Insurance Vent

Ok, last month I had a paint case, fully stocked (like my avatar) stolen out of my daughter's car in our driveway (rural area, long
drive). Today they sent an Insurance Investigator who queried me like I was guilty of a fraudulent claim. I was so upset, I reminded him that am a client, I pay his payroll check, and that I was the victim. He has the police report--itemized, but wanted receipts for EVERYTHING. They would settle for my bank statements--- Seriously?? Like I am going to turn personal private info like that to a stranger who is harassing me at this point? (---and getting paid by ME to do so??) Told him I was very unhappy with their handling of the claim, that I went with their company because my agent was a friend whose ethics I trusted. That I was seriously considering switching companies, and blogging why. He did tell me the claim handler was switched, & I high-fived him for that, as she has not be satisfactory).Just need to vent at the moment. Don't see being properly recompensed, but will keep you updated on the outcome.

I work in insurance defense. There are a LOT of fraudulent claims. I would supply the bank statement with only the parts they need, everything else redacted. I would also supply any email confirmations from suppliers or anything like that which would prove the cost or paypal statements. They have probably never heard of so much money being spent on paint and it sent up a red flag for fraud. You might even have some of your reductions from taxes that you can supply. Look for brush costs, container costs and such. Also send photos of your set (like your avatar) to prove amount and what it looked like. If anything, kill them with paperwork to prove your end, you don't want it to be denied and then have to appeal the claim - trust me! Also, you might include any time you spent personally making split cakes, re-organizing or anything like that, the fat max itself. Think of every penny so they can take care of it all. Good luck, it will work out if you supply all of it. Usually, when people refuse to provide receipts is when fraud is most likely and a claim is denied, next step is an EUO with an attorney and you want to avoid that.

If you've been keeping proper business books producing receipts shouldn't be an issue. I'd actually have them ready to give any adjuster it I was making a claim as that it going to be the first thing they ask for.

Receipts, photos of your set-up, are all pretty normal requests for an insurance claim.

Last week I had done pictures, cut & pasted anything I paid by card from my bank statement, any supplier's order info I could pull from offline gave names & phone numbers of others who'd seen the set up, but so much I paid cash for...& his attitude just sucked.

(Asked him if he wanted me to stand under a bright light while he asked me questions...guess my attitude wasn't the best, either)

Thanks Lorrin for the time factor input...I think I will add that on. The police report was as itemized as we could at the time, but probably still left several hundred dollars off...

Sure appreciate your input!! All that to remind my fellow painters--(as Shannon probably already does, hehe)---Envelope EVERY PENNY'S RECEIPT!!

Sure do...

I have learned...

I keep 'em all too... stuffed in a shoebox! They are all there- with notes scribbled on some about what it was for- some are even scaps of paper with "8/24/11, flea market, easel, $10 cash" It will undoubtably be a nightmare to go through- but it is ALL THERE. I would love to see the look on his face if you had handed him a box like mine!

I showed him my receipt box on the counter, ---hopefully they are in there, I try to be as honest as possible, but am not infallible...

ooo Looks like I had better start keeping mine organized!! good thing to raise the flag on me. sorry it happened to you. =0( its a lesson for me though.

That's one reason I vented. My agent is also an entertainer, and they have no add-on insurance on their very expensive puppet show. She suggested looking into finding some in case something gets stolen on site somewhere...anybody have any ideas on this, you guys that are in the insurance and entertainment biz?

Lorrin, just curious I forgot to ask, what is a EUO?

I'd also be wondering who knew your kit was in the car...unlocked I'm guessing. If someone new starts facepainting in the area you might even recognize your stuff...I bet your fingerprints will still be on it....Just a thought.

Also, check craigslist for an entire kit for sale!

I keep all receipts, noted on the receipt what expense account to post to, entered on Quicken, filed by expense account, then at year end all receipts are stapled to each account report, in chronological order... my accountant loves me.

I have 10,000 of kit replacement insurance on my policy - it is an add-on. Doubles my premiums but if I lost just ONE of my kits I'd be out way more than that. It is seed money to start rebuilding.

Frankly... even if you discovered your kit in someone else' hands... would you want to risk using it again???

Thank you...I think I will ask if it's available through this agency, although I am not sure I want to stay with them, since my original agent retired, & the investigator was so rude. I'm sure if anyone saw the kit in use, they'd tell the me/the authorities---I am thinking they really thought it was guns & don't have a clue what they got. Yes, the car was unlocked---but less than 10 feet from my son's bedroom window. Oh, and the car's got a cloth top, so at least that wasn't cut into...

Well, they settled for the most they could give for a "business claim", $1200. It doesn't replace everything, but sure helps...Thanks for everyone's advice & support. Lesson learned!

I am glad you were at least able to receive something out of it. Still a pain that it has put your business on hold while you try to regroup and restock the things you had. I would say once you get the money just buy what you absolutely need right now?? I say that because I am sure in the process of acquiring your items some things you were able to get on sale/clearance. So if some things can wait until a better price comes along, at least you can somewhat stretch the money they gave you to get the most out of it.

I am diligent about tracking all receipts and monthly expenditures. My phone has an app that allows me to do it right when I make a purchase a or expense for gas tolls etc. I then when I have some down time take that info from my phone and make a hard copy of it to give to my tax preparer.

The app on my phone tallies everything daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly and everything is gruouped by the type of expense it is and whether it ws paid by check cash or credit. It's really neat and keeps me organized and I always have access to the info right on the spot.

what is the name of that app? sounds handy to me!! my filing paper system isnt working to well