Suing State Farm?

[hoodshimmy]

Currently serving in the military, during a deployment my truck was in an accident in Illinois. My brother was driving my truck and State Farm denied my claim. I had and still have full coverage insurance in which they still accept payment. Their reasoning for denying me is because they claim i changed my policy to a storage policy before my deployment. This is not the case. When i ask for proof that i changed my coverage my agent says it was by "word of mouth". I never signed anything changing my policy nor did i even tell them to change it. Any suggestions?

 

[VolAgent]

Did they change the premium they were charging you?

 

[briko3]

I think you need to threaten to sue them....if they have no proof that you changed and you have proof that you paid the same premium the whole time. If you started paying something less, it's going to be hard to prove that you didn't change the policy.

Did the amount you pay change?

 

[VolAgent]

Again, I repeat my question, did the amount you were paying change? If it never changed, it is pretty much a slamdunk for you without anything in writing. But if it did change, as briko said, you'll have a hard time winning. As I understand it, home and auto do allow some policy changes merely be telling the agent verbally.

 

[djs]

Here is the problem.... The agent had to know somehow that you were being deployed, or he wouldn't have made this change at all.

It sounds like there really was a conversation. Now, you are trying to figure out what the contents of that conversation was.

In this case, the bank would not be notified, since coverage still existed, just the use classification changed. Of course, I'm not familiar with State Farm, I know some carriers drop collision coverage on storage policies, though not all do.

As VolAgent said, if you were suddenly paying a reduced premium, it's reasonable to assume that something changed. What changed is anyones guess. I know, I get a lot of calls when premiums go up by $2, never get calls when they go down though.

I would push on this VERY hard.

Dan

 

[scagnt83]

If your premium did not reduce, then I would have a lawyer contact them with a letter sent registered mail along with phone calls.

If it did reduce, then you need to find out the date that coverage changed and what paperwork was submitted for the change to take affect (and get copies of the paperwork sent to you).

Also, if they claim that the change was authorized verbally, the agent would have to have some type of written record of the conversation. Ask the agent for their records of your conversation.
If they have none, then you have a pretty solid case.

 

[Mark]

I bet state farms has a team of good lawyers.

If you really think they or your agent did wrong, contact your ins dept 1st.

 

[dotsonmw01]

What State Farm considers "Storage" is merley just suspending all the coverages besides comp. So if the accident was a collision loss, there would not be coverage.

You would have noticed a difference in your monthly payments if they did suspend your Bodily Injury/Property Damage, Medical U&W etc.

And you would not have to sign a thing if the coverages were only suspended. They consider this a temporary change, and your able to have it that way for about 6 months depending on the underwriter.

Yea, im new to the boards, and worked at SF.
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And SF's system logs any change made to any policy. Time stamped aswell. So if there was a change made, it would be locked on the system.

 

[briko3]

What did you say when she told you you could change it to a storage policy?

 

[VolAgent]

Sounds like it is going to be your word against the secretary. I would make a huge stink about it if I was you. Call the local assistance service, or whatever it is called for military members in your area. I might even go so far as to say that the agent and State Farm hate military members and are trying to screw you over. Talk to some local tv stations and the paper.

Now, I would only do this if I truly never did ask to go to a storage policy. If you have the slightly doubt in your mind, I wouldn't do it. Just wouldn't be honest. Instead, just try to plead out your case, say you never asked for it.

Also, aren't there rules protecting military members in certain situations? I believe there are specials rules when you sell insurance to military members.