Is there any downside to calling companies and/or their employees out in public arenas?
Libel? Slander? I need to look up the specific definition of each of those but you get what I'm asking.
What's going to happen is that I'm going to make the call (my patient yet tough wife has been handling 95% of the calls thus far) and get really indignant (i.e.: pissed) and mention things that I've been advised of here and see what I get.
I'm not sure at this point how much of this foot-dragging has been caused by the private adjuster. But I'll know after my call.
(I've been watching videos of Trey Gowdy for inspiration)
Sky_Render wrote:
First of all, I would like to applaud your patience. I am not a patient person; I am a USDA-certified, Grade A shiny happy person. I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on television. But allow me to tell you what this shiny happy person would do in your situation:
Go medieval on their ass.
Because you lack the legal and financial resources of a national insurance company, your weapons of war are different. First of all, file a formal complaint with whatever insurance regulation board your state has.
Post on every related Internet forum you know. This is a good start; at least several people in this thread have already indicated their reluctance to ever use Liberty Mutual.
Next, go to every local newspaper, radio station, and TV station in your area and present your story. And give them names.
Your goal here is to make such a huge stink that their only choice is to help you in order to save their public reputation.
And after they fix your house to your satisfaction, your final step is to switch insurance companies, because berkeley these guys.
Word of advice from a former claims adjuster (obviously he hasn't been so lucky, that's why I've been with State Farm since before and after I worked for them).
I would always do my best to bend the rules to get people paid, no one likes making a claim.
But once you started being an uppity know-it-all, I held you to every single syllable in the policy that you likely didn't read when you forked over the money for your coverage.
In reply to z31maniac:
That's what I'm afraid of. But right now I feel like I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't:
This may well be the worst customer service I've been involved in so I want to get aggressive and light a fire (threaten then follow through with official complaint etc.) but am concerned the more I push, the more of this poor service will follow.
All I want is my house to look like it did before. Is that so damned difficult? I swear, if I hear one more story from friends about how they got paid in weeks and got more than their damages I'm gonna go insane.
I am not sure a Lawyer is a good option on this one either as it will slow things down. On the other hand I did not realize that you were in MA. I am in MA. Look up your rights under chapter 93a. You might want to mention that at tho point you are considering going this rout. The penalty's are extremely slanted towards the consumer. Tipple damages plus all legal costs. I don't think you get triple legal fees as well but you may get that as well. This may get there attention as it turns a 50k claim in to a 150k payout and all you have to prove is tgat they are deceptive in there business practices and since covers a very broad range of activity's it makes it applicable to virtually any type of business transaction.
If you strike out I have an in with Liberty Mutual and could see about getting you a name higher up the food chain that you could call that could maybe expedite things.
In reply to dean1484:
I'd LOVE a name! It's so frustrating because I KNOW that this isn't the way it's supposed to work: we got berkeleyed already by our house getting smashed by an SUV. The only consolation was that a girl was 100% at fault and we "knew" we'd get the damage paid for and fixed before the cold weather.
It's been SEVEN freakin' months now and not one thing has been done. Not only that but we'd already gotten a dumpster delivered in anticipation of the repairs starting. So we're already $300 in debt before one 2x4 was replaced.
I'm not defending your insurance company, but have you even bothered to get the insurance company information for the person who actually caused the damage? Thats where this should have started. What exactly is the story with the incident. Was the driver drunk? Does the driver have insurance (if so policy limits)? If the driver is being prosecuted for their actions (DUI or lack of insurance) I'd follow up with the police/prosecutor with what is going on with their case as you are the victim to their crime with felony level damages (DUI or no insurance is a crime) as well.
In reply to z31maniac:
There's a difference between being a know-it-all and calling for backup after spending six months screwing around with a bunch of jerks who clearly don't want to actually help.
In reply to eebasist:
I covered all that in my very first post of this thread. She was not drunk, she fell asleep while driving. I do have all her insurance information and the police report. We were actually in another state when this happened and my brother happened to be coming to see my dad (mom was in the hospital recovering from an MI) and he called Liberty Mutual for us. Since that time, LM was handling it and it was understood that they would pay us then subrogate her insurance thereafter.
Call her insurance and file a claim. If that's not the right way to go, they will tell you. Their insured caused the damage, they're responsible. This would have never been mentioned to my company, as it's not my problem.
In reply to ebonyandivory:
Sorry, I don't know how I missed that portion (was she tested for alcohol/drugs). The 1st place to go is with their insurance. If she has state minimums then you're stuck with using your insurance. What part of MA are you in? There are companies/contractors who specialize in this type of work and know how to play the game
In reply to eebasist:
No apologies!
But I'm in southeastern Ma. In the Bridgewater area. I think I want/need to rewind and rethink using (very competent, very qualified) friends.
Since ZERO work has been done, I think I should call a contractor, like you and others have mentioned, who specializes in insurance claims and repairs.
If you have anyone you might be aware of, I'd be happy to listen.
Sky_Render wrote:
In reply to z31maniac:
There's a difference between being a know-it-all and calling for backup after spending six months screwing around with a bunch of jerks who clearly don't want to actually help.
And you know this for a fact how? Or is this just speculation, that they clearly don't want to actually help? Right, it's speculation.
Like it or not, the truth of the matter is that adjusters are taught repeatedly to find ways to pay claims, not find ways to deny claims. They're also taught to pay them as promptly as they possibly can. In fact, one of the metrics adjusters are often evaluated on is how quickly they get a customer paid. And no, they are not evaluated on how many claims they deny. As much as you want your claim paid, the insurance company wants to pay what they owe and get it off their desk. Claims are less expensive for an insurance company the faster they are paid. So no matter what people want to think, dragging feet, etc... is actually NOT beneficial for anyone involved, insurance or customer.
Back to the matter at hand, here's my best advice for you. If you want to call and act like a raving lunatic, go for it. Same with making all kinds of venom posts on random websites. Will it get you anywhere? Probably not...certainly not when it comes to making angry posts on forums, I can tell you adjusters don't search to see if their customer is spewing angry things on a message board. If it makes you feel better, then great, but from a claims perspective, it won't do diddly squat. Call the adjuster, be firm yet professional and have them tell you what is the status of the claim and what the delay is. If you don't get a satisfactory answer, ask for the manager. If he or she doesn't give you a satisfactory answer, ask for the claim director. If you want to file a complaint with the DOI, do it. It'll get a response from Liberty Mutual, but understand it will take time, typically 2-3 weeks.
I don't know your Liberty adjuster from Tom, Dick or Harry. But I'd bet you $100 there is zero intent on their part to delay your claim, deny it, etc... It's not good for them either. Could the adjuster be dropping the ball? Perhaps, but certainly not intentionally. If they're dropping the ball that badly, then I'd question where the manager is, as the manager should have picked up on it. And there is some validity to what z31 said in his post above. Adjusters frequently bend the terms of the policy in favor of the customer...never in favor of insurance. They'll pay things they may not necessarily owe or just find ways to get a customer paid. If you act like an ass, they may be more likely to stick to the letter of the policy, which they are 100% allowed to do.
ebonyandivory wrote:
In reply to eebasist:
Since that time, LM was handling it and it was understood that they would pay us then subrogate her insurance thereafter.
This is the part I don't understand. I have had liberty mutual for 30 years and they have always been super fast at getting things resolved. Somthing is not right. It I almost like there somthing that has been miss entered into the system or something. I will make a call this morning and see I I can get a name and number for you.
In reply to Klayfish:
Just to put a finer point on it: my wife has been calling because I'm concerned how I might come across and don't want to bury myself acting like a shiny happy person.
I'll choose the calm, firm mode. Like I said, I've been watching videos of Trey Gowdy to better argue my opinions.
I will say, although I agree with you and believe you know exactly what you're talking about and certainly defer, I can't wrap my head around how poorly this is going if what you say is true. I have no feasible explanation for the delay.
In reply to Klayfish:
Clearly it is in the best interest of the Insurance company to pay $40k instead of $12k.
/sarcasm
In reply to Sky_Render:
I also understand (and can't shake) your statements earlier.
How does one explain having a Liberty Mutual adjuster offer $12,000 which anyone who saw, as he did, that $12,000 may likely not even cover the three entities that are needed for JUST THE FOUNDATION REPAIR?
That, of course, doesn't take into account the entire lower side of the house, the windows, the siding, the plumbing and electrical repairs and the Sheetrock and interior framing and finish carpentry.
Things I've learned from this thread-
1) Never use Liberty Mutual for insurance of any sort.
2) Never let anyone hit my house.
Sucks that you are having to deal with this, especially considering you legitimately did not do a single thing wrong. You didn't ask some lady to drive her car through your house. You're not asking for damages beyond fixing what needs to be fixed. You just want your damn house back. You're a better man than I. I'd be in jail after having burned down my insurance company's office.
Sky_Render wrote:
In reply to Klayfish:
Clearly it is in the best interest of the Insurance company to pay $40k instead of $12k.
/sarcasm
Yes, if in fact the damages are $40k, then it is in the best interest for all to get that paid. Again, I can't see the claim file in this situation, so on that I do have to speculate. But going from tons and tons of experience, I'm guessing one of a few things. Public adjuster. Adjuster not organized and not good at following up timely. The fact that the initial estimate is $12k doesn't concern me one bit. It's not as if (to my knowledge), they offered $12k and said "This is every penny you're getting, sign this release". It's an initial estimate based on an initial review. Things called "supplements" are very common, but in repairing autos and homes. As I said, I can't read the file, so I don't know where the disconnect here, but the solution is incredibly simple. The Liberty Mutual adjuster should meet in person with the chosen contractor. They work together and agree on a scope of work needed. From there, the only possible difference remaining would be labor rates, and Liberty isn't going to pay too much above the going rate in the local area. So I'm a bit perplexed as to what the hold up is here, but I don't know all the facts.
Sky_Render wrote:
In reply to Klayfish:
Clearly it is in the best interest of the Insurance company to pay $40k instead of $12k.
/sarcasm
Yea. The adjuster I had to deal with called me a liar and a thief and said I should be happy with what I was getting.
In reply to golfduke:
Thank you for getting it! Parts of this thread makes me angry but having support definitely helps!
spitfirebill wrote:
Sky_Render wrote:
In reply to Klayfish:
Clearly it is in the best interest of the Insurance company to pay $40k instead of $12k.
/sarcasm
Yea. The adjuster I had to deal with called me a liar and a thief and said I should be happy with what I was getting.
Dunno. I highly question that the adjuster would actually outright say "You're a liar and a thief...", that would be grounds for immediate termination. In all my years of experience, I've NEVER heard an adjuster say that.
At the end of the day, whatever. As usual, plenty of blind, angry spewed rhetoric with no actual facts behind it. I'd burn the insurance office down, I'd be in jail, I'd go savage, blah, blah, blah. Sigh.... Not going to bother wasting any more key strokes on that end of it. I'm quite confident in knowing what I'm talking about, and people can think what they want.
OP, if you need any help, by all means feel free to reach out. I promise I'm not brainwashed, and will give you the best possible advice I can.
Sky_Render wrote:
In reply to Klayfish:
Clearly it is in the best interest of the Insurance company to pay $40k instead of $12k.
/sarcasm
There are two people in this thread with claims experience, you do not appear to be one of them.
Quit trying to stir the pot with rhetoric and hyperbole.
RE: the going to jail, blah blah blah part-
I know nothing about insurance, other than I have it. I'm simply commiserating with the OP on his behalf about how I feel he's been getting jobbed over for so long. I understand insurance is complicated, but my brain cannot understand how it takes 6 months and seemingly zero actual action or resolution has come out of it, keeping in mind again that he's done nothing wrong. I just simply don't get it. That's why I said I'd be so enraged in his shoes.
I just wanted to clarify.
golfduke wrote:
RE: the going to jail, blah blah blah part-
I know nothing about insurance, other than I have it. I'm simply commiserating with the OP on his behalf about how I feel he's been getting jobbed over for so long. I understand insurance is complicated, but my brain cannot understand how it takes 6 months and seemingly zero actual action or resolution has come out of it, keeping in mind again that he's done nothing wrong. I just simply don't get it. That's why I said I'd be so enraged in his shoes.
I just wanted to clarify.
I'm 100% with you that it makes no sense whatsoever that this has taken 6 months. It shouldn't, and it normally doesn't. Something isn't right. My point is that everyone automatically jumps on the insurance company and says "They all suck, they deserve to drive Prius' for the rest of their life, they should go to Berkley University, etc...". It's a lot of angry rhetoric with no facts. Did the insurance company drop the ball here? Maybe, I don't know. If they did, one thing I can assure you is that it wasn't through intent to withhold or some conspiracy to cheat him out of money. It's also possible other factors have caused delay...public adjuster, contractor, sometimes even the policyholder themselves (not at all saying OP did here, but it does happen). This definitely shouldn't be taking so long, I'm as perplexed as you. But where it went wrong, I don't know, I'm trying to help OP figure it out.
