FIGHT BACK IF FARM BUREAU DELAYS OR DENIES YOUR CLAIM
(If you do whats listed here Farm Bureau will be more likely to pay your claim)
Before you buy homeowners insurance
1) After you have reviewed this website you should pass it on to as many people as possible.
2) Seek references from trusted friends and relatives who have had experience with insurance.
3) Before purchasing insurance contact your state insurance dept. for statistical data on your companies of choice.
4) Know your agent, age, experience, local resident, reputation. references, He must stick with you to the end, Farm Bureau won't.
5) Read the fine print, check for deductables and restrictions hidden in the policies.
6) Be totally honest in your application for a policy. Err on the overly honest side. Be totally up front about all facts and circustances.
Farm Bureau has and continues to use minor technical mistakes as excuses to deny claims and file suits.
After you buy insurance
1) Make a written inventory of all your personal property, including food, medical, clothing, accessories, books, magizines, linens,
bedding, pictures, photos, jewelery, toys, tools, etc. absolutly everything in the house and garage.
2) Make a photo or video record of all your personal property listed above, not just the big items. Film the medicine cabinet, fridge, junk drawer, linen closet, pantrys, books, shoes, absolutely all of it.
3) Keep all receipts for personal property that are available now, and in the future.
4) Photograph or video the entire house, garage, and buildings inside and out.
5) Store these records in a safe place or off the premisis.
First week of loss
1) If you have a loss call your agent immeadeatly.
2) Photograph the entire loss scene, still photos and video.
3) Meet with your agent and get a complete outline of what he wants you to do, write it down.
4) Meet with your adjuster and get a complete outline of what he wants you to do, write it down.
5) Keep your cool, getting angry could hurt your claim.
6) Use caution making out your personal property loss sheets. Don't overlook anything, from tooth paste to overcoat to divan to scotch tape. Every item in your house is insured. It's easy to miss lots of small items that really add up when you start replacing them.
7) Start a personal loss file, keep your policy, and all pictures and documents in it.
8) Keep a detailed daily log of all communications, phone, e-mail, mail, and personal meetings.
9) Keep copies of all letters to and from Farm Bureau in your personal loss file.
10) Call your agent and adjuster every day the first week to check for any new information or instructions.
11) Send your agent a letter seeking status of claim and include your desire to assist and cooperate in any way to help with the claim.
(A sample letter is at the bottom of this page)
12) Verify with your agent and adjuster that all emergency repairs to mitigate the damage has been done properly and sufficeintly.
13) Record this verification in your personal loss file.
14) Get your own appraisial and/or estimates of the cost to repair or replace the loss. Use this as a guide to compare with the insurance adjusters estimates. You need to know if their offer is resonable or not.
15) Print a copy of this web page and keep it in your personal loss file for quick reference.
16) Make contact with one or more Public Adjusters. Get estimates and recomendations from each. Provide your personal loss file for them to study.
Second week of loss
1) Make your decision whether or not to use a private adjuster. If you do, follow his advise and directions.
2) Send your agent a second letter seeking status of claim and include your desire to assist and cooperate in any way to help with the claim.
3) Get on the internet, check out the consumer advocate websites listed on the home page of this website.
Third week of loss
1) Send your agent a third letter seeking status of claim and include your desire to assist and cooperate in any way to help with the claim. These letters will be needed if a suit is filed. Farm Bureau will claim you failed to cooperate and provide documents. Use these letters to prove that you tried to fully cooperate. The Jury will read these letters if your claim goes to court.
Fourth week of loss
1) Send your agent a fourth letter seeking status of claim and include your desire to assist and cooperate in any way to help with the claim.
2) If not comfortable with a Private Adjuster choose an Attorney after considering more than one. Provide your personal loss file.
5) Consider attorneys listed on this website at the Policyholder Lawyers page.
6) Alert your private adjuster, or attorney to Farm Bureaus other policyholder lawsuits for him to study. This is very important so he will know what he's up against, and the tactics Farm Bureau will use against you.
7) Advise your private adjuster, or attorney of the Brown and James law firm and their book, Arson fraud and First Party Insurance Law. Copyright 2001, Lawyers Research Institute. By Robert W. Cockerham, Russell F Watters, Michael B. Mcguire, and David P. Bub. This book shows insurance companies "How to deny claims and still win in court". Your private adjuster, or attorney needs this book to see exactly how Farm Bureau and their lawyers will fight to deny your claim.
(sample status letter #1)
(date)
(your name)
(your address)
(your phone number)
(claim number)
(date of loss)
Dear (your agent or adjusters name)
Please consider this letter as my request for the current status of my fire loss claim submitted on (date). Also please consider this letter as my request for you to advise me of any further actions you would like for me to take in order to assist in concluding my claim. Please be advised that I wish to provide all documents requested, and comply with all request of any kind you have for me pertaining to my claim. I can be reached at the address listed above. Please advise me of anything you want me to do.
Sincerley,
(your name)
(sample status letter #2)
(date)
(your name)
(your address)
(your phone number)
(claim number)
(date of loss)
Dear (your agent or adjusters name)
I wish to express my desire to assist and cooperate in any way to help with my claim. I await your instructions and/or requests. Please consider this letter as my request for the current status of my fire loss claim submitted on (date).
I can be reached at the address listed above. Please advise me of anything you want me to do. Sincerly,
(your name)
DON'T STOP NOW, THIS NEXT STEP IS IMPORTANT. IT MAY TAKE TIME BUT IT WILL GET RESULTS.
Either when your ordeal is over, or sometime during the ordeal make a complaint available to the public. The best way to do this is to post your complaint on all of these websites.