The Discount Double Check AKA The Insurance Screw Job.
People still haven't been in their homes from Hurricane Sandy. Construction teams line the streets, PODS still on lawns, families still in campers, six months after the fact. Me I was only inconvienced by a few days of NO ELECTRIC. Back to a sense of normalcy fourteen days later. No biggie.
No claim needed to be filed on my behalf, luckily. But unluckily today I received the "heads up" from my local "discount double checker" at State Farm that my home was being dropped by the company because "the company (Not him and he emphasized his disagreement with the company) redrew the lines in the local map regarding home owner coverage". Bullshit.
Continuous coverage is what I have had on my residence since I purchased it in 1973 with State Farm. My drivers insurance goes back further than that. Now I have until May 30 to find coverage elsewhere. There is no codicil for "pre existing coverage" no "grandfathering" those who have coverage. Nothing, just a adios. So here's my letter...
Dear State Farm:
At 16 years of age (1968) I obtained
my driver's license. Mr. Frank Burke, my neighbor and local STATE FARM agent
wrote my insurance policy. While doing so he made me feel special and valued. A
few months later he did the same when I purchased my first automobile and
needed insurance.
Needless to say when I bought my
home in 1973, the same home I am still residing in, Mr. Frank Burke whose
office is within walking distance of my home, again wrote my STATE FARM policy.
Since that time I have been a continuous and faithful State Farm client; adding
my wife's car and later my two son's policies, and each time feeling special by
my State Farm agent. An easy transition occurred when Frank retired and Anthony
Albano retained Frank's client list. Anthony it should be noted is wonderful.
Mr. Albano was even kind enough to
call to "give me a heads up" that a letter from Corporate was in the
mail. To my dismay I received the letter which stated that after 40 years of continuous
home owners insurance STATE FARM would "value me as a customer"(as
the letter states) and unceremoniously DROP my coverage due to State Farm's losses
in my area during Hurricane Sandy. To me this is outrageous.
Let it be known that I DID NOT (fortunately)
having any damage to my home during Hurricane Sandy NOR did I Initiate any claims
at that time. However, your letter asserts "THIS ACTION IS DUE TO THE
EXPOSURE TO LOSS TO YOUR (my emphasis added)PROPERTY FROM
CATASTROPHE..."
During the storm of March 2010
(three years ago) I did need to file a claim regarding my roof and siding(claim
#XXX-XX-XXXX). At that time I did also
have standing rain water accumulating in my basement for which I did not have
coverage.
Since that time my home has been repaired (roof and partial siding by claim) and
followed completely at my own expense with a series of "French
Drains" installed in the basement subflooring (with a generator backup),
all exterior windows and doors replaced (Anderson energy efficient) as well as
further energy efficient initiatives completed in 2011 through the office of
the TOWN OF BABYLON'S- Long Island Green Homes Project.
As you can ascertain, I truly
care for my home and property. Being a proud "valued customer" ( I correct you as it should be"
client") State Farm finds it in their best interest to drop me after 40
plus consecutive years of faithfully paying my premiums.
Since your letter I have searched
for a carrier to pick up my policy. It should be noted that, yes, policies are
available to me by companies offering to
moving my $912.00 a year premium to an outrageous over $2000.00 a year
threshold.
Lastly, I wish to remind STATE
FARM that when my original policy was written in 1973 I WALKED to the office on
Montauk Highway which is just north of my home. What has changed in
the "map" since that time 40
years ago? As a long time CLIENT in good
standing, a having gone through the "discount double check" in Mr.
Albano's office only last spring where he voiced no concerns on STATE FARM's
part regarding my home owners policy, I
request your re-consideration of this move to drop my policy and consider
"grandfathering" mine and others like me.
Awaiting your immediate reply I
remain,
jazzbus@gmail.com
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