Total Home Loss

[Stranded]

Good Day.

I had a home fire in Aug , at that time we went thru the normal procedures and secured the building and contacted the Ins Co.

The home was deemed a total loss by the fire department,
and Ins Co sent their adjuster out.

The insuranc co was one that was hard to reach , didnt return calls, etc,but we held on waiting for their response and directives.

Beginning of Oct we recieved a call from them stating they were repairing and not replacing the damage, which is ludicrous. We hired a Public Adjuster.

Now the insurance company is ignoring calls and correspondence from the Public Adjuster , what happens now?

 

[Josh]

Good Day.

I had a home fire in Aug , at that time we went thru the normal procedures and secured the building and contacted the Ins Co.

The home was deemed a total loss by the fire department,
and Ins Co sent their adjuster out.

The insuranc co was one that was hard to reach , didnt return calls, etc,but we held on waiting for their response and directives.

Beginning of Oct we recieved a call from them stating they were repairing and not replacing the damage, which is ludicrous. We hired a Public Adjuster.

Now the insurance company is ignoring calls and correspondence from the Public Adjuster , what happens now?

What's the carrier?
.

 

[Stranded]

What's the carrier?
.

American Bankers of Florida, I belive they are a division of Assurant

 

[Guest]

since when can/does a fire dept able to claim a total loss to the Ins company?

Call you DOI, you should have been living in a PAID other structure the next day. where are you staying now

 

[Stranded]

since when can/does a fire dept able to claim a total loss to the Ins company?

Call you DOI, you should have been living in a PAID other structure the next day. where are you staying now

I guess I worded that poorly,, the house is a total loss, the fire department , noted extensive damage inhabitable, in the report, and remanded the structure back to us that night, as far as where we are living it took me 7 weeks to find a temp housing situation , we stayed in a hotel for 1 month and then traveled from 60 miles away for work and school.

We ended up hiring a PA due to no communication from our Ins Co, we would leave messages and barely any return calls.

Now they wont return The PA calls.

 

[Josh]

I guess I worded that poorly,, the house is a total loss, the fire department , noted extensive damage inhabitable, in the report, and remanded the structure back to us that night, as far as where we are living it took me 7 weeks to find a temp housing situation , we stayed in a hotel for 1 month and then traveled from 60 miles away for work and school.

Huh?

You couldn't find a hotel within 60 miles of where you live?

How does it take 7 weeks to find a place to live?

I'm not doubting it, just curious.

 

[Guest]

Huh?

You couldn't find a hotel within 60 miles of where you live?

How does it take 7 weeks to find a place to live?

I'm not doubting it, just curious.

I am not believing any of this story.....sure the house could be un-inhabitable, but thats a FAR cry from a total loss......

and 7 weeks. nope, nada, not believing this story

 

[djs]

Not sure why 7 weeks is an issue. To find a house to rent, not that unusual where I am. In fact, it can be hard in that amount of time. This is what Residence Inns are for.

60 miles seems a bit strange, unless the house was 60 miles from work already.

There is no such thing as a 'total loss' when it comes to a house. The insurance company isn't going to total it, but, I understand what you mean, its a total rebuild, tear it down to the ground, and plant a new house.

Ironically, you RARELY want to tear down a house entirely. Local ordinances can cause all kinds of grief if this happens, sometimes. Other times, its no big deal, but make sure you know the ordinances before all the walls come down.

If the insurance company isn't returning calls, there is usually either a supervisor you can call OR a lawyer that will get it done for you. I am a bit confused though, are they paying for the hotel / rental? If so, they are obviously talking somewhere.

Have they written you any checks?

The PA usually knows how to deal with this. If not, hire a different PA. This is exactly what you pay them for.

Dan

P.S. Your agent should help with this as well. I know I can call adjusters and make things happen, or get an explanation on what the hold up is so it can get fixed.

 

[JackThomas]

Not sure why 7 weeks is an issue. To find a house to rent, not that unusual where I am. In fact, it can be hard in that amount of time. This is what Residence Inns are for.

60 miles seems a bit strange, unless the house was 60 miles from work already.

There is no such thing as a 'total loss' when it comes to a house. The insurance company isn't going to total it, but, I understand what you mean, its a total rebuild, tear it down to the ground, and plant a new house.

Ironically, you RARELY want to tear down a house entirely. Local ordinances can cause all kinds of grief if this happens, sometimes. Other times, its no big deal, but make sure you know the ordinances before all the walls come down.

If the insurance company isn't returning calls, there is usually either a supervisor you can call OR a lawyer that will get it done for you. I am a bit confused though, are they paying for the hotel / rental? If so, they are obviously talking somewhere.

Have they written you any checks?

The PA usually knows how to deal with this. If not, hire a different PA. This is exactly what you pay them for.

Dan

P.S. Your agent should help with this as well. I know I can call adjusters and make things happen, or get an explanation on what the hold up is so it can get fixed.

In some instances a fire can warp the foundation we had that happen to a client. The entire house was destroyed, and the foundation had to be replaced.

 

[Stranded]

Let me start from the begining.

My Home was a Manufactured Home on a slab.
The fire took place the end of August.

I called the Insurance Co that evening from my driveway. The Gentlemen at the other end of the 1-800 report a claim , gave me my Claim # and Said Goodnight.

I asked them "What do I do now?"
He: I dont understand
Me: I am standing in my driveway , where do I go?

He stated : See if I could find a hotel room and just book the room out. So I did, and it was in my home town. After finding out they were NOT going to pay the entire expense ( When we finally got a phoene call back, and yes we called daily and had to leave messages, to both the Case Manager.)
We had to move out, rather than incur that expense out of pocket . We moved in with family who had room for us , who also lived 58 miles from where I work and my children go to school, I had been trying for temp rentals , NO ONE , and I repeat No one would rent , until 2 weeks ago when i finally
got someone to agree. And now we are back in town..

Also , THe ins co sent a check for 2 grand to help cover expenses back in Sept.

They had been complaining about our policy and how it was written. Saying I dont know who wrote this policy but you have too much coverage. It wasnt me , but I do know I paid my bill each year for the past 15 years.

They have also said they are settling , for about 20% of the policy. at that point we hired a PA.

My PA has been calling , faxing and emailing them , various information Daily, to which they do not respond.

So believe it or not , but its terribly true