SOME HIGHLITES OF OUR PARTICULAR INSURANCE CLAIM WITH FARM BUREAU INSURANCE
We suffered a fire loss at our house with severe fire and smoke damage on Thursday, July 9, 2003.
We submitted our claim to Farm Bureau on July 10, 2003.
We submitted our proof of loss for $144,000.00 house, $140,079.00 per. prop. and $15,000.00 ALE on 8/4/03.
Farm Bureau paid $2000.00 for emergency funds on Sept 9, 2003.
We filed a complaint for delay with Missouri Department of Insurance on Janurary 12, 2004.
Farm Bureau filed suit against us for fraud and misrepresentation on September 23, 2004.
We filed suit against Farm Bureau for breach of contract and vexatious refusal to pay on October 19 2005.
Farm Bureau agreed to pay $125,000.00 for dismissal of the lawsuit on November 8, 2006.
Farm Bureau, with Bob Brady and Brown and James, attempted to add new stipulations to the agreement. Farm Bureau paid us $125,000.00 on 2/14/2007, exactly three years and eight months after the fire. And sixteen months after filing the lawsuit. And over three months since we agreed to drop the lawsuit.
SOME LESSONS THIS FAMILY LEARNED TO LATE
1 Always have a witness present when speaking with anyone from Farm Bureau.
2 Take hundreds of pictures of everything and everybody.
3 Record or write down every statement you make to Farm Bureau.
4 Record or write down every statement from any Farm Bureau person.
5 Keep every document received from Farm Bureau.
6 If you don't receive a settlement check in 60 days hire an attorney.
6 Never give an examination under oath with-out an attorney.
7 Consider hiring a private adjuster for 10% of your settlement check, this should be done with-in 10 days of the loss.
8 Never assume Farm Bureau will direct, or assist you in actions that will benefit you, they won't.
9 Never depend on your Farm Bureau agent to assist you after you file your claim, ours did not.
10 Expect to be blackballed by other insurance companies while you have an unresolved loss claim.
11 Deal only with insurance companies that rank excellent on all performance levels, such as complaint indexes.
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A FEW PICTURES OF OUR LOSS