We're in! We love the house (well the kids are in Montana but they'll love it when they get back) and I have a great post to write about the "Giving House" we moved out of but we received our claim payment amount for our contents list and I am so hoppin' mad I need to write about that just to get it off my chest, thanks for the free therapy :)
As you well know, it took us about 3 months to get our contents list together. We were required to list EVERY SINGLE THING in our house, what we paid for it and when we bought it. Clothes, socks, underwear, furniture, Christmas decorations, every dish, every hair brush, every bar of soap! And so we did. We gathered photos, looked items up on the Internet, spent time at stores, asked friends, etc., etc. Our list was specific and quite honestly heartbreaking to compile. It's one thing to say "everything is lost" and quite another to remember everything that was lost - not to mention assigning a value to things that were priceless - like my "99 Cents or a Million Dollar" post.
Never the less, we did what we were asked to do. And then we did it again when we were asked to do it a different way, and then a 3rd time when our adjuster suddenly remembered that she needed a postmark, not just the e-mail she had originally requested.
Now, I have tried to reserve judgement on Allstate. Certainly our experience with the "dwelling" has not gone well but I chalked it up to the adjuster. Now here we are with the contents adjuster and our experience is the same, maybe even worse! At least with the structure we were able to retain some framing and the foundation which must amount to something. Of our contents we were able to remove the things from three rooms ( the "office" and glassware from the kitchen and dining rooms) provided it wasn't damaged by smoke or water. I'd say we retained about 5% of our contents. In addition, we were under-insured - our list far exceeded our max - yet our replacement claim totals about 30% of our inventory list. So this number is both infuriating and suspicious, remember my post after the structure claim came in, it was about 30% as well....quite a coincidence don't you think?!
Now, I'm not really one for conspiracy theories but what I am supposed to think now? Percentage wise, both the contents and structure claims are scarily close. Is that the game; give them 30% of whatever they ask for? Or perhaps it's an effort to wear us down and wear us out. We have been out of our home for 4 and 1/2 months now and nothing is happening. If we didn't have any savings or support system, we'd we'd be broke and panicked. Or maybe it's a way to stress us out as we watch the clock tick-away at our living expenses. We only have a year and now 1/3 of it has been eaten up by busy work - OH WAIT...I didn't tell you...that list that took us soooooo long to prepare was completely disregarded. Here let me share a few of my favorites....
An original signed oil painting worth thousands of dollars - Allstate will replace it with a POSTER that cost $29.99 but not exactly cuz it's depreciated to $26.74.
Mikes $1,200 bullet proof vest, they'll cover it with a black striped vest from JC Penny's for $25.72 - that ought to stop a bullet.
The hand carved secretary desk from the 1800's (our most cherished piece of furniture), they'll pay for one just like it from Homedecorators.com at $29.25.
Ok, you get the idea and I am getting really mad so I think I'll stop there. My point is, we have paid them on time every month since we have been married (19 years this month!) under the assumption that when and if anything ever happened they would pay us. Especially since we had the Deluxe Premium Homeowners coverage. Obviously that is not the case. If I were you, and I had Allstate, I'd find some one more trustworthy to do business with.
As you well know, it took us about 3 months to get our contents list together. We were required to list EVERY SINGLE THING in our house, what we paid for it and when we bought it. Clothes, socks, underwear, furniture, Christmas decorations, every dish, every hair brush, every bar of soap! And so we did. We gathered photos, looked items up on the Internet, spent time at stores, asked friends, etc., etc. Our list was specific and quite honestly heartbreaking to compile. It's one thing to say "everything is lost" and quite another to remember everything that was lost - not to mention assigning a value to things that were priceless - like my "99 Cents or a Million Dollar" post.
Never the less, we did what we were asked to do. And then we did it again when we were asked to do it a different way, and then a 3rd time when our adjuster suddenly remembered that she needed a postmark, not just the e-mail she had originally requested.
Now, I have tried to reserve judgement on Allstate. Certainly our experience with the "dwelling" has not gone well but I chalked it up to the adjuster. Now here we are with the contents adjuster and our experience is the same, maybe even worse! At least with the structure we were able to retain some framing and the foundation which must amount to something. Of our contents we were able to remove the things from three rooms ( the "office" and glassware from the kitchen and dining rooms) provided it wasn't damaged by smoke or water. I'd say we retained about 5% of our contents. In addition, we were under-insured - our list far exceeded our max - yet our replacement claim totals about 30% of our inventory list. So this number is both infuriating and suspicious, remember my post after the structure claim came in, it was about 30% as well....quite a coincidence don't you think?!
Now, I'm not really one for conspiracy theories but what I am supposed to think now? Percentage wise, both the contents and structure claims are scarily close. Is that the game; give them 30% of whatever they ask for? Or perhaps it's an effort to wear us down and wear us out. We have been out of our home for 4 and 1/2 months now and nothing is happening. If we didn't have any savings or support system, we'd we'd be broke and panicked. Or maybe it's a way to stress us out as we watch the clock tick-away at our living expenses. We only have a year and now 1/3 of it has been eaten up by busy work - OH WAIT...I didn't tell you...that list that took us soooooo long to prepare was completely disregarded. Here let me share a few of my favorites....
An original signed oil painting worth thousands of dollars - Allstate will replace it with a POSTER that cost $29.99 but not exactly cuz it's depreciated to $26.74.
Mikes $1,200 bullet proof vest, they'll cover it with a black striped vest from JC Penny's for $25.72 - that ought to stop a bullet.
The hand carved secretary desk from the 1800's (our most cherished piece of furniture), they'll pay for one just like it from Homedecorators.com at $29.25.
Ok, you get the idea and I am getting really mad so I think I'll stop there. My point is, we have paid them on time every month since we have been married (19 years this month!) under the assumption that when and if anything ever happened they would pay us. Especially since we had the Deluxe Premium Homeowners coverage. Obviously that is not the case. If I were you, and I had Allstate, I'd find some one more trustworthy to do business with.
Stef...I'm so sorry. You know, the insurance game is such a joke. We must carry it, but when we must use it, we must jump through hoop after hoop after hoop...and the hoops keep getting smaller...and then the hoops catch on fire!!! Keep jumping through those hoops and don't back down.
ReplyDelete~~Dana
I was hoping that things would start going smoothly for you with the insurance company.....i am really sorry that they are treating you so unfairly. i don't know how someone could sleep at night treating their customers that way. I will continue to think good thoughts for things to get better. Like you said tho, thankfully you do have a good support system. I hope that will give you the strength you need to fight the good fight against these crooks.
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is ...."WOW, I can't believe the injustice."
ReplyDeleteAllstate pays hundreds of thousands for advertising, and invest the premiums in real estate but do not pay claims. Even in Montana they hire appraisers to appraise items from 40% to 60% under the real value. Too bad Alstate does not get investigated for their fraud. Maybe it is time to ask Politicians to investigate or start a chat room for all who have been defraud by Allstate Insurance.
ReplyDeleteLove Mom