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 Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 12:06 am Post subject: car fires fraud |
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I need a little help or better yet a understanding about my insurance company Allstate.
About a month ago my truck it was an 2008 truck was broke into and burned and vandalized in my front yard while i was asleep in the house. The ins. Co was nice at first then they transferred it to an SIU department. I found that out thru back channels, but what bothers me is that i found out that a SIU department also investigates car fires fraud . I have never in my life been so insulted. I see no reason for them to look at me or my wife or is this standard protocol ? Both of our credit scores are in the high 700's, we have never been late on anything, you might as well say our finances are perfect. WE have absolutly no problem paying our bills. Both of us have great paying jobs, i mean what the hell, is how there handling this normal, they have taken a phone interview and sent out a private investigator, who i might add seemed a little shotty.. Is this normal ?
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FF423
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| Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 4:17 am Post subject: |
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Question... why would anyone take the time to burn a vehicle that they just broke into? What purpose would it serve? If you answered none... you'd be correct.
Now, on the other hand... how many people in this economy can no longer afford to make payments on a brand new vehicle?
Your asking why they are investigating?
Do you want to have your premiums increased because of other people filing fraudulent claims and getting them paid? Why should Allstate exclude you and not everyone else as well? People who commit car fires fraud don't have big "F"s tattooed on their foreheads. It would be easier if they did... but it just does not work out like that. |
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tcope
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| Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:07 am Post subject: |
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| hey FF423...... dont get so annoyed.....they r just doing their job.....Truts me AllState is a very good insurance company.....they'll do justice to u........ every insurance company is going thru hard time due to this recession....may be bcoz of this they r just being overcautious...... dnt worry ..... it is the way they work |
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SuperAgent
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| Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 12:53 pm Post subject: |
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Hi..
I can certainly empathize with you..but you'd also need to understand how a carrier investigates and on what basis they choose investigation. While communicating things to your carrier even if you leave a slight area of doubt it might lead you through an investigation.
| Quote: | | Both of our credit scores are in the high 700's, we have never been late on anything, you might as well say our finaces are perfect |
Well, this has got nothing to do with it now.
Factors like the vehicle getting destroyed while you were asleep...or the cause of the fire might have caused them to dig deeper to eliminate their suspicion of car fires fraud . But I don't see anything wrong at this.
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roddick
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| Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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| I can understand them covering there tails. But how long does it take, i knoew every situation is different, but i have a Wife and 2 young kids to take care of, I've been haveing to bum rides off people to get to work, i didn't have car rental ins on my policy. Then haveing to go out ansd buy another car when this is over. But i keep reading horror storines about problems that folks have had with Allstate. and all there Bad Faith Claims. I just Pray to GOD we don't become one of there victiums. another question should i talk to this SIU guy and duscuss my concerns or is it better to just leqve it alone? Thanks so much for all you inputs!!! |
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BAcuff
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| Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Unfortunately it can take some time for them to rule out the possibilities of car fires fraud . The adjuster won't be able to say much, the SUI person might say a bit more but still not much. There is too much liability involved for them to commit (anything they say can be used against them in a Bad Faith claim). Their investigation should not take longer then 30 days. You might call them and explain that you understand their need to investigate the matter and ask if they might be able to at least give you a time frame or keep you updated as to the status. You could sugar coat your inquiry and let them know that you are certainly willing to cooperate in any way possible. and/or that you even understand the fire is suspicious. The trick is to be a squeaky wheel without appearing to want to push the claim through. |
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tcope
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| Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 7:28 pm Post subject: |
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| i just talked to the investigator he said he just recieved the report ftom the PI and will be looking over it this week so i should have a answeer by the end of the week. all he said was that if there were any inconsistisy in the reports they would have to do a EUO i told him that i had talked to a BAd Faith Att. and we are ready for one if we had to take one . He seemed real nice about it. ALl i can say is that my faith in GOD has never been greater. |
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BAcuff
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| Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:22 am Post subject: |
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The length of claim will depend on your Ins. Co.'s policy. Most Co. policies state a payout term of 21-30 days, but they can defer that payout date due to SIU investigation or by other "paper work" tactics.
I'm a Fire Investigator and don't take offence to the investigation, but a vehicle being burnt up in the owners driveway isn't common, so SIU would be given this case almost immediately (sometimes it's back logged due to other cases though). Then they would call up a Fire Investigator (like myself) to investigate the vehicle to determine the cause of fire, and any other evidence around the Crime Scene to determine cause and everything that was actually done that night. Motive is determined by SIU and it can be anything they dream up.
Just be patient and cooperate with the insurance company and they might go easy...but this happens in most vehicle fire cases, pending the circumstances of course. Personally, I hope I never have any of my vehicles burn up as I'll be the number one suspect and probably wont get paid out.
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CFEI
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| Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 1:30 pm Post subject: |
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| YOur last statement is whay i was a little concerned, I was a firefighter in a past life. BUt let me ask you aquestion CFEI when you do an investigation would you not take a recorded statement? this guy came out and just jotted down notes. TO me it would seem a little more accurate to record the statement for your report. Al the guy really did waa ask what happend took pictures of my gas cans. And said a few negitive comments about how he doesent like fireman. i did n't comment bck to him i just let him do his job and go on. that was a couple of weeks ago haven't heard anything from him since, i would of thought he would have talke to some folks ion the area or tried to contact some fols for character purposes. I 'm just guessing Thganks for the input!!! |
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BAcuff
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 1:27 pm Post subject: |
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BAcuff,
| Quote: | | Al the guy really did waa ask what happend took pictures of my gas cans. |
I sure hope I'm wrong...
but that reads like he only gathered enough evidence to Legally deny your claim and then sit back and see if you can prove otherwise.
That's my 2¢ worth for now. ( maybe ± a couple ¢ )
FK, |
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FK
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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| so they can deny a claim simply because you have a gas can? what are you supposed to use in a lawnmower? WAter? we still don't even know if there was anything used in the fire. Sounds to me like they'll do anything to screw you over |
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BAcuff
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| Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:47 am Post subject: |
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BAcuff,
I know of a claim where an insurance adjuster simply made the false accusation that since the salvage yard had not yet retrieved the unusable parts they delivered to the repair shop, that he (the adjuster) suspected the shop had installed those used parts and billed the consumer for New parts. The adjuster simply said he suspected Fraud and refused to pay the full cost of repairs. This consumer was shorted over a thousand dollars by his insurance Co.. Its my understanding he didn't pursue the company in Court. He just let them short pay the claim???
That's my 2¢ worth for now. ( maybe ± a couple ¢ ) 
FK, |
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FK
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| Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:22 pm Post subject: |
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| thay have their reasons for all these investigations to prevent fraud, but from what you mentioned, it seems like they're trying to short-change you. was a fire investigator brought to the scene? did you take any photos of the damage as a result of the fire? |
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seven7
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| Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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| I took pictures for myself , my reg job consists of making sure we are OSHA compliant so I treated this investigation the same way and took the same pics he took as well as pics of the truck and area around it before they took it off, but I don't think this guy was a fire investigator I think he was a regular PI. does that make a difference? I just like to understand a process instead of making assumptions. you never read into anything about these car fires fraud issues, cause you never think there going to happen to you . |
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BAcuff
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