In August I started looking for a new insurance company, trying to keep the company that I was using "honest. I got on the Internet, as most people do these days.
I went to the web site that always brag about "we'll send you 3 or 4 quotes from other companies, and if someone else is lower, well, somebody was!)
They were true to there word, Farmers ins. Had the lowest quote, so I called them, left a message, a few days latter, they called and scheduled an appointment for me to come in.
I went to the office here in Mesa, I met Michael Buhrt (farmers agent).
He sat me down, and we started to talk about my needs and expectations.
Right away he started telling me about his company, and how great they are. He showed me some of the programs that fit my needs and budget. He was very knowledgeable about his product. I can appreciate a sales rep who knows, and can present products in a professional manner.
He also explained that he had been with Farmers for quite some time, so there was no reason to doubt his expertise. I'm in the auto business myself, and I know that in that situation, I'm the professional, I've been with Honda for over 10 years, when my customer come in to speak with me, all they have to do is tell me what their needs are and right away, I can point them in the right direction.
Michael not only gave me all the coverage that I wanted, but at a price much less than the quote that got me to come in to see him in the first place. He presented renters insurance, and the price for both policy's was still lower than the best price his competitors quoted.
I was excited, so I started asking questions to make sure there was no misunderstanding. According to Mike (the Professional) first about the auto coverage, full coverage comp. Collision, uninsured, liability. Under 80.00 Renters insurance, I had lots of questions, I never had that before. He went into his book, and quoted, fire, theft vandalism, accident (slip and fall). He kept going on and on.
I asked him, what isn't covered, He said to me, Anything that could happen in a home, was covered.
At that point, I realized the importance of having renters insurance, in 1989 my parents, and two of my nephews, were killed in a fire, in a home that they were renting, there was one child (a niece) that survived, we really struggled with the bills because of not having renters insurance!
So when I got ready to leave Mikes office, I asked again, everything is covered? Right? Mike assured me that we are covered fully! At that time he gave me a booklet with info on my auto ins. And a pamphlet on the renters ins. He said that if I had any questions, don't hesitate to call.
Little did I know, I would be calling him on business sooner than expected!
A 8 days go's by, it's wednesday, and I'm on the 10 freeway. A rock falls out of the air, and on my windshield. The following day, a windshield repairman stops by, and replace my windshield. Saturday (3 days latter), that night we had a storm blow over us, the wind was blowing so hard, that it set off auto alarms all over. I kinda worried about that, because I was in the process of cleaning my carpet (living room), so I put my big tv in the storage room, and I couldn't close the door completely.
The next morning was beautiful, sunny, not to warm, I went out on my patio to get a better look, while standing there, I looked over at the storage room (the door partially opened,) I got closer, and opened the door wider to see that the ceiling had fallen down.
I moved my TV to one side, looked in at my possession's clothes, books record albums, box's of electronic equipment. My winter clothes, coats, hats, the list go's on and on. I waited until the next morning to inform management, and of course Michael Buhrt. The first time I called, he wasn't in so I left a message.
Management came up to look at the condition of the storage room, they said it has to be emptied to repair the ceiling, but before I do that I needed to speak with my ins. Agent.
Mike called that afternoon, I explained the situation to him.
At that time Mike said to me, don't worry you're covered, he then instructed me to take pictures, make a list of everything that was damaged, throw away seriously damaged thing's then he gave me the number to the adjuster
I called the adjusters office, gave them my information, they pretty much repeated what Mike said, make a list, take pictures. As my son and I started working on the balcony, I started logging my possessions, there were so many things that was damaged, or ruined.
Out of everything that could happen here, water damage would have been last on my list.
The wind blows hard in my community, a year prior, we had a micro burst touchdown here, putting all the patio furniture around the pool, into the swimming pool, bent the fence around the tennis court in half, and snapping 10 telephone poles in half like twigs.
Latter that week, the adjuster called so I spoke to her for the first time, she said that she would see me Friday (the next day) I agreed. Also, she gave me new demands, she said that She would have to see everything before I throw anything away.
I had already thrown away lots of cloths, books, computer components, and other things. The heat on the thing that sat on the porch, like sweaters books, and other thing that were damp were starting to smell. Heat caused the water to evaporate, causing the humidity to build up. We had to keep the door closed, Bug's were becoming attracted to the atmosphere, it was like a tropical waste land. Mosquito's, were hanging out, along with all of there cousins, (a party on my patio!)
So a few more days past, about another week, the adjuster finally showed up.
She asked me to show her around, we walked out on the patio, she looked into the storage room. She made a comment about the hol where the ceiling used to be!
We came back inside. She asked to look at some of my pictures, then out of the clear blue, she looks at me, and said we don't cover water damage.
I explained to her about the storm, and how hard the wind was blowing, I also let her know that the the same thing happened to the neighbors on either side of me.
If it was just rain, they would not have been effected the same.
One other thing, when I purchased the policy from Mike, I asked what was covered? There was no mention of water damage being an exception, so we have a problem.
She said to me, she is closing the case.
The loss from the damage incurred, was over $20,000.00 I can't afford to lose money like that! I bought insurance, I was told that I was covered, even when I called my agent to report the damage, he said that I was covered!
I've tried to seek council, but I couldn't afford it, I'm sure that's what they were counting on.
There should be some recourse that can be taken. Who can we depend on.
It's as if the laws of our land does not apply to them! If I did something like that, (take money from someone promising a service) If I owned a cleaners, and you bring cloths to me, I take your money, you come back latter, and I'm wearing them.
Farmers Insurance committed A Crime against me! Farmers Insurance Co. Took my money in bad faith. I don't know if they are training there adjusters to cheat you, or if the adjuster is getting a bonus to keep payments from the clients, or if the one that visited me, just had a bad day, the bottom line comes out the same way, Deception, smoke & mirrors!
I hope that someone out there can shed a little light on this situation, if you hear me out there, and feel me, and what I can do to fight this injustice, then by all means!
Get Back at me!
A.B.I.N.
Dave E
A Brother In Need!
Dave
mesa, Arizona
U.S.A.
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