When you seek compensation for the major damage of an insured property, there’s a big chance that you will be greeted with insurance claim problems. The series of activities associated with filing a claim can be overwhelming. After taking your family to safety, you have to report the incident and file a claim, then you need to sort through your damaged property, find a contractor to do the repairs and deal with a property adjuster from the insurance company who isn’t bent on giving you the best compensation for your loss. It’s quite a challenge isn’t it?
While it doesn’t imply that your insurance adjuster is out to cheat you, it is also very clear that it is his job to control claim costs, and would even try to control you. Insurance claims can actually carry a certain degree of conflict of interest between you and your insurer. This can certainly trigger disagreements and open up certain issues that can escalate into insurance claim problems.
If you buy property insurance, it always good to refer your plan to a trusted insurance claims management company in order to avoid future claim issues including:
Failure to Institute Measures to Protect the Property
During a catastrophe, instinct tells you to protect yourself and your family by moving to a safe place as early as possible. But if you read the fine print of your insurance policy, it also tells you to protect your property. This means getting salvageable items to safety to protect them from mildew, or using a tarp to patch a hole in the roof to protect its interior from rain. These are things insurance companies don’t want to happen, and they can refuse paying for damages that could have been prevented. What’s more disheartening is they don’t accept or consider excuses.
Throwing Away Damaged Property before the Insurance Adjuster Inspects It
Cleaning up is the next best move after a catastrophe, but you must avoid throwing away damaged property especially if the insurance adjuster hasn’t checked on them yet. It could give your insurance company an impression that you want to hide something. Besides, it can also make your loss difficult to establish.
To avoid making wrong moves and decisions, you should consult experienced property insurance claims management companies like Action claims Service before making a claim after a catastrophe.
Indifference Towards Contractors Recommended by the Insurance Company
Your insurer cannot force you to accept a contractor you don’t like to use. But your dislike or indifference towards those contractors can cause insurance claims problems as it can possibly trigger a stalemate between you and the insurance company.
Repair / Replacement Issues
The option to repair or replace your damaged property is in the hands of your insurer. This can lead to problems especially if:
- Repaired sections do not match
- You’re no longer interested in the property after it is repaired
- The after-repair quality is not satisfactory
Failure to Present Documents to Support the Claim
All insurance claims for damaged property need supporting documents. If you are not able to present documents like photos, receipts, proof of ownership and other documents, your claim may not prosper. Some insurance companies can consider copies of documents if you don’t have the original, but if you have nothing to show at all, you’ll certainly have a problem.
Coverage Disputes
An insurance company will not be able to learn about an impending coverage issue unless your insurer sends an adjuster to investigate your claim. But they can’t send someone to assess your situation unless you update them about important issues such as increased hazards, changes in the value of your home, and other facts that might lead to insurance claim issues. Rest assured, your insurer won’t deny a valid claim but they can use those issues to settle for a lower amount.
Insurance Policy Misinterpretation
All insurance policies contain terms in fine print which you might not be able to read or fully understand. When the time to make a claim comes, you’ll be surprised to see your insurer using the same policy conditions to negotiate a lower settlement. To avoid situations like this, it is a good idea to consult an insurance claims management company for insights regarding the terms of a property insurance policy. This can help you to be fully aware of the policy conditions and avoid insurance claim problems.
Property insurance claims can be complex at times. While insurance companies operate to compensate for the loss of an insured property, as a business, it is also their primary responsibility to find legal basis to reduce the amount. While this principle is fair, you also need to make sure that you are able to get the highest settlement based on the terms of the contract. Make it happen with the help of proficient property insurance claims management companies like Action Claims Services.
Call us at (888) 691-1095 for seamless property insurance claims.