It’s incredibly kind and thoughtful for you to share your experience and resulting knowledge. Thank you and sorry you suffered that loss due to the fire.
@@JOHNTOWER76 being wealthy doesn't make losing a home to a wildfire any less emotionally devastating. Even if we don't have to worry about a wealthy family being able to rebuild, we can still have sympathy for the psychological trauma and emotional hardship they're experiencing.
@@JOHNTOWER76 What a jackass. She lost her complete home. Take your class warfare communism someplace else. Having gone through some significant hurricane damage last year I can say dealing with the insurance company is no picnic. Bye the way, I live on Social Security. Do I qualify as rich??
My hat is off to your calmness while explaining your experience dealing with what I would call legalized thievery. What insurance companies are allowed and authorized to get away with is criminal in my opinion.
Yeah I can’t deal with this red tape bs they use. I’m suing United Healthcare and have been trying to rectify changed medical records from when I was three years old after being shot. They helped cover it up. I’m 33 now and still having problems getting my settlement money and justice. It’s very hard to stay calm with these people!
Wow yeah I can’t deal with their red tape bs they use. I’m suing United Healthcare after being shot at 3 years old, I’m 33 now and still trying to rectify my medical records they changed to help cover it up. It’s very hard to stay calm dealing with these people! Still waiting for my settlement and justice. They’re the same across every industry of coverage.
Wow yeah I can’t deal with their red tape bs they use. I’m suing United Healthcare after being shot at 3 years old, I’m 33 now and still trying to rectify my medical records they changed to help cover it up. It’s very hard to stay calm dealing with these people! Still waiting for my settlement and justice. They’re the same across every industry of coverage.
These fires and the hurricanes in the south prove insurance doesn't work. No matter what they do they go bankrupt if a disaster forces everyone to claim at once.
Then self-insure. Tell those evil insurance companies you're not gonna pay them another dime. Pay cash for your home. Pay cash for your car. That way no lender can require you to have insurance on your property. Self-insure. You don't need those evil greedy insurance companies.
We had a $ 100,000 house fire in a historic house built in 1903 in 1991 . We had replacement cost insurance . They paid to have custom solid wood doors made to match the existing doors . They did an excellent job repairing our house . Before the paint was dry we received a certified letter that they were dropping us. I believe that is a common practice. Once your insurance is dropped you can’t be reinsured . A new company will not write a policy for you. We had to go into our State Funded uninsurable pool and pay a much higher premium. It is my understanding that if an insurance company wants to sell policies in your state they have to pay into the State pool . I can’t remember if it was 1 or 2 years that we had to rely on our State for homeowners insurance .
A tree fell on my house in 2022, it’s 2024 and am still going through it with State Farm, they did not want to pay and tried to pay the low minimum, I am thinking of hiring a lawyer .
State Farm is also the insurance company that canceled a large number or policies in SoCal. This person’s story also involves them. I know others who have had various policies dropped at a moments notice. That company seems to be a greedy sham.
@@ElonaldTrusk, no one is forced to buy insurance except if they CHOOSE to own/drive a car. In that case, the gov't forces you to have liability insurance in case you cause damage to someone else. Otherwise, you can pay cash for a home, pay cash for a car, and then hope and pray you have enough saved up to replace them if they are destroyed. But no one is forced to buy insurance. You are definitely free to assume all risks on your own. And for people with your apparent mindset, that's exactly what I wish you would do. Tell the insurance companies you're not gonna buy their protection any longer. Tell 'em you're gonna self-insure. That'll show 'em.
Yup, they can drop you will contract is still inforce…. They can and will drop you when the RENEWAL comes due!!!! How stupid can you be….. They saw the complete RISK that the state and local governments failed to see…. They capped what insurance companies can charge for TAKING on that Risk…. So of course they got out!!!! The state wants to run their own insurance company, the Democrats want the state to take that on thinking it is a Cash Cow!!!! Wait a second…. They have a Liability of 7 Billion and only have 700 Million in reserves to pay off that liability!!!! Think people!! If you still have coverage, video tape/film the entire house and ALL the contents every year to update!!
@@sasha2401 it’s not the insurance companies it’s the idiots that let the officials get away with corruption. Guaranteed insurance knew 18 million $ was cut, insurance knew hydrants were not inspected, they also knew those reservoirs were empty…. Simple business decision. City can’t maintain fire control so they pulled out…if the people held their politicians accountable this would not happen…
I don't blame insurance. The State has neglected infrastructure for decades...I know from experience. I'm 54 & lived in California my whole life. Moved to TX in 2020 becuz of NewScum! I'll never go back!!
I'm a USAA member, and i can vouge for them being a great insurance company, but more importantly, I'm in the restoration business. I deal with customers who have had fire, water, mold, bio, and any other loss you can think of. Document, document, and document your belongings. I have also been witness to many insurance company's dropping their customers after a paid out loss. Every so often check your policy, make sure your limits are appropriate, and would cover all things in the event of a total loss to the current market value.
I have State farm 30 years,no claims my home owners went up 500 this year . I live in a medium size city in the mid-west in a 1100 sq. ft. 2 story. I guess I should give USAA a call.
@@tonyc223 You may not have filed any claims but many of your fellow policyholders did. Insurance is voluntary communism. People voluntarily contribute to a risk pool and the money is distributed to those most in need. Isn't it interesting how so many people think communism is a good idea?
Thank you for such an informative video. Clear, concise and to the point. I will be using this when I need to renew my home policy for the next few years.
No one should ever attempt to rebuild a house that was burned down. Take the insurance money and move on. Leaving that negative energy behind will make you happier.
Great advice. I plan to take a video of everything in my house in every room. Thank you so much for this information. I also gleaned from the cash option versus the value option.
Not involved with any natural disaster, but I am so appreciative of your video. I am sure that it will spread. Thank you so much for helping those who need it most with this information. You are what I consider a true 'god send'. Live long and prosper.
Thank you for taking the time to make this informative video. Insurance companies can be pure evil. Them calling the mother to ask what she ate, etc is wild.
Sounds like health insurance now. Try obtaining your medical records and see everything you told them was never documented and you learn you missed a recommended service they never informed you about. Bless you all and stick together
Imagine going through your fire insurance litigation at the same time 6,000 of your neighbors were dealing with the same thing. I imagine public adjusters and attorneys will be in short supply
This is helpful. It is clear, concise, and to the point. Thank you! A veterinarian from CA shared what he did before he had to abandon his house. He learned from previous fires that he needed to be the first line of defense for his property. He bought extra hoses, sprinklers, and fire retardant to have on hand. Before evacuating, he set the sprinklers on top of his roof, got them going, and sprayed the sides of his house with fire retardant. His house was spared in this fire. Adam Corolla, on his show, said to have a high-capacity pump on hand if you have a pool to enable you to use the pool water. In the future, he will be sharing measures to be taken during the rebuilding process to better fire-proof your home. Fire prevention measures are relevant to everyone everywhere. Also, everyone having an exit plan and kit ready in case of an evacuation for whatever reason. Know what should be in that kit.
Our house caught fire in 2012 due to a lightning strike. Sate Farm was our insurer and I can't say enough about how helpful they were in getting our house repaired and our claim satisfied.
We had homeowners insurance and always paid on time for years. The house had indirect damage from a tornado, lots of missing shingles down to plywood roof sheathing, lots of broken storm windows. Nothing structural was damaged. An insurance adjuster came out to look at the house and started adding unrelated items that needed to be replaced but had nothing to do with the storm, he was a very nice person. We got a call to come pick up a check for repairs to the home a week after the inspection was done. We cashed the check and made all of the repairs. A month later we received a letter saying our home insurance was cancelled and to go to the local office to get a check for the amount of money we had already paid upfront earlier in the year before the tornado. It was VERY difficult to find another insurance company because the insurance who cancelled us basically blacklisted us in the entire insurance industry. It was the weirdest thing I have ever experienced as far as money transactions. It was like the insurance was running some kind of fraud or something. To this day we have never figured out what their motive was, I mean they had more money from us than they ever gave us and we never missed payments for years. What do they want? What a crazy world.
Why did you allow the adjuster to start adding items that were not a part of the damage? My car was hit while parked and I made it very clear what was a part of the damage and what wasn’t. I’ve always made it clear to my insurance agent who is the main driver of cars for example. My teenage son was going to be the main driver of my new car and I had it in writing telling my agent that fact. People hide things and then wonder why they aren’t paid or are cancelled. Then we all wonder why our rates keep skyrocketing.
Funny story for you. My car was hit by a plow truck while sitting in a parking space. The guy hit it so hard with the plow that he pushed it into the wall of an office building I was working at. He broke the exhaust system off the car. The plow driver was apologetic and said his insurance would cover it. His adjuster said they would only pay a portion for the repairs because he felt exhaust system was old and they shouldn't replace it with a new system. Insurance adjusters are scum.
Thank you for this video. One of the most informative videos I have watched in quite some time. Your video is proof that if we don't speak "insurancese" we lose out. Thanks, again, for sharing.
Thanks for this video I’m in this same fight to get my kitchen replaced that flooded 3 months ago. I’m not getting calls back from the insurance and I’ve been spending so much money on food. They switched our agent 3 times now I know why.
We went thru a fire 7mos ago, were displaced for about 5mos...our ins company was pretty great. I read or listen to these stories and feel very fortunate we have good coverage from a good company.
God bless you for sharing this info. I live in Oklahoma and my brother's house was hit by a tornado. Insurance refused to pay up, so my brother had to hire an attorney just to get this resolved. Just remember that insurance companies are here for their benefit not yours. God be with you all 💜🙏.
How kind of you to offer consolation to folks experiencing this scenario. We must remember (unfortunately) it's not personal It's just Business. However it Damm sure feels personal. Even hiring an advocate seems sketchy but necessary. God's Speed to those unfortunate folks who are going through this experience.
My experience with USAA in a hurricane zone is 1. Spray paint your policy number on your home because you relocated to your inland home. 2. No need for you to meet the adjuster at your damaged home. 3.They always pay. 4. If you disagree and think you should be paid more, provide justifiation/videos/pictures/receipts, they pay you more. 5. They are not the cheapest insurance, but they are the best. 6. Been a member since 1982.
Okay, she is not the typical home owner, no wonder insurance companies are mean to people who actually don't have a place to go, Hawaii, really. This is a bunch of kids taking advantage of the moms home ,loss, you have a home lady, the insurance company should deal with mom, not you and your greed in needing rent money when you do not actually need that even for your mom...replacement for mom is all that was legal here, period.
Learned the hard way after Hurricane Ida. I have a great new friend/attorney. Took me over two years, but I ended up with three times what I was originally asking for help for. Since it's an insurance settlement, the mortgage company litigated to designate the funds to the house repair. More like rebuild. Tripled my value and I owe less than $60K on the mortgage, which is my only debt. I did splurge and upgrade the AC/heating before this year's changes. Anyway.... looking forward to being mortgage free and firing the insurance company for good. ❤
If u live where hurricanes are, why would u forego insurance? Seems like a really foolish thing to do... especially because u won't have a mortgage company on ur side next time (God forbid)
@msbeecee1 honestly, because saving the cost of the annual insurance in an escrow account will eliminate me from having a third party dictate what I should do with the money I received for the loss suffered. I didn't mind the new kitchen, bathroom, living room, and all the extras. But they made me redo the deck and fencing even though neither are covered in the wind and hail policies because they are considered attached structures. Just one example. Also, if I have another total loss, I'll take that escrow cash and move back to the mountains, then sell the lot to the investors that come through like vultures after such events.
Florida resident for decades. Been through 5 hurricanes. Never been insured. Rented in my early years and now have a home that is a manufactured home and it is old and so insurance is economically absurd. And no one would insure it anyway due to it's age. However - I will explain what the thousands of people have been going through - especially since IAN - 2.5 years ago. Just getting insurance in Florida is difficult - and was expensive in the past. Now it's even worse and more unavailable. The state has had to step in and setup an insurer of last resort - and even then it is difficult and expensive. THEN - when a hurricane happens - they will send someone out and say it is wind "damage" IF that portion of the policy is not covered. Or Water Damage if THAT portion is not covered. AND THEN they will take their time - and then LOW BALL the owner - meaning not even close to the amount needed to repair fully. And then they will wait for a lawsuit that the homeowner will have to file. THEN - they will negotiate a settlement much lower than fully repaired costs. ( This is their "standard business practice" ) In my area there are STILL homes with blue tarps all over the place covering the roofs - and this is almost 3 years out - and Helene and then Milton came along as well in that time. This is so common that all kinds of "public adjusters" are everywhere and they have billboards advertising their services - as they become the de facto "expert witnesses" for the ( standard business practice ) litigation involved in all claims. Remember the Health Insurance guy a while back that had some small objects placed in his body at a very rapid pace ( with a silencer to boot ) and the business practices of that company and the industry in general. Well - those same exact practices occur in the home insurance space. AND - with our government being turned into a cartoon cult oligarchy for the next 4 years - not only will nothing be done about these issues - but they will be even more unfettered to continue and expand these practices in the next 4 years. Especially since the people at the agencies who actually started to enforce laws and rules protecting the average consumer ( CFPB and the FTC - SEC etc . . ) will be gone and those agencies will likely be shuttered or dramatically curtailed until 2029 at the very least. It's getting close to the point where insurance coverage is becoming meaningless.
Good video. It’s a shame how what a pain in the ass it is for victims to deal with and negotiate with insurance companies. My prayers go out to the victims. We got robbed when out of town one time and they stole about a $140K worth of stuff including a car and the insurance company wanted a list of items and all receipts etc and then after providing stuff we could they depreciated everything out and many things like herlooms, watches as wedding and aniversay gifts inherited item which can never be replaced. We ended up getting like only $40K back. What a disgrace the caught the thief and he got a strike and 9 months but was back out in several months. Sickening
Yep good cop bad cop…..it’s all about how long an insurance company can keep their money in their investment accounts continuing increasing their rate of returns while they keep asking you for this, for that, pics, receipts, then you provide and then they say oh but this, and that-they really hope you get so exhausted and give up!!!!
Calling the state insurance commission by filing a claim is a big deal for the insurance companies. In Illinois I had to use it twice, once in my son’s car totaled by another driver and that other was my home insurance not wanting to cover a lost utility ground. Without the gory detailed in both cases they were lowballing and not wanting to cover the lost ground. In both cases life favored me thousands. The mere mention of getting the state involved changes the tune of your insurance company. Remember your insurance company is not your friend.
Insurance is a major scam... most people don't have the time or know how or energy or patience to deal with insurance companies. So most people when their house burns down they are screwed. This video proves one of the many scams of the world.
Then self-insure. Pay cash for your home, your car. Then the only insurance you'll be required to buy is the liability policy government forces you to have if you choose to have a car. Self-insure. Assume all the financial risks yourself. That'll teach those scammers.
As a former 26 year realtor, I told many people that real estate for your primary residence is a good investment. Real estate bought as an investment seldom works out.
Great video, very good of you to share your experience, education, and advice! But, it was surprising to hear your experience with State Farm was so bad. We had a barn burn down with all our tack and saddles. Plus we had stored a bunch of house and personal things in the barn because we had listed our house for sale and needed to de-personalize and stage it for showings. We listed all that we could remember that was in the barn, submitted the list. They did not dispute any of it and wrote us a check within days. We love State Farm. Been with them 50 years (since 1978), still remember my first insurance agent, John Anderson, good guy. I know we lost money because we could not remember everything until later when we needed to use it (ouch). So, I absolutely agree that one should carry replacement cost coverage. And, I absolutely agree that one should make a thorough written inventory (dated and updated as new items are added over time) of EVERYTHING in the house (and garage) documented via PHOTOS and VIDEOS, in duplicate and with one copy stored or kept OFF-SITE. Cheers!
Great info! A few things to add: California is a valued policy state, meaning insurers must pay the full policy value. Laws differ by state, but in CA, all building perils are covered. Some policies include expanded replacement coverage (usually 20% extra) if dwelling coverage runs out. For personal property, check if you’re covered at replacement cost-otherwise, depreciation affects payouts. High-value items like jewelry may need extra coverage. Restrictions come from your 50+ page application package full of legal details.
I rented from a rich family, a fire randomly happened in norcal. Their sprinklers never shut off when landlord shut off the main line. i was at work. their insurance company came after me for over 100k. it was probably a mix of all 3 you said but they definitely had a larger policy. i was told they rebuilt. i saw it listed on the market, they didnt even rebuild teh place with a kitchen. they left it empty, no bathroom. i was upset they were coming after me for 100k+ for that small rebuild. but i realize those people probably got dropped from their insurance, and claimed hotel or airbnb costs, and sold the house and hopefully made some profit or broke even. they had no intention of fixing it, they probably couldnt afford to.
Renting looks more and more appealing in areas where natural disaster are common, espically if you look at the true cost of homeownership even after its paid off
For every honest person there are a ton of people who will lie, cheat and steal from insurance companies. Thus, insurance companies must be careful. Rich people will normally demand and even lie to get more than they deserve. After all, it's probably how they got rich in the first place. I'm not saying all of them. Maybe we should do away with insurance and let people stand on their own 2 feet. If something happens it's on you. I like that idea!
All insurance is like this...they get bonuses for taking your money. They know the details, you do not...they hold all the cards. I recall in one business insurance claim, our finance department argued for 3 years before finally getting a large reward. The adjustors know their details extremely well. Even holding that money of ours they were earning interest.
Thank you for your efforts. Very good information you've provided. Hopefully, those with a home will take heed and do the needful, prior to any disaster (flood, fire, earthquake, etc,.). House Insurance, Car Insurance, Home Insurance, everything is hunky dory UNTIL you have to file a legitimate claim. All shysters.
We also had a second home, a mountain cabin in S. CA. Our first year we had a water pipe freeze, break and flood the place. The insurance was great they actually were faster than I was on getting things taken care of.
You have people who think their shit is made of GOLD & look to insurance for a lottery payout🤔 Unless you have Replacement Policy you wont get a big payout
I totally agree take video and I would add take pictures to. I had a garage fire and it’s almost impossible to remember everything you own. Go through your house and take pictures of every closet, cupboard and drawer opened! For example if you say you had 50 pears of shoe and a picture to prove it they will have to replace all 50 pears.
My parents home had a fire over forty years ago….my grandfather lived upstairs in their house, and the fire was in his living area and he died from smoke inhalation. The insurance company was so horrible to my mom…she had lost her father, all the remnants of antiques and memories from her mom and dad, that she nearly had a breakdown. The house was rebuilt where the affected rooms were, but she was never the same. They expected her to have receipts for her parents’ furniture that they had for nearly fifty years! And the people she dealt with were vicious.
You also need to RECORD the calls if they are already recording. If not, make sure you obtain consent. Watch what you say!! Just because someone is "nice", doesn't mean the company itself will be...case and point with even the example given here! Do not be naive or pliable with the "good cop, bad cop" vibe. It is important to always take pictures and videos of what you have each year (or more often if possible) and save the information into a specific folder that can be accessed online at any time. As she said, save receipts and you can even scan those into a folder as well. If you purchase online, all you need to do is move those transactions to a folder within your email account. You can also email paper docs to yourself and keep a folder just for this as well. Last but not least, listen to what she's saying for help as well. Regarding you reporting the insurance company for harassment and them retaliating against you...wow! Mad about them by also trying to low ball you at times but I am glad you called them out and they caved in! Sounds like they tried to tell you things that weren't in the actual contract and things that also didn't make sense.
The morality of the USA is to pull scams now... welcome to the modern world. Bring back mental institutions, real judges and prisons if you want your nation to survive. No joke.
State Farm wouldn't pay for tornado damage in Montgomery County PA. They said exactly what time was the tornado there if you guess the wrong time they say it is wind damage which is less coverage. There premiums are lower because they don't pay for anything the state insurance commission should bring them up on insurance fraud.
When you take out the policy, make sure you understand what you are getting for coverage. You could be under insured. Most policies I have seen will only pay up to $500 or $2000 per category for lost collectables, antiques, jewelry, cash, guns and several other things. Any category that is worth more than the loss limit would require a rider in order to have coverage.
People get prepared!!! Three years ago I installed a 5000 gallon water tank with a 7hp gas pump and ran a two inch pvc underground line to my house where I can attach six garden hoses which feed the roof, adjoining decks. At 20 gallons per minute, I can water down my entire house for at least 3 hours during a fire. I have also cleared 50 to 100 feet of all vegetation away from the structure. If you live in a wild lands area prone to fires, this is so longer an option but a must.
It’s incredibly kind and thoughtful for you to share your experience and resulting knowledge. Thank you and sorry you suffered that loss due to the fire.
Don't worry she doesn't live in the ghetto, she is not poor
@@JOHNTOWER76 Who cares if she's rich or poor?
Go through this kind of loss and get back with us.
The people who complain the most when they stumble upon a little booboo are the rich. Are you one of them?
@@JOHNTOWER76 being wealthy doesn't make losing a home to a wildfire any less emotionally devastating. Even if we don't have to worry about a wealthy family being able to rebuild, we can still have sympathy for the psychological trauma and emotional hardship they're experiencing.
@@JOHNTOWER76 What a jackass.
She lost her complete home.
Take your class warfare communism someplace else.
Having gone through some significant hurricane damage last year I can say dealing with the insurance company is no picnic.
Bye the way, I live on Social Security.
Do I qualify as rich??
Nicely presented, everyone who lost a home should watch your video.
EVERY homeowner should watch this video.
Lol
God. All this stuff is just one big scam.
INSURANCE PERIOD IS A SCAM
@@loveppl6999 no it isnt if you have no insurance you will be left with nothing
YEp, build home low quality in fire prone area Sell insurances for fire Safety claim you cannot cover the claim!
My hat is off to your calmness while explaining your experience dealing with what I would call legalized thievery. What insurance companies are allowed and authorized to get away with is criminal in my opinion.
Yeah I can’t deal with this red tape bs they use. I’m suing United Healthcare and have been trying to rectify changed medical records from when I was three years old after being shot. They helped cover it up. I’m 33 now and still having problems getting my settlement money and justice. It’s very hard to stay calm with these people!
Wow yeah I can’t deal with their red tape bs they use. I’m suing United Healthcare after being shot at 3 years old, I’m 33 now and still trying to rectify my medical records they changed to help cover it up. It’s very hard to stay calm dealing with these people! Still waiting for my settlement and justice. They’re the same across every industry of coverage.
Wow yeah I can’t deal with their red tape bs they use. I’m suing United Healthcare after being shot at 3 years old, I’m 33 now and still trying to rectify my medical records they changed to help cover it up. It’s very hard to stay calm dealing with these people! Still waiting for my settlement and justice. They’re the same across every industry of coverage.
INSURANCE IS THE BIGGEST LEGAL RIPOFF THERE EVER WAS PPL SHOULD HOLD THESE PPL ACCOUNTABLE ! STRENGH IN # ! 😠
These fires and the hurricanes in the south prove insurance doesn't work. No matter what they do they go bankrupt if a disaster forces everyone to claim at once.
Then self-insure. Tell those evil insurance companies you're not gonna pay them another dime. Pay cash for your home. Pay cash for your car. That way no lender can require you to have insurance on your property. Self-insure. You don't need those evil greedy insurance companies.
We had a $ 100,000 house fire in a historic house built in 1903 in 1991 . We had replacement cost insurance . They paid to have custom solid wood doors made to match the existing doors . They did an excellent job repairing our house . Before the paint was dry we received a certified letter that they were dropping us.
I believe that is a common practice. Once your insurance is dropped you can’t be reinsured . A new company will not write a policy for you. We had to go into our State Funded uninsurable pool and pay a much higher premium. It is my understanding that if an insurance company wants to sell policies in your state they have to pay into the State pool . I can’t remember if it was 1 or 2 years that we had to rely on our State for homeowners insurance .
Nothing screams Communist useful idiot like "State funded Insurance."
A tree fell on my house in 2022, it’s 2024 and am still going through it with State Farm, they did not want to pay and tried to pay the low minimum, I am thinking of hiring a lawyer .
Was the tree yours and was in bad shape?
@@silentnot4812 ahhhh yes you know to read fine print …. There are generally 5 or more pages of exclusions that insurance don’t pay!
State Farm is also the insurance company that canceled a large number or policies in SoCal. This person’s story also involves them. I know others who have had various policies dropped at a moments notice. That company seems to be a greedy sham.
Funny thing is that State Farm are never the cheapest either.
FARMERS live on Farms.. I hear they in traffic at the moment fleaing
Most grateful for the time you allocated to create such an informative video! Take Care
Brilliant video, so well done. No wasted space, just pure info to share. Very generous of you.
This was excellent! Thank you for thinking of others. It’s necessary to share . I wish I had this two years ago!
Isn't it absurd how insurance companies have all the power and control to do as they choose.
If we weren't FORCED to pay them, they wouldn't have so much power.
@@ElonaldTrusk, no one is forced to buy insurance except if they CHOOSE to own/drive a car. In that case, the gov't forces you to have liability insurance in case you cause damage to someone else. Otherwise, you can pay cash for a home, pay cash for a car, and then hope and pray you have enough saved up to replace them if they are destroyed. But no one is forced to buy insurance. You are definitely free to assume all risks on your own. And for people with your apparent mindset, that's exactly what I wish you would do. Tell the insurance companies you're not gonna buy their protection any longer. Tell 'em you're gonna self-insure. That'll show 'em.
ever hear of state insurance commissioners? Insurance companies can't even fart without government approval.
It should be ilegal for insurance companies to drop you under these circumstances.
Yup, they can drop you will contract is still inforce…. They can and will drop you when the RENEWAL comes due!!!! How stupid can you be….. They saw the complete RISK that the state and local governments failed to see…. They capped what insurance companies can charge for TAKING on that Risk…. So of course they got out!!!! The state wants to run their own insurance company, the Democrats want the state to take that on thinking it is a Cash Cow!!!! Wait a second…. They have a Liability of 7 Billion and only have 700 Million in reserves to pay off that liability!!!! Think people!!
If you still have coverage, video tape/film the entire house and ALL the contents every year to update!!
@@sasha2401 it’s not the insurance companies it’s the idiots that let the officials get away with corruption. Guaranteed insurance knew 18 million $ was cut, insurance knew hydrants were not inspected, they also knew those reservoirs were empty…. Simple business decision. City can’t maintain fire control so they pulled out…if the people held their politicians accountable this would not happen…
I don't blame insurance. The State has neglected infrastructure for decades...I know from experience. I'm 54 & lived in California my whole life. Moved to TX in 2020 becuz of NewScum! I'll never go back!!
@ exactly!!
Insurance companies spend a lot of money on lobbyists.
You're incredibly generous to share your fire insurance experience, thank you!
I'm a USAA member, and i can vouge for them being a great insurance company, but more importantly, I'm in the restoration business. I deal with customers who have had fire, water, mold, bio, and any other loss you can think of. Document, document, and document your belongings. I have also been witness to many insurance company's dropping their customers after a paid out loss. Every so often check your policy, make sure your limits are appropriate, and would cover all things in the event of a total loss to the current market value.
I have State farm 30 years,no claims my home owners went up 500 this year . I live in a medium size city in the mid-west in a 1100 sq. ft. 2 story. I guess I should give USAA a call.
@tonyc223 you either have to be a service member or family to join usaa. If you are you won't be unhappy with them
@@tonyc223 Try AAA and AARP also
@@tonyc223 Your home cost of rebuild probably climbed 20% - a $500 increase is probably well below a 20% increase to your policy price...
@@tonyc223 You may not have filed any claims but many of your fellow policyholders did. Insurance is voluntary communism. People voluntarily contribute to a risk pool and the money is distributed to those most in need.
Isn't it interesting how so many people think communism is a good idea?
You didn't realize this - insurance is one of the oldest rackets. Assurance is only as good as the criminals who make these qualified promises
Thank you for such an informative video. Clear, concise and to the point. I will be using this when I need to renew my home policy for the next few years.
Thank you for educating everyone. So kind and helpful.
Valuable information. Thank you for sharing!
No one should ever attempt to rebuild a house that was burned down. Take the insurance money and move on. Leaving that negative energy behind will make you happier.
WELL SAID
Great advice. I plan to take a video of everything in my house in every room. Thank you so much for this information. I also gleaned from the cash option versus the value option.
Not involved with any natural disaster, but I am so appreciative of your video. I am sure that it will spread. Thank you so much for helping those who need it most with this information. You are what I consider a true 'god send'. Live long and prosper.
Thank you for taking the time to make this informative video. Insurance companies can be pure evil. Them calling the mother to ask what she ate, etc is wild.
Sounds like health insurance now. Try obtaining your medical records and see everything you told them was never documented and you learn you missed a recommended service they never informed you about. Bless you all and stick together
Imagine going through your fire insurance litigation at the same time 6,000 of your neighbors were dealing with the same thing. I imagine public adjusters and attorneys will be in short supply
Adjusters may be but I'll bet that lawyers are already walking up and down the street looking for people to hire them.
I appreciate that you get straight to the facts. Thankyou for sharing
Pro tip #2- Don't leave the video of your belongings where it can be burned-up... it actually happens.
Upload the video to a digital storage place on the internet,...or even UA-cam, and keep it "Private" until you need it.
This is helpful. It is clear, concise, and to the point. Thank you!
A veterinarian from CA shared what he did before he had to abandon his house. He learned from previous fires that he needed to be the first line of defense for his property. He bought extra hoses, sprinklers, and fire retardant to have on hand. Before evacuating, he set the sprinklers on top of his roof, got them going, and sprayed the sides of his house with fire retardant. His house was spared in this fire.
Adam Corolla, on his show, said to have a high-capacity pump on hand if you have a pool to enable you to use the pool water. In the future, he will be sharing measures to be taken during the rebuilding process to better fire-proof your home.
Fire prevention measures are relevant to everyone everywhere. Also, everyone having an exit plan and kit ready in case of an evacuation for whatever reason. Know what should be in that kit.
Our house caught fire in 2012 due to a lightning strike. Sate Farm was our insurer and I can't say enough about how helpful they were in getting our house repaired and our claim satisfied.
This is just great information, our prayers for the victims of the fires
Thank You Thank You and THANK YOU!!!!
Much thanks for this info. These are things that most of us would never know. Appreciate you posting such crucial information.🙏🏽
We had homeowners insurance and always paid on time for years. The house had indirect damage from a tornado, lots of missing shingles down to plywood roof sheathing, lots of broken storm windows. Nothing structural was damaged. An insurance adjuster came out to look at the house and started adding unrelated items that needed to be replaced but had nothing to do with the storm, he was a very nice person. We got a call to come pick up a check for repairs to the home a week after the inspection was done. We cashed the check and made all of the repairs. A month later we received a letter saying our home insurance was cancelled and to go to the local office to get a check for the amount of money we had already paid upfront earlier in the year before the tornado. It was VERY difficult to find another insurance company because the insurance who cancelled us basically blacklisted us in the entire insurance industry. It was the weirdest thing I have ever experienced as far as money transactions. It was like the insurance was running some kind of fraud or something. To this day we have never figured out what their motive was, I mean they had more money from us than they ever gave us and we never missed payments for years. What do they want? What a crazy world.
What is the name of the insurance company that canceled your policy?
@@KathleenMcNe Farm Bureau
Why did you allow the adjuster to start adding items that were not a part of the damage? My car was hit while parked and I made it very clear what was a part of the damage and what wasn’t. I’ve always made it clear to my insurance agent who is the main driver of cars for example. My teenage son was going to be the main driver of my new car and I had it in writing telling my agent that fact. People hide things and then wonder why they aren’t paid or are cancelled. Then we all wonder why our rates keep skyrocketing.
They are in the biz to pay as little as possible and eliminate all risks .
I stopped carrying a long time ago.
Funny story for you. My car was hit by a plow truck while sitting in a parking space. The guy hit it so hard with the plow that he pushed it into the wall of an office building I was working at. He broke the exhaust system off the car. The plow driver was apologetic and said his insurance would cover it. His adjuster said they would only pay a portion for the repairs because he felt exhaust system was old and they shouldn't replace it with a new system. Insurance adjusters are scum.
Thank you for this video. One of the most informative videos I have watched in quite some time. Your video is proof that if we don't speak "insurancese" we lose out. Thanks, again, for sharing.
Thanks for this video I’m in this same fight to get my kitchen replaced that flooded 3 months ago. I’m not getting calls back from the insurance and I’ve been spending so much money on food. They switched our agent 3 times now I know why.
We went thru a fire 7mos ago, were displaced for about 5mos...our ins company was pretty great. I read or listen to these stories and feel very fortunate we have good coverage from a good company.
Who is your carrier?
So share the co with others?
@@SanzL1USAA...I didn't want to sound like a commercial for them but can see why people would ask...shoulda just said it upfront
God bless you for sharing this info. I live in Oklahoma and my brother's house was hit by a tornado. Insurance refused to pay up, so my brother had to hire an attorney just to get this resolved. Just remember that insurance companies are here for their benefit not yours. God be with you all 💜🙏.
How kind of you to offer consolation to folks experiencing this scenario. We must remember (unfortunately) it's not personal It's just Business. However it Damm sure feels personal. Even hiring an advocate seems sketchy but necessary. God's Speed to those unfortunate folks who are going through this experience.
So timely and very thoughtful of you to do this now.
My experience with USAA in a hurricane zone is 1. Spray paint your policy number on your home because you relocated to your inland home. 2. No need for you to meet the adjuster at your damaged home. 3.They always pay. 4. If you disagree and think you should be paid more, provide justifiation/videos/pictures/receipts, they pay you more. 5. They are not the cheapest insurance, but they are the best. 6. Been a member since 1982.
1977 here.
I agree they are the best.
That was some terrific information. Thank you!
Thank you. You are obviously a kind soul.
Okay, she is not the typical home owner, no wonder insurance companies are mean to people who actually don't have a place to go, Hawaii, really. This is a bunch of kids taking advantage of the moms home ,loss, you have a home lady, the insurance company should deal with mom, not you and your greed in needing rent money when you do not actually need that even for your mom...replacement for mom is all that was legal here, period.
This is a fantastic video!!! Thank you for sharing this
Your lucky if you get 60% back from a total loss.
Wow
Excellent presentation! Thanks.
Thank you for sharing.
when the affluent get screwed by insurance maybe something will change cause they aint listening to the regular folk.
o cool ok i'll watch
Thank your for posting. This is a great help.
This is really great information and well delivered. Thank you.
Learned the hard way after Hurricane Ida. I have a great new friend/attorney. Took me over two years, but I ended up with three times what I was originally asking for help for. Since it's an insurance settlement, the mortgage company litigated to designate the funds to the house repair. More like rebuild. Tripled my value and I owe less than $60K on the mortgage, which is my only debt. I did splurge and upgrade the AC/heating before this year's changes. Anyway.... looking forward to being mortgage free and firing the insurance company for good. ❤
now if we can just get rid of property tax we would be totally free and clear.
If u live where hurricanes are, why would u forego insurance? Seems like a really foolish thing to do... especially because u won't have a mortgage company on ur side next time (God forbid)
@msbeecee1 honestly, because saving the cost of the annual insurance in an escrow account will eliminate me from having a third party dictate what I should do with the money I received for the loss suffered. I didn't mind the new kitchen, bathroom, living room, and all the extras. But they made me redo the deck and fencing even though neither are covered in the wind and hail policies because they are considered attached structures. Just one example. Also, if I have another total loss, I'll take that escrow cash and move back to the mountains, then sell the lot to the investors that come through like vultures after such events.
@@believeroftheword4627 interesting! Thanks for the sincere reply. Have a great day
@@msbeecee1 you too!
Thank you for sharing ❤
Florida resident for decades. Been through 5 hurricanes. Never been insured. Rented in my early years and now have a home that is a manufactured home and it is old and so insurance is economically absurd. And no one would insure it anyway due to it's age. However - I will explain what the thousands of people have been going through - especially since IAN - 2.5 years ago. Just getting insurance in Florida is difficult - and was expensive in the past. Now it's even worse and more unavailable. The state has had to step in and setup an insurer of last resort - and even then it is difficult and expensive. THEN - when a hurricane happens - they will send someone out and say it is wind "damage" IF that portion of the policy is not covered. Or Water Damage if THAT portion is not covered. AND THEN they will take their time - and then LOW BALL the owner - meaning not even close to the amount needed to repair fully. And then they will wait for a lawsuit that the homeowner will have to file. THEN - they will negotiate a settlement much lower than fully repaired costs. ( This is their "standard business practice" ) In my area there are STILL homes with blue tarps all over the place covering the roofs - and this is almost 3 years out - and Helene and then Milton came along as well in that time. This is so common that all kinds of "public adjusters" are everywhere and they have billboards advertising their services - as they become the de facto "expert witnesses" for the ( standard business practice ) litigation involved in all claims. Remember the Health Insurance guy a while back that had some small objects placed in his body at a very rapid pace ( with a silencer to boot ) and the business practices of that company and the industry in general. Well - those same exact practices occur in the home insurance space. AND - with our government being turned into a cartoon cult oligarchy for the next 4 years - not only will nothing be done about these issues - but they will be even more unfettered to continue and expand these practices in the next 4 years. Especially since the people at the agencies who actually started to enforce laws and rules protecting the average consumer ( CFPB and the FTC - SEC etc . . ) will be gone and those agencies will likely be shuttered or dramatically curtailed until 2029 at the very least. It's getting close to the point where insurance coverage is becoming meaningless.
Good video. It’s a shame how what a pain in the ass it is for victims to deal with and negotiate with insurance companies. My prayers go out to the victims. We got robbed when out of town one time and they stole about a $140K worth of stuff including a car and the insurance company wanted a list of items and all receipts etc and then after providing stuff we could they depreciated everything out and many things like herlooms, watches as wedding and aniversay gifts inherited item which can never be replaced. We ended up getting like only $40K back. What a disgrace the caught the thief and he got a strike and 9 months but was back out in several months. Sickening
Brilliant practical advice
Yep good cop bad cop…..it’s all about how long an insurance company can keep their money in their investment accounts continuing increasing their rate of returns while they keep asking you for this, for that, pics, receipts, then you provide and then they say oh but this, and that-they really hope you get so exhausted and give up!!!!
Thank you for sharing your experience.
Very clear, concise, and informative. I have saved for future reference. Thank you!❤
Calling the state insurance commission by filing a claim is a big deal for the insurance companies. In Illinois I had to use it twice, once in my son’s car totaled by another driver and that other was my home insurance not wanting to cover a lost utility ground. Without the gory detailed in both cases they were lowballing and not wanting to cover the lost ground. In both cases life favored me thousands. The mere mention of getting the state involved changes the tune of your insurance company. Remember your insurance company is not your friend.
Insurance is a major scam... most people don't have the time or know how or energy or patience to deal with insurance companies. So most people when their house burns down they are screwed. This video proves one of the many scams of the world.
Then self-insure. Pay cash for your home, your car. Then the only insurance you'll be required to buy is the liability policy government forces you to have if you choose to have a car. Self-insure. Assume all the financial risks yourself. That'll teach those scammers.
As a former 26 year realtor, I told many people that real estate for your primary residence is a good investment. Real estate bought as an investment seldom works out.
Great video, very good of you to share your experience, education, and advice! But, it was surprising to hear your experience with State Farm was so bad. We had a barn burn down with all our tack and saddles. Plus we had stored a bunch of house and personal things in the barn because we had listed our house for sale and needed to de-personalize and stage it for showings. We listed all that we could remember that was in the barn, submitted the list. They did not dispute any of it and wrote us a check within days. We love State Farm. Been with them 50 years (since 1978), still remember my first insurance agent, John Anderson, good guy.
I know we lost money because we could not remember everything until later when we needed to use it (ouch). So, I absolutely agree that one should carry replacement cost coverage. And, I absolutely agree that one should make a thorough written inventory (dated and updated as new items are added over time) of EVERYTHING in the house (and garage) documented via PHOTOS and VIDEOS, in duplicate and with one copy stored or kept OFF-SITE. Cheers!
Great info! A few things to add: California is a valued policy state, meaning insurers must pay the full policy value. Laws differ by state, but in CA, all building perils are covered. Some policies include expanded replacement coverage (usually 20% extra) if dwelling coverage runs out. For personal property, check if you’re covered at replacement cost-otherwise, depreciation affects payouts. High-value items like jewelry may need extra coverage. Restrictions come from your 50+ page application package full of legal details.
I rented from a rich family, a fire randomly happened in norcal. Their sprinklers never shut off when landlord shut off the main line. i was at work. their insurance company came after me for over 100k. it was probably a mix of all 3 you said but they definitely had a larger policy. i was told they rebuilt. i saw it listed on the market, they didnt even rebuild teh place with a kitchen. they left it empty, no bathroom. i was upset they were coming after me for 100k+ for that small rebuild. but i realize those people probably got dropped from their insurance, and claimed hotel or airbnb costs, and sold the house and hopefully made some profit or broke even. they had no intention of fixing it, they probably couldnt afford to.
What kind of fire randomly happens?
Renting looks more and more appealing in areas where natural disaster are common, espically if you look at the true cost of homeownership even after its paid off
For every honest person there are a ton of people who will lie, cheat and steal from insurance companies. Thus, insurance companies must be careful.
Rich people will normally demand and even lie to get more than they deserve. After all, it's probably how they got rich in the first place. I'm not saying all of them.
Maybe we should do away with insurance and let people stand on their own 2 feet. If something happens it's on you. I like that idea!
All insurance is like this...they get bonuses for taking your money. They know the details, you do not...they hold all the cards. I recall in one business insurance claim, our finance department argued for 3 years before finally getting a large reward. The adjustors know their details extremely well. Even holding that money of ours they were earning interest.
Thank you...very much appreciated
Thank you so much for this eye opening knowledge!
Thank you , i would not have known any of this!!!
Thank you for this informative video!
Great video very informative. Thank you for thoughtfully sharing this knowledge. 👍🏽
Thank you for sharing this valuable information. God bless you! 🙏🏻
Thank you for your efforts. Very good information you've provided. Hopefully, those with a home will take heed and do the needful, prior to any disaster (flood, fire, earthquake, etc,.). House Insurance, Car Insurance, Home Insurance, everything is hunky dory UNTIL you have to file a legitimate claim. All shysters.
We also had a second home, a mountain cabin in S. CA. Our first year we had a water pipe freeze, break and flood the place. The insurance was great they actually were faster than I was on getting things taken care of.
Very informative. Thank you and subbed.
This was very informative. Thank you from Detroit. ❤
This video is more powerful than a speeding train! Beware insurance con agent super woman is here!
Thank you so much for this information!!!
You have people who think their shit is made of GOLD & look to insurance for a lottery payout🤔 Unless you have Replacement Policy you wont get a big payout
I totally agree take video and I would add take pictures to. I had a garage fire and it’s almost impossible to remember everything you own. Go through your house and take pictures of every closet, cupboard and drawer opened! For example if you say you had 50 pears of shoe and a picture to prove it they will have to replace all 50 pears.
I had a rental home burn down by lightning and was never paid. 2006.
How did insurance get out of paying?
Sounds made up.
My parents home had a fire over forty years ago….my grandfather lived upstairs in their house, and the fire was in his living area and he died from smoke inhalation. The insurance company was so horrible to my mom…she had lost her father, all the remnants of antiques and memories from her mom and dad, that she nearly had a breakdown. The house was rebuilt where the affected rooms were, but she was never the same. They expected her to have receipts for her parents’ furniture that they had for nearly fifty years! And the people she dealt with were vicious.
Bless you!
You also need to RECORD the calls if they are already recording. If not, make sure you obtain consent. Watch what you say!! Just because someone is "nice", doesn't mean the company itself will be...case and point with even the example given here! Do not be naive or pliable with the "good cop, bad cop" vibe. It is important to always take pictures and videos of what you have each year (or more often if possible) and save the information into a specific folder that can be accessed online at any time. As she said, save receipts and you can even scan those into a folder as well. If you purchase online, all you need to do is move those transactions to a folder within your email account. You can also email paper docs to yourself and keep a folder just for this as well. Last but not least, listen to what she's saying for help as well.
Regarding you reporting the insurance company for harassment and them retaliating against you...wow! Mad about them by also trying to low ball you at times but I am glad you called them out and they caved in! Sounds like they tried to tell you things that weren't in the actual contract and things that also didn't make sense.
Insurance is a business and you sign a contract agreeing to coverage, you get what you pay for! Pretty simple
The problem is that you DON'T get what what u pay for! That's the entire point of this video
Miss information.👍@@msbeecee1
@ no. YOU don’t understand the contract
Guessing you've never dealt with an insurance company.
@@msbeecee1 She was upset because they wouldn't cover her vacation to San Diego because the deed holder didn't go. That's unreasonable to you??
Thank you for making this video. I wonder how many of these insurance companies will go bankrupt from this?
All insurance companies are doing this now not just home policies. Insurance is becoming a scam now.
The morality of the USA is to pull scams now...
welcome to the modern world. Bring back mental institutions, real judges and prisons if you want your nation to survive. No joke.
State Farm wouldn't pay for tornado damage in Montgomery County PA. They said exactly what time was the tornado there if you guess the wrong time they say it is wind damage which is less coverage. There premiums are lower because they don't pay for anything the state insurance commission should bring them up on insurance fraud.
Thank you! From Palm Desert, CA
Thank you...very informative.
The adjuster assist is a great tool.
Clear concise and to the point, I'M SCREWED If my home goes up in smoke good thing I've been cancelled in my beloved ghetto rural community.
Great points
Thank you so much 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you! Superior informational video!!!
When you take out the policy, make sure you understand what you are getting for coverage. You could be under insured. Most policies I have seen will only pay up to $500 or $2000 per category for lost collectables, antiques, jewelry, cash, guns and several other things. Any category that is worth more than the loss limit would require a rider in order to have coverage.
Wait! What! So they pay you to go vacation? No wonder insurances are fleeing the state.
Excellent information.
People get prepared!!! Three years ago I installed a 5000 gallon water tank with a 7hp gas pump and ran a two inch pvc
underground line to my house where I can attach six garden hoses which feed the roof, adjoining decks. At 20 gallons per
minute, I can water down my entire house for at least 3 hours during a fire. I have also cleared 50 to 100 feet of all
vegetation away from the structure. If you live in a wild lands area prone to fires, this is so longer an option but a must.
Wow! Fantastic video thank you so much ! God Bless! 🙏🏼❤️🙏🏼