We lost a house by fire several years ago and was shocked to receive a bill for around $800 for cable boxes! Their thinking was my insurance company would pay for them, and mine was that since it was a total loss that exceeded the limits of the Insurance Policy (330K paid) I would have to pay for them! Got Lawyer involved and negotiated a price of around $350.00 total and paid it before it went to collection, which it would have.
Yes I did submit the $800 bill part of my claim. I did the claim myself since it was going to cost me 10% to outsource it. Insurance Adjuster said it was better that I did it myself instead of someone else and pay for it out of my pocket.
There may be some software available now but in 2001 there was not and I had replacement value coverage, so I created my own. One important thing I pass on is not to forget to add Local Sale Tax to your Claim.
It was a time consuming project that helped the grieving process, and even if I did forget to claim something as all do, I have been told, I would not have received more. Even lost two cars, two pets and a lot of record keeping.
Insurance Company even paid to have family pictures copied from other family members collections.
Was really a rough time but still have the same insurance company that everyone said would cancel us because of such a large payout. Have had two houses since and several cars and even a few claims. Would not consider a change unless they would not want our business.
Over all it was a life changing experience that includes fire safes and a monitored house alarm system. Good luck to all that have lost their homes in California where I was born nearly 63 years ago and left at 17 months and never have visited since then.
But I agree with you.
