Getting screwed by my Insurance co

slakjaw · 09-12-2005, 03:33 PM

I had a problem with my dishwasher. about a month ago, I noticed some water in front of the dish washer. I pulled the bottom cover off of it and the floor under the dish washer was soaked! upon further inspection I noticed that it was dripping from the water inlet. I shut off the water and dried it as best as I could and put a fan blowing under it. A few days later the floor (under the vinyl) started to lift in a few areas. I did not make a claim for about a month because I hate making claims. but at this point the floor is badly warped and I felt I had no other choice.

I know why I didn't notice it for so long. I live in a mobile home and it is very slightly off level. so it leans toward the back of the dish washer, so it could have been leaking for who knows how long before I even noticed it.

Now my agent tells me that they "more than likely" will not cover it because it looks like it was a problem that had been going on for a while.

What are my options here? do I need to hire an attorney? I plan to fight their decision if they say no.

oh and the wall behind the dish washer id all F`ed up with black mold which he already said flat out, no they wont cover. How do I get rid of it? replace the drywall?

Thanks,
Kyle

Rodeo · 09-12-2005, 03:56 PM

You need to dig out your policy. Look for every clause dealing with water/leaking and read them closely. And if I recall correctly, some homeowners' policies have clauses excluding coverage for chronic or long term problems. Maybe that's what your agent is talking about. But you need the policy, if you don't have it get it from your agent.

slakjaw · 09-12-2005, 04:56 PM

Thanks Rodeo,

it says "gradual losses are not covered. for example, damage caused by a pipe leaking over a period of time would not be covered" Then it goes into some other stuff about mantance.

well I have lived here since 1998 and this just happened a month ago. To me this is not a gradual loss. I took every step to stop further damage from the leak as soon as I noticed it.

With that said, do I stand a chance here?

Thanks,
Kyle

Dantilla · 09-12-2005, 06:04 PM

It's too bad you have already alerted your insurance company. Insurance companies are looking for reasons to drop homeowner policys when reletively minor problems are turned in as claims. Upon your next renewal, you may be turned down as a bad risk. Other insurance companies will be less friendly to you also, since they share information with each other now.

Your best bet is to kill any mold with bleach. Very effective. Buy some new underlayment and a sheet of vinyl, and do it yourself for far less than an insurance bid.

Rodeo · 09-12-2005, 07:00 PM

I think most insurance is typically viewed as covering sudden catastrophic losses. Fires, burst pipes, trees falling, that sort of thing. What period of time is "gradual?" Afraid I don't know, but I suspect you will get a lot of different opinions.

Dantilla is correct that your phone call alone can be considered as part of your risk profile in many (or most??) states. The insurance companies keep records of "claims" even if never formally pursued, and they make coverage and price determinations on all of their data. I heard that many companies will not even answer a coverage question unless you identify yourself with a policy number, so they can keep a record. I think this is not a good thing, btw

This is NOT legal advice, its BS on a message board; make of it what you will.

slakjaw · 09-12-2005, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dantilla
It's too bad you have already alerted your insurance company. Insurance companies are looking for reasons to drop homeowner policys when reletively minor problems are turned in as claims. Upon your next renewal, you may be turned down as a bad risk. Other insurance companies will be less friendly to you also, since they share information with each other now.

Your best bet is to kill any mold with bleach. Very effective. Buy some new underlayment and a sheet of vinyl, and do it yourself for far less than an insurance bid.

I have lived here since 1998 without a claim. in fact, I have never had claim at all. if they wanna drop me, so be it.