Severe storms caused substantial hail and wind damage in my neighborhood, causing many homeowners to file damage claims. A restoration contractor with many years' experience and having a state license in good standing assessed the damage to my home and assisted in filing a legitimate homeowner's claim. This claim was filed in May.
At least six other residences, all within a 150-yard radius of my address, have had restoration work completed. The damage to my home was (is) worse than approximately half the other residences. As of now, mid-October, Travelers has not resolved my claim.
The tactics employed by Travelers in handling my claim include setting an appointment between their representative and my restoration contractor and then not appearing for the appointment. Also, in retaliatory harassment, writing me a letter stating that my roof was deteriorated and had to be replaced in order for my policy to be renewed. As a matter of fact, my roof was only five (5) years old when I bought my house in 1996, making it 11 years old this year. A typical roof has a life expectancy of 20 to 25 years.
Curiously, I am the only homeowner in my association who is over 50, and the only Vietnam veteran in my immediate neighborhood. Is this discrimination, when one considers that all other claims have been fulfilled? Travelers has stone-walled this issue for over five months, refused to answer letters from me, have ignored all the evidence, and has refused to work in cooperation with the restoration contractor (this contractor has a clean record with both the BBB and the State Attorney General's Office).
Travelers doesn't mind raising their premiums every year (in violation of the original mortgage contract), but will not fulfill their lawful and contractual obligations. If you're looking for homeowner's insurance, I strongly advise you to look elsewhere.
Bob
Gaithersburg, Maryland
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