January 20th, 2009 at 5:03 pm #admin
Hello Jane,
Its soldiers like you and I who fight the battles so that Joe consumer can watch his favorite TV show in comfort thinking he is in good hands with his good neighbor Allstate.
Thanks much for your spirited comments. I have to say, IMO, that it can go both ways with public adjusters. That’s why David qualified his comment saying “find a reputable one.”
It also depends on the individual insurer and the individual insurance company adjuster. Some insurers will do anything to fight a claim with a public adjuster. Some adjusters (mostly newbies) see burying a public adjuster as putting a feather in their cap (however that can also come back to haunt them if they step over the line of fair claims handling law).
I might also add that I have seen insurers pay a claim more quickly and fairly when they discovered that they would be dealing with the same “son of a gun” PA they fought a battle with on a prior claim.
If the consumer handles their own claim and hires a public adjuster AFTER the consumer has gotten their best settlement, and the public adjuster fee applies only to “new money” recovered, the consumer would have nothing to lose (fee wise), even if the public adjuster was incompetent (and sadly, there are a lot of “PA’s” who got their license “under the table”. But that is another sad story). The downside to this is that most consumers will have made some mistakes that not even the best public adjuster can correct. If a consumer is going to hire a public adjuster, especially right after the loss, they have to compare and choose carefully.
If hired from the start of a claim, some public adjusters can be just like accident attorneys who get the consumer “signed up”, then sit back and do nothing and take what ever settlement the insurer offers and collect their percentage. Now that’s “carpetbagging”, IMO.
The position that most states’ legislatures have taken is that, in order to level the playing field, any quality of licensed public adjuster is better than no public adjuster. Until it becomes “socially acceptable” for insurance company adjusters to pursue a career as a public adjuster, there is always going to be a shortage of good public adjusters.
To the consumer I say: If a PA won’t work for a percentage of the “new money” 6 months or even 2 years after a loss, show him the front door
January 21st, 2009 at 9:26 am #john angelo
Hi Jane please call me I have been trying to get in touch with you
561-338-5577
908-358-9311
hope you are well need to ask you some questions
thanks
John/ Mr. Billy
March 10th, 2009 at 8:49 am #john angelo
jayne lost your phone # please call
John angelo
908-358-9311
561-338-5577
ginacabretti@yahoo.com
03/10/2009
March 16th, 2009 at 11:43 am #Joe C
I have lived in my home and paid my insurance for 12 years. I recently had someone come to the door offering free roof inspection. They said I had hail damage and should file a claim. My insurance claim representative came by and assessed.After meeting with his manager, they decided that the roof should be totalled but rather than paying in full for the roof replacement they are offering a cash settlement due to depreciation. They indicated that the damaged occurred in August 2004 and the cash settlement would represent a reduced amount that is substantially less than the full coverage. What are my options?
By the way, my insurance company is State Farm.
March 16th, 2009 at 1:31 pm #admin
Hello Joe,
Try to get them to issue the money without your signing any release. Once you have the money, then you have nothing to lose if you get “under their skin”. If they make the payment without writing something like “your claim is not covered because it was not reported on time, but this money is paid as a compromise or a courtesy” then go for the full cost of replacing your roof (if you have replacement cost coverage).
If indeed the damage was in 2004, then you are lucky they are even covering your claim and paying anything. Most policies give 12 months to turn in the claim from the accident date. And most states override that by giving 3 or 4 years to sue your insurer for property damage. Check with a local attorney what the “statute of limitations” is to sue for property damage. They should not charge for a simple question like that.
Also find out if the “date of loss” in your state is the actual date of the physical damage, or when you discovered the damage (the idea being that you have no loss until you become aware of a loss). That is a question that most adjusters and even attorneys will not know the answer to. You could pay an attorney for 1 hour to research the answer.
If you can spare the time and “give back” a little something to this website, make a rating on State Farm and or their adjuster on the Consumer Ratings page of this website. You could also do a rating on the contractor who alerted you to your roof.
May 14th, 2009 at 5:13 pm #chris
HI We had a House fire on March 13, 2008 on brand new property. The fire started in the garage went into the roof and we lost half the house and 3 cars any everything in the garage. We were completly hounded by public claims adjusters even while the fire was still burning. We signed with one and that has been a night mare. They have been worthless there only concern is to get there 15%. The items that were saved need to be cleaned before they go back into the house. We had to contact Departmetn of Insurance for the State of California to get beds cleaned. Right now my sons mattresses havent been cleaned. Do you know of stories of public claims adjuster that have really help consumers? We havent been payed yet for the contents and the builders has place a len on property for the extras that werent on the scope by the insurance company. We had to get a attorney
May 15th, 2009 at 12:58 am #admin
Hello Chris,
If your story is even half true, then it makes my stomach turn. I feel shame for the PA profession in California.
We all know there’s good and bad in every profession. Unfortunately there are more bad PAs in California because the biggest player years ago thought he could wipe out the competition by forcing the “solicitors” to become licensed as public adjusters. Well, it backfired, because now you have people with PA licenses whose experience “working for insurance companies” consisted of sucking water out of carpets from toilet overflows. (And in fairness to the PA profession, there are excellant PAs who have never worked as insurance company employees, but they are few.)
Now if you want to know how to hire a competent public adjuster (or any professional for that matter), go to the “Free Stuff” page at UClaim.com http://www.uclaim.com and click on the line entitled “About Public Adjusters”. Scroll half way down to the yellow highlighted part and read those two paragraphs.
And if you and your lawyer want to know specifically if your PA followed reasonable PA procedures, get the PA’s “Bible” entitled “HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE CLAIM ADVICE AND HELP – ALL ASPECTS (deluxe)” at UClaim.com, top of the Product page. It was written in layman’s terms, for the common man. It will teach you how to pick up the pieces and do a better job than the guy you hired.
Good luck to you.
If the PA you hired was at your house as it burned of after hours, you may have a legal way out of the contract. Also, go to section 15006 of the California insurance code for a list of illegal PA practices. Go to Findlaw.com to access the codes for free.
May 17th, 2009 at 8:12 pm #david
Hey Chris, the best website to find a good PA is http://www.napia.com. It is the self governing organization for PA’s. They mandate continuing education and heavily scrutinize new and existing members to ensure they conduct themselves in a professional manner. Just my two cents. Good luck.
May 18th, 2009 at 1:38 am #admin
David,
Great advice and thanks for your “two cents”, which is most welcome here!
I might add for the visitors here that if one is looking at the Napia website for a PA, give preference to the ones with the designation “SPPA”, which means that PA has passed a number of college level type classes and exams in claim adjusting. While this is no “guarantee” that they will do a good job, it raises the odds that they will. And don’t necessarily rule out non SPPA members, or non Napia PAs. You have to take a good look anyone you are considering contracting with.
October 27th, 2009 at 2:08 pm #Tammy
What is the differenece between a HO3 policy and a DP3 Policy? Can I buy a DP3 policy if I live in the house?
October 27th, 2009 at 4:44 pm #admin
Tammy,
Both are RCV and all risk with named exclusions on structure, and ACV and “named perils” with named exclusions on contents. DP3 is usually purchased by landlords and HO3 by homeowners. HO3 includes liability coverage, DP3 does not have to have liability? HO3 has more bells and whistles, fufu stuff.
How about some of you visitors elaborate more for Tammy …
January 12th, 2010 at 3:20 am #admin
Attention Visitors who regularly monitor this website via RSS feeds or other methods. Due to the burden of increasing visitors with questions, your help is needed. Questions will be posted, but Admin responses may now either be delayed, or even not given at all. Your involvement in the Discussion Forum page of this website is also crucial to its success or failure. Thank you.
January 19th, 2010 at 7:27 pm #Susan B
My Mercedes SLK was flooded on 12/17/09. It’s three years old and is still under manu warranty. I had it towed to the dealer. State Farm has been quite uncoopeartive and today decided to basically clean up the car and see what happens. It’s been sitting at the dealer for one month, wet. The value of the car is 25K and Mercedes estimates it has roughll 22K in damages. What are my rights in Florida? The warranty is going to be voided and the resale value will be minimal if CarFacts shows it as a flood car. Can I go against State Farm for the excessive depreciation since they wouldn’t fix it to certified pre owned status? Help….