Posted on 09/25/2004 8:14:24 AM PDT by Praxeus
Here in Vero Beach. Don't look forward to this hurricane.
I don't look forward to dealing more with State Farm. They have totally ripped us off from Frances. We had major, major damage.. all shingles, all tar paper; all ceiling down on the floor (save one room)along with blown in insulation. Major water damage. You can see all the tape seams on wall drywall.. can see where it is nailed.
The adjuster says all the wallboard is still good in spite of this. He even tried to prove the drywall was still good by pushing on it. His hand went right through the wall. We had 6 people standing watching when it happened.. his response was that "THIS piece is bad, not the rest." He went to another place and done the same thing "just that piece was bad".
In the one room where the ceiling did not fall, you can see where the water stained around each piece of drywall. He said it just needed repainted. All the insulation is wet above it.
We have chipboard decking on the roof which was soaked for several days.. he said it was fine and would dry out as would the insulation behind the drywall in the walls.
They told us to clean all the debris up inside (2-3' of wet drywall, insulation, broken possessions everywhere thru house.. sludge 2' deep) He said if we couldn't find someone to do it we had to ourselves -- SF would pay us for the time. It was a mess.. very hard for us. After the adjuster said he was wrong.. his supervisor said they would NOT pay us to do it but would have paid someone else.
They have been terrible.. this is nowhere near all that happened..
Their payout? $22,000. $15,500 after "depreciation" whatever that is. We get $15,500 to rebuild our house with damaged walls and decking to remain. The county came by and hung a notice on the front door that no one was to enter the dwelling.
Now here we go with another one coming right over the top of us. I'm writing this so all see what this company is doing to people at a time our lives are torn up. This is the last thing we should have to worry with. I called the State Insurance office and they were encouraging people to report insurance company lowballing. They told me State Farm was one of the worst they were getting complaints on.. and they were getting many, many complaints. Allstate and Nationwide were two others he mentioned.. But he said State Farm was the chief offender.
Well I want this out before I go thru number two.. who knows what will happen to us in this one. The National Hurricane Center called our county (Indian River) coordinator last night at 10pm and told him that Indian River was about to get something they have never faced..
If anyone knows how we can get what we have paid for all these years please help.
Prayers to all.. pray for us.
You think thats bad, just wait til you see your new premiums.
I feel for you, there are 10,00 stories like yours out there.
And more to come after tonight.
Call your state insurance commissioner and attorney general.
Post some photos ... State Farm hates bad publicity.
Yep. Both State Farm and Allstate have been at the root of pretty much all insurance horror stories I've experienced or heard.
Strange. They weren't fast but covered us well from a hail storm (then upped our rates of course:') I would video tape everything this time. It would have been worth it to see him put his hand thru a "good one".
No ideas, but I am praying for you.
I have found State Farm to be fair to deal with in the past. However, I have no experience here in Florida with SF. As sad or warped as it may sound, come spring I will be back in my Texas Prairie home. I have had enough of Florida, the crooks, and many other issues that I see as problems with the Sunshine State.
I'm honestly thinking of trying to insure myself.
We were insure for $115,000 on the house and $89,000 on contents. All those years paying premiums down the drain when it comes time for them to pay.
But you are right, it's not just us. Right now though.. I'm really concerned about Jeanne coming over us. It looks like we will get the NE Quadrant again just like on Frances -- with MUCH higher winds if they are right.
Get an insurance adjuster. They are worth their fee.
1)Document your problems with photos and expert opinions (this can be a contractor) The opinions of your friends and neighbors won't mean much if this goes to court.
2) File a formal complaint with the Florida Department of Financial Services. Here is a link
3) If that does not get you satisfaction, you may need to sue State Farm
State Farm screwed us. I wouldn't expect them to do any different for you.
They can't build a vast empire generously paying claims, CAN THEY?
Like casinos in Las Vegas, they make their fortune from suckers they can take advantage of.
You can get an industrial hygenist to examine the home and make an assessment for the probablities of mold and bacterial infestations. There are other specialists who can inspect as well. They will be well worth their fee and the fee itself will possibly be reimbursable.
If you've had grey or black water in your walls or carpets, they need to go.
That's what I've heard. But this hurricane is bringing out a different side I guess.
It might come to that...but what if these big insurers start going under? I'm wondering where they're (all the insurers) going to get the money for these huge payouts.
It'll be the better insurance cos that will get hit the hardest.
Folks.. I have to tend to some things right now. The wind is starting to pick up. I will post as long as I have power. We look to be in ground zero here if the weather boys are right.
Thanx for any ideas that will help. I WILL read them if I come thru this storm.
Having just seen Jeanne upgraded to a Category 3, my prayers and thoughts are already with Floridians.
Are you getting assistance from FEMA? In the long run, sticking with the State Insurance Office with your complaint seems to be the best option.
May I have your permission to print out your post (without identifiers of course)? I would like to take it to my State Farm agent and ask him what the 'ell is going on over there and telling him that depending on his answer is whether we keep our homeowner's and auto policies with State Farm.
I got plenty pictures on a CD. I will try to figure how to post them after this storm.
Probably the best decision you'll ever make. (Unless one of famous tornados come through, and get you, of course)
Go ahead. Absolutely. I will post some photo's after this hurricane. (I mean of the last hurricane damage) I bet I dont even have a house left after this one. It is Frame.
That's a public adjuster. I'm an independent adjuster. I worked Charlie down in Ft. Myers. If you can't get a public adjuster, get an attorney. I'm not kidding.
Bump.
Goota go for awhile.
You have FReepmail.
It's so flat where I am from, and will be returning too, that you can see your dog run away for three days. So, at a minimum I will see the tornado coming.
Also, I will be so happy to cast a vote for W while here in FL. At least I will have one good memory.
Bad publicity is usually the way to get what you need. TV,newspaper,etc.
Get a sharp lawyer with big teeth.
Dear NCLA,
State Farm is Satan's insurance company.
Our experience was similar to yours. One of their customers rear-ended one of our cars. The bumper needed to be replaced. State Farm refused to pay to fix the damage. They were willing to contribute to replacing the bumper, but because the bumper had dents and dings in it from wear and tear, they wouldn't pay the entire cost.
I pointed out that the bumper went from a state of perfectly serviceable, if a bit cosmetically challenged, to badly damaged, its functional integrity compromised. I was only asking them to pay to have a serviceable bumper again. They reiterated they would not pay to replace the bumper.
Then, they wouldn't pay for original manufacturer's parts, only knock-offs.
State Farm is Satan's insurance company.
sitetest
First, don't sign off on anything. Second, get a lawyer. The adjuster estimates are in no way legally binding. You have a contract with State farm. Now you need to enforce it. Get lots of estimates.
My family went through this with the Northridge Earthquake. The initial offer to my father on his damage to his house was $28,000. In the end they paid $190,000. Don't take any cr*p from snotty nose temporary adjusters from out of state who normally asess hog farms in North Dakota.
Get a lawyer.
Call your insurance commissioner. Have the name of the adjuster, and maybe even get a group of your neighbors who had the same adjuster write out their written statements, send notorized copies of your letters to the commissioner, mail them return receipt requested. Send copies of this to State Farm, with a cover letter explaining what you've done. At least, that should light a fire under them.
Call your insurance commissioner. Have the name of the adjuster, and maybe even get a group of your neighbors who had the same adjuster write out their written statements, send notorized copies of your letters to the commissioner, mail them return receipt requested. Send copies of this to State Farm, with a cover letter explaining what you've done. At least, that should light a fire under them.
I had a fire in my home in N.J. back in 1970.
We went through Hell until I was set wise and got an adjuster.
He had shown up while the fire trucks were still there, and I threw him off my property. Before he left he gave me his card and said to call him if I thought I needed him.
I found that I was overwhelmed by the hoops the insurance company made me jump through.
I called him, and I think he and his company saved my mental stability.
That being a fire, and over thirty four years ago, I'm not able to say what should be done today.
You have a finger on the pulse and would seem better qualified to give some advice to Praxeus, and others.
Thanks
Do you mean 10,000 stories or 1000 stories? 10,00 is an incomplete number.
When you are talking to someone from State Farm, always be polite, kill them with kindness, if you make them mad, it then becomes a personal issue with them. Never let them know you are angry, be persistant, if they are having to deal with you over, and over, that takes time away from other things they have to do. Don't tell them you are going to get a lawyer, mention that you hope they will help you resolve this without getting lawyers involved.
It would help to put teeth into state insurance regulations but you will find the insurance companies and lawyers have already bought off the legislatures and governors and long ago passed laws to royally screw consumers from sea to shining sea.
Maybe this is the year for the US government to withdraw financial aid to one of our so-called friendly countries and give it to Florida instead.
I've had Allstate for years. Had a major problems with a house in Tahoe from snow load, didn't even send an adjuster out. Told me to take pictures and send them in with a estimate for repair. Allstate sent me a check, less the deductible in about 3 weeks.
Your beef is NOT with State Farm, it's with the other driver. It's probably too late now, but the thing to do in your situation, and what I'm going to do next time, is to begin to threaten the other driver. Forget his insurance company, they are just the entity the other driver hired to 'hide' behind.
The other driver is ultimately responsible, I'm going after them next time. Doing so will have the other driver putting pressure on their insurance company.
Depreciation means that the house got older, so the materials that were damaged were less valuable than when they were new. It probably has to do with the agent who sold you the policy trying to lower the premium by selling a policy that did not cover replacement value.
Good for you. Your experience seems to be the exception rather the rule.
I have always found them to be fair with me but storm damage is a negotiating circumstance. Your first move should have been to contact FEMA after contacting State Farm. I would be suprised if State Farm didn't tell you this.
All cases have to differentiate between wind damage and water damage if your property is in a flood plain. Then all insurance providers have a set amount they pay for roofing damage figured by the square, same for drywall or siding damage.
They will require you to set down and itemize all your household effects lost and will depreciate those accordingly.
No insurance company is sentimental so sentimental value means nothing to them. Most people overinflate their losses (I did myself to a certain extent) but like I say I got a fair settlement from State Farm in all my cases but not as much as I was hoping for.
You and yours are going thru a depressing, irritating, aggravating period now, and I feel for you having gone thru the same thing After Fran, Bertha, Hugo, high tides and n'easterners. it will take time but your neighborhood will be much improved after the 2-3 years recovery takes. Property values will increase after all is said and done. The older,rundown properties will be replaced with new properties, the repaired properties will be much improved. just hang in there.
Insurance companies also buy insurance to protect them after huge losses.
Send a CERTIFIED LETTER to your FLORIDA INSURANCE COMMISSIONOR. State what you stated here with witness names and the name of the adjuster, date and time he was at your house and I GUARANTEE you WILL get a FAIR, FAST settlement.
Not to mention the economic shot in the arm that rebuilding will bring.
But...I do hope people will look at cinderblock construction in Fla with a little more affection.
I gave up on State Farm Insurance over 30 years ago... I was involved in an accident in Jacksonville Florida; I was rear ended at a stop light by of all things a State Farm Insurance agent who was ticketed by the cops... I was in Jacksonville taking my Dad to a doctor's appointment.
Turns out that same day; while Dad and I were in Jacksonville, my Mom's car was backed into at the local grocery store in Lake City (60 miles away) by an uninsured motorist who was also ticketed... State Farms position on the matter was this was more than a coincidence and they balked on paying the claims... Mom and Dad; who had had all their insurance with State Farm for years had to threaten a lawsuit to get the claims paid.
My folks cancelled everything with State Farm; and they haven't done business with them since; neither have I; I never will. I was 20 when this happened, I turn 50 on Monday, and I'll never forget State Farm's shameless behavior.
Ragging State Farm is over...
I've got family and friends in harms way today down in Florida. I know full well what you're going through; my prayers today go out to all Floridians. Hang tough, batten down the hatches; especially those in the northeast quadrant.
This too shall pass.
Monday week Mom will be with me here in Montana for a month long vacation. She needs the break...
If they didn't go under after Sept 11, this will not put them under. Look at how well the big insurance companies weathered (nice pun)the attack. Losses due to natural disasters are expected and budgeted for each year.
It's better than helping the farmless.
Or cheating the stateless.
Or stating that the helpless are farmed.
Get an insurance adjuster for a major loss. But shop around- the percentage rates vary greatly.
I had a major loss with a house fire years ago, and a major car accident (not my fault, either of them). The insurance company will take you for everything it can - their motto is "Pay as little as possible." Without a pro on your side it is difficult to recover a proper percentage of your losses.
Yes, state farm is bad, but they ALL operate like this. Our LOWEST estimate to fix our house was $137,000, and we ended up getting $97,000 from the insurance - and they made us sweat for every penny, and only paid after a year and a half.
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