Oklahoma Homeowners Insurance?
About this time last year we had a house fire. Complete nightmare, from the insurance company. I be accused of knowing the contractor, and a million other things that didn't really matter. Plus the adjuster really screwed us over, he estimated prices using a estimator that be like 8 years out of date, and it equaled in the region of a $12,000 or 15% difference. Also, he refused to pay for items lost contained by my "garage", which is actually a converted garage divided up into a den and a laundry room. There were also structural items he did not recompense for, such as floors that were damaged and a eyeshade door that he said the firefighters broke and they would have to pay for.
Here's the issue. In Oklahoma if your policy have been active for 45 days it cannot be cancelled or nonrenewed for the first claim, unless logically you don't pay. Well I got my policy January 23, 2007. The fire happen January 14, 2008, policy renewed January 23, 2008, and it was subsequently cancelled on February 8. 2008 and I was given until March 8, 2008 to find fresh coverage (Under law they have to confer you 30 days notice, and the letter be dated Feb 8, but I got it like Feb 15). Anyhow, beside as many problems as I had, I wait until the claim was completely done before interview the company. It has been sold out of state very soon, but is still operating under the same christen. Do I have any rights here? I lost close to $10,000 of items that were never compensated for, and of course this mess. I of course want to be reimbursed for these items, but the company will not even return call now. What are the penalties for companies that violate the imperative?
Answers:
First, the policy problem. I live in another state so if you research is right and your date are solid then you might have recourse. If the insurer is guilty of cancel your policy when legally they should not then as expected they could be made to re-instate your policy. Since they are not answering calls you might want to call the state department of insurance and explain your problem. The company may enjoy stopped doing business in your state in which satchel you have no recourse in getting that company to re-instate your insurance. However, do you really want to be insured by this company that give you such a hard time on your claim? I think instinctively I would find coverage from another company and move on this issue.
Second, the year old claim. If here is $10,000 of items you did not get paid for what enjoy you been told about why they would not settle for them? In an insurance claim either you are paid or you are denied. If you are rewarded you get an estimate detailing the payment. If you disagree next to the estimate you have to prove you point. Get repair estimates from contractors or prices on items that were adjectives from stores as your proof. If you are denied you get a letter which quotes the module of the policy they feel explains why you are not getting paid. If you grain you should have been rewarded for items and there was no coverage problem write a nice reminder explaining your problem to the management of the insurance company. If the letter dont bring a response do another and mail a copy to the department of insurance. The department of insurance will appoint an investigator to your claim and review the adjustment performed by the company and if any wrong doing have taken place they will point it out to the company and make them correct their errors. You need to include as much detail as possible in the region of things that were lost and the values that you were not compensated for to make your complaint have teeth. Do confer ranges or estimates lay it out to the dollar and cent how much and for what things you think you deserve to be paid.
I think you're asking, is your CLAIM still valid, even though your policy was cancelled. The answer is YES.
You entail to file a complaint in writing, beside your state insurance commissioner. AND call the agent.
Penalties for violation of "moral faith" claims handling can vary by state, but are usually 3X damages.
theeriktodd, Home insurance is actually very flexible. I'm not used to with the Oklahoma regulations, so I recommend you visit a local home insurance agent. http://www.americaschoicetoday.com/Home-Insurance.html They will know how to assist you.
Related Questions:
Here's the issue. In Oklahoma if your policy have been active for 45 days it cannot be cancelled or nonrenewed for the first claim, unless logically you don't pay. Well I got my policy January 23, 2007. The fire happen January 14, 2008, policy renewed January 23, 2008, and it was subsequently cancelled on February 8. 2008 and I was given until March 8, 2008 to find fresh coverage (Under law they have to confer you 30 days notice, and the letter be dated Feb 8, but I got it like Feb 15). Anyhow, beside as many problems as I had, I wait until the claim was completely done before interview the company. It has been sold out of state very soon, but is still operating under the same christen. Do I have any rights here? I lost close to $10,000 of items that were never compensated for, and of course this mess. I of course want to be reimbursed for these items, but the company will not even return call now. What are the penalties for companies that violate the imperative?
Answers:
First, the policy problem. I live in another state so if you research is right and your date are solid then you might have recourse. If the insurer is guilty of cancel your policy when legally they should not then as expected they could be made to re-instate your policy. Since they are not answering calls you might want to call the state department of insurance and explain your problem. The company may enjoy stopped doing business in your state in which satchel you have no recourse in getting that company to re-instate your insurance. However, do you really want to be insured by this company that give you such a hard time on your claim? I think instinctively I would find coverage from another company and move on this issue.
Second, the year old claim. If here is $10,000 of items you did not get paid for what enjoy you been told about why they would not settle for them? In an insurance claim either you are paid or you are denied. If you are rewarded you get an estimate detailing the payment. If you disagree next to the estimate you have to prove you point. Get repair estimates from contractors or prices on items that were adjectives from stores as your proof. If you are denied you get a letter which quotes the module of the policy they feel explains why you are not getting paid. If you grain you should have been rewarded for items and there was no coverage problem write a nice reminder explaining your problem to the management of the insurance company. If the letter dont bring a response do another and mail a copy to the department of insurance. The department of insurance will appoint an investigator to your claim and review the adjustment performed by the company and if any wrong doing have taken place they will point it out to the company and make them correct their errors. You need to include as much detail as possible in the region of things that were lost and the values that you were not compensated for to make your complaint have teeth. Do confer ranges or estimates lay it out to the dollar and cent how much and for what things you think you deserve to be paid.
I think you're asking, is your CLAIM still valid, even though your policy was cancelled. The answer is YES.
You entail to file a complaint in writing, beside your state insurance commissioner. AND call the agent.
Penalties for violation of "moral faith" claims handling can vary by state, but are usually 3X damages.
theeriktodd, Home insurance is actually very flexible. I'm not used to with the Oklahoma regulations, so I recommend you visit a local home insurance agent. http://www.americaschoicetoday.com/Home-Insurance.html They will know how to assist you.
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