delaying coverage & won't return personals

[gak-master]

What is the name of your state? Washington State.
I had a fire in February. The cause was unknown. The fire Department did an investigation.
The insurance company proceeded with my claim immediately. They had someone come and clean my house, clean and pack my things in boxes and had a moving company come and take the stuff to be stored until repairs could be done. Someone came and took some of my clothes and curtains to be dry cleaned. They also had an electronics company come and take all the electronics to be cleaned. They even sent a check for the construction on the damaged area to begin. After about three weeks, the fire departments report came back and the investigator stated that she thought the fire had been set intentionally. She told me that she wasn't saying that I set the fire, but that she felt that someone did. Not too long after that the insurance company halted the order on the carpet that they were going to replace and now they aren't giving some of my personal things back. I got all the clothes and curtains back, but not the electronics or the things the movers took. My claim has changed adjustors three times. The last time I talked to them they were really concerned about me filling out the "personal loss" forms and sending them to the insurance company ASAP. I did just that, and they should have recieved them over a week ago. No one has contacted me to let me know what's going on. Does the insurance company have the right to keep my personal belongings? Can they refuse to cover my claim just based on what the fire department report says? I was not home when the fire started and don't know what happened, but does that make me an arsonist? How would I go about getting my things back if the insurance company decides not to accept my claim?What is the name of your state?

 

[moburkes]

What is the name of your state? Washington State.
I had a fire in February. The cause was unknown. The fire Department did an investigation.
The insurance company proceeded with my claim immediately. They had someone come and clean my house, clean and pack my things in boxes and had a moving company come and take the stuff to be stored until repairs could be done. Someone came and took some of my clothes and curtains to be dry cleaned. They also had an electronics company come and take all the electronics to be cleaned. They even sent a check for the construction on the damaged area to begin. After about three weeks, the fire departments report came back and the investigator stated that she thought the fire had been set intentionally. She told me that she wasn't saying that I set the fire, but that she felt that someone did. Not too long after that the insurance company halted the order on the carpet that they were going to replace and now they aren't giving some of my personal things back. I got all the clothes and curtains back, but not the electronics or the things the movers took. My claim has changed adjustors three times. The last time I talked to them they were really concerned about me filling out the "personal loss" forms and sending them to the insurance company ASAP. I did just that, and they should have recieved them over a week ago. No one has contacted me to let me know what's going on. Does the insurance company have the right to keep my personal belongings? Can they refuse to cover my claim just based on what the fire department report says? I was not home when the fire started and don't know what happened, but does that make me an arsonist? How would I go about getting my things back if the insurance company decides not to accept my claim?What is the name of your state?

Have you tried contacting them?

 

[gak-master]

Yes I have. Since the posting of this thread, my case has changed adjustors two more times and I have given two recorded statements. One by phone and one in person. After the "in person" recorded statement, the adjustor assured me that someone would call me the following day to let me know if they were going to cover my claim. That was last Wedsnday and I have received no call. Mean while, they are still holding my personal belongings which are accruing storage fees each day. If this continues much longer I will not be able to afford to get my things back if the insurance company does not accept my claim. So then what? Am I left with not only a burned basement but also without alot of my personal belongings? (yet the insurance company continues to get their money) If I would have known that there was a possibility that they would not pay the claim and keep all my belongings, I would have never even called them. It would have been worth the out of pocket costs to repair my basement to not loose all my belongings. I can see now that I'm better off just paying my premiums and keeping my mouth shut if anything happens to my home.

 

[moburkes]

Yes I have. Since the posting of this thread, my case has changed adjustors two more times and I have given two recorded statements. One by phone and one in person. After the "in person" recorded statement, the adjustor assured me that someone would call me the following day to let me know if they were going to cover my claim. That was last Wedsnday and I have received no call. Mean while, they are still holding my personal belongings which are accruing storage fees each day. If this continues much longer I will not be able to afford to get my things back if the insurance company does not accept my claim. So then what? Am I left with not only a burned basement but also without alot of my personal belongings? (yet the insurance company continues to get their money) If I would have known that there was a possibility that they would not pay the claim and keep all my belongings, I would have never even called them. It would have been worth the out of pocket costs to repair my basement to not loose all my belongings. I can see now that I'm better off just paying my premiums and keeping my mouth shut if anything happens to my home.

So KEEP calling them. Don't stop. You can stop paying your premium if you don't anticipate another loss. You can try to find another company. Be upfront about your open claim.