by Guest » Tue Oct 13, 2009 11:43 pm
We live in Ontario Canada and have a huge issue with my current insurance company and am hoping for some clarification.
We bought our house 13 years ago, and the roof was done about 8-9 months prior to our purchase. So, this roof has just reached its 14th year this past August. The shingles were 30 year shingles. Here is our dilemma. Unbeknownst to us, apparently we had a leak fairly high on the roof and it was leaking in above our two daughters room.
We have had no leaking at all anywhere prior to this, and even though during the last huge windstorm, we found some shingles laying around the house, we assumed it was from an area around our upstairs bathroom window, which does show wear from the erosion caused by the water path from around the window construction that juts out as it's own separate entity. If that makes sense. This we had planned to fix as soon as we could.
This past Friday night, a portion of the ceiling came down in the girls room caused by the leak and the subsequent weight of the insulation. So, we called our insurance company, they had a fella come out the next day to start the drying process and have a look. Of course, there was some mold, which the contractor said was not surprising and happens quickly. And, I was told that we should know whether or not everything would be covered by Tuesday morning. I had no feeling that it shouldn't be, that is wy we have home insurance.
Today, Tuesday, I got a call from our insurance provider and they stated we were being denied. All the first person said was it was because of the mold. And that we should have had extended coverage. We had been with the same company for years, but it was bought out a few years ago by another company. I had never been told our insurance was insufficient before. I can't understand why anyone would insure their home without coverage for a roof leak and interior damage. That just doesnt make sense. And they said that our roof was in rough shape.
I called back after absorbing the initial conversation to get specific details, simply because the first person had laid all the blame on the mold, but had also said that even their best policy would not cover mold. I was confused. Needless to say, the initial contact I had didn't make me happy. I was at least determined to makes sense of things. The next person was not much more helpful, and was irritated when I asked for explanations of different thing. They told me that we had been contacted this past March about extended coverage, but that the man they spoke to, they assumed my husband had said we would call back. I didn't know about this. They told me that our coverage was only for inside water damage such as a burst pipe. But, nothing for anything concerning outside water entering the house. I was stunned. I WOULD NOT have got coverage for only this kind of damage, it makes no sense. Yes, I am trying to find the original policy from years ago, hoping I find it. And no, when our company was taken over, we didn't receive anything from the new company.
After the second fella became belligerant when I was asking for explanations, I had had enough, and got angry for the lack of service.
My question after all this ranting is.........is it normal for there to be coverage as I have been told that I apparently have. Only covering water damage from inside piping?? Not having any coverage pertaining to a leak in the roof? And my other question is this.......can an insurer that has bought out another company add things such as this extended coverage without us knowing it would be needed??
I am just at a loss and very angry and to be honest frightened. We have all our insurance with this company and am wondering if there are any other loopholes concerning our auto or, god forbid, our life insurance. We have three children and we have always thought we were doing a good job taking care of our home for them. We check the roof every year, hence how we just found the erosion that we wanted to fix, and we thought we had been diligent in our responsibilities. So, since my husband checked it at the end of the winter season this year, how is it that it is in such bad shape? I am just frustrated. I am angry that this company has basically just denied us, for something we were completely unaware of, and has treated us as if we made claims over and over. We have never once made a claim and I guess that is something else that is upsetting. They are more than willing to take our money, but not nearly as willing to give back when it is necessary for a family.
I hope you can answer any of my questions. I am sorry for the diatribe and for the length of this, but, I am frustrated. Thank you for any help at all.
We bought our house 13 years ago, and the roof was done about 8-9 months prior to our purchase. So, this roof has just reached its 14th year this past August. The shingles were 30 year shingles. Here is our dilemma. Unbeknownst to us, apparently we had a leak fairly high on the roof and it was leaking in above our two daughters room.
We have had no leaking at all anywhere prior to this, and even though during the last huge windstorm, we found some shingles laying around the house, we assumed it was from an area around our upstairs bathroom window, which does show wear from the erosion caused by the water path from around the window construction that juts out as it's own separate entity. If that makes sense. This we had planned to fix as soon as we could.
This past Friday night, a portion of the ceiling came down in the girls room caused by the leak and the subsequent weight of the insulation. So, we called our insurance company, they had a fella come out the next day to start the drying process and have a look. Of course, there was some mold, which the contractor said was not surprising and happens quickly. And, I was told that we should know whether or not everything would be covered by Tuesday morning. I had no feeling that it shouldn't be, that is wy we have home insurance.
Today, Tuesday, I got a call from our insurance provider and they stated we were being denied. All the first person said was it was because of the mold. And that we should have had extended coverage. We had been with the same company for years, but it was bought out a few years ago by another company. I had never been told our insurance was insufficient before. I can't understand why anyone would insure their home without coverage for a roof leak and interior damage. That just doesnt make sense. And they said that our roof was in rough shape.
I called back after absorbing the initial conversation to get specific details, simply because the first person had laid all the blame on the mold, but had also said that even their best policy would not cover mold. I was confused. Needless to say, the initial contact I had didn't make me happy. I was at least determined to makes sense of things. The next person was not much more helpful, and was irritated when I asked for explanations of different thing. They told me that we had been contacted this past March about extended coverage, but that the man they spoke to, they assumed my husband had said we would call back. I didn't know about this. They told me that our coverage was only for inside water damage such as a burst pipe. But, nothing for anything concerning outside water entering the house. I was stunned. I WOULD NOT have got coverage for only this kind of damage, it makes no sense. Yes, I am trying to find the original policy from years ago, hoping I find it. And no, when our company was taken over, we didn't receive anything from the new company.
After the second fella became belligerant when I was asking for explanations, I had had enough, and got angry for the lack of service.
My question after all this ranting is.........is it normal for there to be coverage as I have been told that I apparently have. Only covering water damage from inside piping?? Not having any coverage pertaining to a leak in the roof? And my other question is this.......can an insurer that has bought out another company add things such as this extended coverage without us knowing it would be needed??
I am just at a loss and very angry and to be honest frightened. We have all our insurance with this company and am wondering if there are any other loopholes concerning our auto or, god forbid, our life insurance. We have three children and we have always thought we were doing a good job taking care of our home for them. We check the roof every year, hence how we just found the erosion that we wanted to fix, and we thought we had been diligent in our responsibilities. So, since my husband checked it at the end of the winter season this year, how is it that it is in such bad shape? I am just frustrated. I am angry that this company has basically just denied us, for something we were completely unaware of, and has treated us as if we made claims over and over. We have never once made a claim and I guess that is something else that is upsetting. They are more than willing to take our money, but not nearly as willing to give back when it is necessary for a family.
I hope you can answer any of my questions. I am sorry for the diatribe and for the length of this, but, I am frustrated. Thank you for any help at all.
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 01:10 pm Post Subject:
I am not familiar with Canada's insurance practices, but because you have mold, would not have been the reason you were denied. Mold is almost always present because it can develop quickly. What was the reason for the leak? The damage caused by channeling water should have been covered by your policy, however because it took some time for the leak to be discovered may have been a factor. And perhaps the aftermath of the leak would not be covered.
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