I debated about posting this, then though why not?! There are surely people out there that this has happened too or it's happening too and they need to know. So here's my story. It might be a little long but worth the reading. After you read it you might just want to check your policies and make sure you are covered. If this could happen to me, it could happen to you!
On Monday it was a hectic day around here. After work I had a doctors appointment to check my ears after having the tubes put in. I am happy to report that my hearing went up 40 percent! Yes 40 Percent, then it was hurry to my oldest son's ballgame. I made it with 2 minutes to spare before the game began (and yes they did WIN!). Then it was hurry hurry to get my youngest son who is 6 a bath and in bed. It was getting to be around 8:30 at that point and he can't function on 6 hours sleep. So I run though the shower after getting him settled down and it dawned on me that I had not checked the mail. So to the mailbox I go. Let me tell you it's a good thing my mailbox is right by my front door. I would not of wanted the passerby to see me in my Jammie's. But, hey there were clean. That counts for something doesn't it? LOL
So I get the mail and I thought wow the freebies have been great today. I got 5 magazines and a few other things including my 2 liter bottle of Diet Dr. Pepper. But back to the story, I dropped all this mail off on my desk and went to do a few other things when I thought "that was alot of mail today". So I come back and thumb though it and there was several letters in it from ABC insurance company. ABC is NOT the name of my insurance but for here it will be. We have everything though them. Trucks, SUV, RV, Pontoon Boat, jet ski's, Our home, rental home, My scooter and hubbies Harley motorcycle. So I opened it up and it says this:
Dear Mr. and Mrs. XXX
We value your service as a customer. However, do to non payment your policies will be cancelled on Feb. 22, 2009.
Thank you,
ABC insurance
I was like WHAT? We paid these policies on September 30, 2008 in full though our agent. This has got to be a mistake. So I pick up the phone, knowing that there probably wasn't someone in the office at that time of night and called. Low and behold someone picked up the phone. I explained why I was calling and she said can you hold while I pull of your accounts. I said sure, knowing that they were going to find this was a mistake and everything would go back to Happy land. Well she comes back on the line and says
Mrs. XXX your house insurance for both your home and rental has not received any payments and is due to be cancelled on the 22ND of February. I said WHAT? You got to be kidding me. I paid this in one lump sum back in September with my agent. She said well apparently you didn't. I said could you check and tell me about the other claims. Well I was told that they haven't been covered since October, 2008. I was in SHOCK. All the blood came running out of my face and ended up in my feet! Literally. I Kid you not.
SO I thank her and thought this has got to be some kind of joke. I had our insurance agents cellphone and decided to call him. I call and he says Hello, I said hello and he hangs up the phone. I'm thinking not a smart move. So I call back and this is what I said.
Mr. POS (not his real name, even though I should post it and might later)
Mr. Pos this is Mrs. XXX and I don't care if you have to stand out in the middle of the highway to get a signal you best be calling me back, because of 8 am in the morning I will be contacting the Insurance comissioners office first thing. And, with that I hung up.
And you know what? Mr. POS called me back within minutes. I mean I barely got the phone sat down and it was him calling back. So we have this conversation:
Mr. POS: I'm sorry, they made a mistake and I'll take care of it in the morning. I don't know why they can't get this thing right. I'm going to take care of it.I'm on the way back from a funeral and have been gone for 2 days.
ME: No Mr. POS your not, this is what your going to do. I'll be at your office at 8am and we will have a conference call with ABC insurance and then I can know which one of you is lieing.
Mr. POS: Ok then
ME: GOODBYE
So, I call in to work and take a personal day. Just how I wanted to spend my personal days let me tell you. So I figured I had better get ready to go to bed since I need to be on my toes to handle this. Other things were just sitting waiting and I had no idea.
10:54 my phone rings
ME: Hello
Mr. POS: I wanted to call you back and tell you I couldnt talk cause I had a car full of men (not exactly what he said MEN but for the sake of this we will leave it at that) and I couldnt talk. I'm sorry you are so upset.
ME: Wait, you got it all wrong. I'm not upset. I am LIVID, no I am PISSED! You got I am literally pissed off. What did you do with my money?
Mr. POS: This is all a mistake and I can take care of it in the morning. I said you are right you will take care of it in the morning. Because I'm going to be at your office and we are going to have a conference call and if I find out you lied to me this is what I'm going to do. First I'm going to stop at the count house and I'm going to file a suit against you for stealing my money, Then I'm going to stop by the newspaper and find a reporter to print my story, then I'm going to file a complaint with the Insurance commisioner and if it's the last thing I do I'll get your license if I found out you took my money.
What he said next threw me for a loop and I am not one easlier shocked.
Mr. POS: I know I've done things that are wrong, I know I should of not done it. If you call the insurance commisioner you will be taking my lively hood from me. What can I do to make this right so you dont' do that. I have to have this job to support my family.
ME: Ok, well first off you should not of taken my money which I'm now hearing you say you did. So you can return all my money that I paid you back in September, 2008.
Mr. POS: He said how much?
Me:I gave him the figure (several thousand's of dollars). I said and I don't want a personal check either because you tried to pay for my policies back a few weeks ago and bounced a check to them and I'm not taking a personal check. Cash or cashiers check. that's the only thing I'm taking.
Mr. POS: Gave me 2 days to come up with this money.
ME: NO you have until 10 am tomorrow.
Mr. POS: Ok I'll see what I can do
With that we hung up.
I didnt sleep after that. I tried but 2 girls decided that it was prank phone call night and called for the next hour and half off and on. I finally ended it at 3 am when I called and called until their mother answered the phone and said why are you calling at this time of morning. I said lady, maybe you should ask that of your daughters........ I've had enough drama for one night. LOL
So next morning, I get the boys on the bus (thanks to the sub for working for me) and I get over to the insurance agencies office. I took my 22 year old daughter with me. You know, witness in case there was something to witness. Well we came in and was in the office and we stood by the door. he finally came out of the back room and pointed to his desk and said it's right there. Right there being a envelope with my name on it. I opened it up to find a envelope with a cashier's check in it made out to my husband and myself. I shook my head ok and he said. Take care and I hit the door with daughter in tow.
So you would think that this is the end of the story would'nt you? Well it's not. The best is yet to come.....
So now the realization has hit that I have no insurance on anything that we own. So I get on the phone and start calling and I called 7 companies
The first 6 call back with I can't help you......you have had a lapse in coverage and we can't cover you. You are high RISK! High RISK? It isnt my fault that I had a insurance agent take my money. What am I going to do?
I finally get insurance on 2 trucks and 1 SUV but nothing else.
So today I'm working on getting insurance on those. But I will say this, I feel lucky to have gotten my money back. I have since learned that the insurance agent has his home in foreclosure, That the company has pulled his license and he can't sell their insurance anymore and they have turned him in to the insurance commisioner of the state and he will probably be losing his license before very much longer.
Am I happy? No I'm not. I do not wish for anyone to lose their home, exspecially in this day and time. I'm not cold hearted. However, I also think that even in bad times you must keep your morals and with morals I do believe comes not stealing from people and lieing. I hate liar's and Thefts more then anything.
So you might what to double check your insurance and make sure you have insurance and your paid up. Even if you agent says you are. In the defense of ABC insurance I received a call from their cheif security officer and was told that they would be glad to give me to a another agent and let me keep their insurance. I just can't help but think that I need to distance myself from this mess and start over. Even if it means more money out of my pocket. I've lived and I've certainly learned.
