Do you have renter's insurance? About to move out of your apartment? Do not cancel your renter's insurance for no reason .It is not worth it! We moved out of our apartment on April 4, 2012. Somehow, my renter's insurance got canceled in an informal conversation taking place via e-mail.
When we experienced our loss, the insurance company refused to pay out the claim. I had zero knowledge of my coverage prior to engaging in the information e-mail communication while in Denver and Boulder, Colorado.
On April 6, 2012, I attempted to call my agent while leaving California. He was busy with another customer. I asked another receptionist about my renter's insurance. I moved out of the apartment 2 days prior. He told me to send an e-mail and or a fax to make a request. One day after Easter, while in Denver visiting my brother's family, my agent mentioned that he would get on the request.
Two days later, we drove to Boulder, Colorado. From Boulder, we were making our way up to Black Hills to see Mount Rushmore. I vaguely responded to an e-mail from the agent's office. In the e-mail response, I never addressed the renter's insurance cancellation. I listed my address and mentioned my professional degree. Apparently, my renter's insurance cancelled out. I never viewed the next message.
On April 16, 2012, we got robbed in the original Carrabba's new parking structure in Houston, Texas during the daylight hours. We got taken for $10,000 in personal possessions and many thousands in intellectual property. The restaurant never provided the video surveillance tape that shows the criminals breaking our window and stealing our luggage and bags.
The next day I called my agent to discuss the robbery/theft case. He told me I should have retained my renter's insurance. He informed me why I didn't talk to him, as I always discuss any policy changes on the phone. I don't blame anyone in the agent's office. It is a terrible outcome to the Houston disaster.
After fighting the cancellation with several insurance company representatives, the decision to keep the 6 year policy active until October 2012 cancelled. Apparently, I never knew about my coverage ever. I didn't jhave any knowledge whatsoever about my coverage. This renter's policy was the very best at a low premium. A District manager informed me that my agent did a great job to provide me with the best renter's policy.
What good does that do me when this policy is prematurely canceled via informal e-mail conversation. I should have been more responsible to read the e-mails attentively. 2 months prior to our loss, the agent noted that their office recently changed their policy to accept e-mails as a form of cancellation. In the past 6 years, you could cancel via fax and or returning the policy via snail mail.
According the Claim's department, the policy has always remained the same from 2006-2012. Every agent's office handles their cancellations according to their stipulations.
This is a huge loss for us. We relocated to seek financial relief In result, we got robbed in Houston. My insurance company denied my claim based on an informal e-mail request. I never included my policy number, agreed to accept the renter's insurance cancellation.
I made a major mistake dealing with the renter's insurance via e-mail. I never requested any cancellation via e-mail. Recently, my life insurance company requested me to list my policy number, name, date, my request in detail, sign and date the form, and then fax it to their coverage department.
On the opposing side, this insurance company that is one of the largest in America refuses to reinstate my policy. They backdated the cancellation to a date that had passed 8 days. This renter's policy was effect until October.
How does this Houston crime affect us? We are unemployed. Our documents and portfolio to get work got stolen. We lost our most valuable possessions. Houston police failed to pursue evidence such as requesting private information from another third party and acted negligent in not reviewing the video surveillance (to our knowledge) video of the robbers stealing our life way.
Lastly, a perfect great renter's insurance policy that would have paid out the cost to replace all items lost was canceled by an information e-mail request. We never spoke to any insurance personnel besides the receptionist. In the time of the phone call on April 6, 2012 and to April 17, 2012, we eventually reached the agent after the loss. I consider this agent a great friend.
The insurance company policy states that insured members can cancel their policy by returning the policy in the mail and or in writing. The agent's office recently stated they started taking e-mails in February. However, the Claim's department addressed the California policy rights have never changed. He claims they always accepted e-mail.
In the policy, the two vague lines never mention in detail the right way to cancel. Most companies will not accept e-mails as a preferable way to cancel a policy. Past mistakes may have created major problems. Whereas the policy is extremely detailed with what is not covered, the insured member's cancelation is two small sentences stating to cancel in writing and or return policy in the mail. It does not indicate fax, phone, e-mail, text message, tweets, and any other type of acceptable communication method.
How can we recover from a claim that would have paid out greater than $10,000. Insurance companies will not extend coverage to you when there are obvious loopholes to deny coverage. I urge you to retain your renter's insurance coverage no matter what. You will need it. If you get robbed like us, your insurance company will pay out your claim.
Because we lost everything valuable to us, we can't recover from this loss. The robbers even took my dress pants, which I could not go out on an interview. I can't afford to replace what was lost in the grand theft. Now, my insurance company has denied me several times. I followed the chain of command to be fair. I lack the funds to fight the insurance company, parking structure, restaurant, security company, and the Houston police.
I can't emphasize this enough; keep your renter's insurance. Your life will get ruined in a major loss. We are the perfect example of a system stepping on us to deny us our right to safety, coverage, and a thorough investigation to apprehend criminals that are possibly connected to the a crime network (according to a security officers working for Carrabba's and the Houston police department).
Learn from our unfortunate experience. Never cancel your renter's insurance. Never deal with policy changes via e-mail since an insurance company will refuse to fairly resolve a dispute. Insurance companies will find every way possible to deny your claim. They don't care whether your loss is creating major financial hardship. Nobody cares about our robbery experience. In the end, you must protect your family and yourself.
Keep your renter's insurance. You will need it one day. Don't send e-mails to discuss policy changes. Speak to your agent on the phone. Make sure you understand your coverage before agreeing to a policy. We didn't know we could be covered outside of the apartment. We had a right to be covered.
Therefore, we lost our valuable possessions and got denied on an insurance claim based solely on the informal e-mail communication that took place 8 days after the move-out date, which the insurance company backdated to cancel on April 3. An informal e-mail with no identifying information got my renter's policy prematurely.
Have you experienced an insurance disaster? Want to share your experience? God forbid you lose your hard work from a minor e-mail, inadequate security, disclosing video surveillance, and anything else that is possible in an unethical string of unfair events. Due to the Houston loss, our life is in shambles. We are educated and experienced people with no means to recover from the Houston disaster. Good luck! Be safe!
