Having to file a claim against an insurance policy can be stressful. Whether it’s your homeowners insurance, car insurance, or health insurance, filing a claim means that something went wrong.
You hope that your claim will be handled quickly and professionally and you’ll get the desired outcome, compensation related to your claim. When our area was hit by an inland hurricane a few years back, our house took on a lot of damage. Our entire area was hit, so we made sure to call our insurance company immediately to make sure we were first on the list. Luckily, our insurance company was quick to respond and we got everything taken care of promptly.
Note: You can see my post on the storm that hit our area: How to be Ready for an Emergency.
However, sometimes things go wrong and your agent or insurance agency mishandles your claim or you don’t get the fair result you expected. In this case you don’t have to just settle for what you get, you can report a bad insurance agent or agency through a claim with your state.
The first step when you get a decision that you don’t agree with is to try to negotiate a better settlement amount or claim amount with the agent. If you can reach a satisfactory agreement that is often better then the time and energy that will be invested in filing a claim against the agent. However, if your case was just handled poorly or you just can’t reach an agreement, then filing a claim with the state is necessary.
Where to Start
Search the state department of insurance website to locate the name and address of who to contact in your state. Some states like NY and CT have consumer complaint forms available for you to use in conjunction with their formal insurance department claim center. You can print and complete these forms to get started. If your state doesn’t have forms available online, you can print one from a state that does and use it as a template for your complaint.
If you are having trouble figuring out who to contact in your state you can look up the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and their site will direct you to the appropriate contact in your state.
Filing the Claim
You will want to complete the claim against your agent thoroughly and accurately. This means thinking with a clear head and detailing facts only. It is important to list all events and contacts in chronological order. Include any contact you had with the agent, police, insurance company, doctors or anyone pertinent to your case.
Attach any necessary documents. This could be health records in terms of a health care claim or an accident report if it was a vehicle claim. It’s important to hold on to the original documents and just send in photo copies in case they get misplaced and you need to furnish additional copies.
Remember to sign and date your claim before you send it in. Then you will want to send it to your state department of insurance claims.
Follow Up
If you want to achieve satisfactory results, it is important to follow up. Usually two weeks after you submit your claim is sufficient time for follow up. Keep following up ever week until your claim is handled.
Follow Up, Follow Up
A friend of mine who is industry read my post and wanted to add their two cents. I thought it was a good perspective, so I wanted to share…..
Saw you post a few days ago about insurance claims. Being in the business, it struck a chord with me. I could ramble on with many things but a few that stuck out to me about your article/post/whatever was that it assumed everyone who has an issue with the way their claim is handled had a covered loss? Admittedly, I didn’t research the context of your article but am assuming you’re trying to educate the public. Just wanted to ensure that it was objective! Naturally, email/written text doesn’t allow me to provide non-verbals and context to this message. It is all in good fun and nothing that I am losing any sleep over – or you either for that matter. Just some food for thought.
If you didn’t receive remarkable customer service or were denied coverage for a covered loss, then there are grounds to file complaints. If the top insurance companies mess up, although I know that with respect to the people I work with and what I believe in my company, it isn’t malicious. More so, human error or misinterpretations. I wouldn’t bat an eye to file a complaint myself as a consumer if I thought I was treated unjustly or unfairly, especially when I’ve entered into a contract. But, if you expect insurance to cover general maintenance on your property when your roofer uncovered rotted roof decking once they take hail damaged shingles off your roof – there may not be anything a judge or the department of insurance can do to help you – maintenance isn’t covered. Also, there are areas in most insurance policies that outline alternative dispute resolutions – be it appraisal, arbitration, or filing suit. Often times, these are measures sought outside of asking the DOI to step in which is often viewed as the final option when others didn’t suffice (I think often times the DOI would agree).
One other thing I thought was interesting was that you filed your claim quickly to get to the top of the list. Certainly can’t speak for all insurance companies, but can say based on my experience, this is a general misconception. Most companies assign claims based on severity. The people with more damage generally get inspected first. But there are a lot of subjective items that go into it as well – namely the schedule/location of the assigned adjuster. There are other factors but but just because you file a claim quickly doesn’t mean you’re going to get inspected quicker – relatively speaking.
Anyway, that is my 2 cents – or a quarter based on the amount I’ve typed out here! I just sort of felt like reading it, that you were maybe supporting filing a compliant when you didn’t get what you thought you deserved when the general concept of insurance is confusing for many. I am by no means saying all insurance companies have unwavering ethics or morals. Since USAA is giving you some props – check out there article about myths in insurance. They list some common ones that any insurance company would agree are out there. Wow – I thought this would be a few sentences and this turned into a book. Now I need to go back and read it again and make sure I’ve covered everything! Anyway, I seriously wanted to more so give you props for what you’re doing and jab at you a little and this turned heavy on the jab (in good fun) and less on the props.
Have you had a bad experience with an insurance agent? If so, share your experience in the comments below.
A top bank isn’t always the highest flier, but one that can survive the tough periods in a more turbulent economy.
That’s the story of Gateway First in Jenks, Oklahoma, the No. 1 bank on the 2022 list of top-performing banks with $2 billion to $10 billion of assets compiled by the consulting firm Capital Performance Group. The list ranks the banks by their three-year average return on average equity. The $2.1 billion-asset Gateway’s three-year average ROAE of 25.36% put it at the top of the list.
But compared to its top-performing peers that hovered in the 20% to 30% range in the last three years, Gateway First had a very different journey. Its ROAE was slashed in half from 2020 to 2021, going from 45.66% to 26.58%. This then plummeted down to 3.84% in 2022.
“I don’t think there’s any company I’ve seen that has been through more change in the last five years than we have,” said Scott Gesell, CEO of Gateway First Bank. This included changes brought on by an acquisition and a change in strategy.
“But we’ve weathered the storm,” Gesell added. “And it’s because we got great people.”
The bank, originally an independent mortgage company called Gateway Mortgage Group, acquired Farmers Exchange Bank and became Gateway First Bank in 2019. Gateway First’s dominance in the mortgage market proved to be a boon during the pandemic when rates were cut in an attempt to spur economic activity. In 2020, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell below 3% for the first time, and then hit an all-time low of 2.65% in January 2021.
Gesell noted that those were some of the “best years in the history of mortgage lending.” The bank’s mortgage loans peaked at $11.8 billion dollars in the middle of 2020, he added.
Then came the end of 2021, when the bank’s mortgage loans fell to only $4 billion. “It was a transition year away from that and into kind of the worst year in mortgage banking, probably since 2008,” he said.
Interest rates have spiked to more than 7% this year. Ninety-nine percent of borrowers had a mortgage rate lower than 6% or the current market rate, according to Goldman Sachs earlier this year. This has deterred refinancing, with the number of these loans dropping from 1.8 million in the first quarter of 2021 to just 9,700 in the fourth quarter of 2022. Gesell called it a “perfect storm in the mortgage industry today.”
Gateway has made efforts to diversify its balance sheet by racking up more commercial loans while maintaining and monitoring its current mortgage portfolio. Gesell highlighted that mortgage banking is a more “fickle and volatile business” than other lines of business.
Steven Reider, president of the consulting firm Bancography, said that facing a dearth of refinancing and mortgage activity, it’s good for a bank to look for other revenue streams.
“There’s a benefit from diversification because all of our business lines and all our economic sectors don’t tend to move in lockstep,” he added. “But it takes time to build the product. It takes time to build the personnel.”
The industries of Gateway’s commercial loans are diverse, according to Gesell, ranging from hospitality to energy lending. Meanwhile, the bank has steered clear from lending on commercial office real estate given the uncertainty of that business right now. Remote work has persisted since the pandemic, and office vacancies have reached an all-time high at 16.1% in the first quarter.
Besides diversifying its loan portfolio, the company also cut operations and staffing since the mortgage boom ended. The company cut its number of mortgage centers from 170 to 125 and trimmed its headcount from 1,800 employees who work on mortgage originations to 1,100.
“It’s a tough deal but people know that we aren’t doing it lightly,” added Gesell. “The nice thing is we had a couple good years that allowed us to buffer and soft-land the process of downsizing.”
Gateway’s near-future growth strategy will continue to focus on commercial lending, while fortifying its deposit base — the bank currently has one of the highest loan-to-deposit ratios in the top-performing banks ranking at around 140%. Gesell said that they will be able to do this through organic customer growth and acquisitions of banks heavier on deposits than loans. He is aiming to decrease Gateway’s loan-to-deposit ratio to 90% by the end of 2024.
“That’s sort of been the history of the organization. There has been a commitment to reinvesting in the organization on an ongoing basis because you want to maintain yourself in a position to continue to grow,” said Gesell.
When there are multiple examples of important events that can cause bond market volatility in any given week but that week begins without much volatility, the analysis writes itself. The words may vary, but the underlying message is one of “calm before the storm.” And because the storm involves multiple economic reports that stand some chance of offsetting their directional implications, it’s safer to say “calm before the potential storm.” The most notable volatility today was driven by trades that existed due to month-end positional needs rather than a reaction to data/events. Thus, the biggest moves were seen at 9:30am and 3pm, but ultimately didn’t leave trading levels far from Friday’s latest.
Chicago PMI
42.8 vs 43.3 f’cast, 41.5 prev
09:45 AM
No major reaction to data. 10yr up less than 1bp at 4.02. MBS down 2 ticks (.06).
12:51 PM
modest additional gains with 10yr down 1.7bps at 3.996. MBS up an eighth.
02:21 PM
Leveled off in PM and slipping slightly. MBS up 3 ticks (.09) and 10yr down 1bp at 4.003.
02:57 PM
Giving up slightly more ground now. MBS unchanged (down just over an eighth from highs) and 10yr also unchanged at 3.957.
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Earlier this week, April wrote with a personal finance predicament. She and her husband need to buy a car, but it’s not something they’d budgeted to do any time soon. Fate intervened:
My husband and I are trying to pay down our debt and to save money. This morning he called to tell me that he had been rear-ended in traffic. He’s fine, thankfully, but he thinks they’ll total his car, which was paid for. My best guess is that they’ll give us $4000. I don’t want another car payment, but I’m not sure what to do here.
The payments on my car are $240, and we have two years left. We pay $1013 for the lot we own [on which they plan to build a home –j.d.], and $200 for his motorcycle, which we’re trying to sell (keeping the bike isn’t an option). The rest goes toward the normal bills and paying off the credit card, which we have about $8000 left on. We don’t pay rent right now, don’t have cable, and we’re cutting back everywhere possible. Our two luxuries are Netflix and high-speed Internet.
What’s our best option?
Should we buy something a little more than the expected $4000 settlement and finance the rest?
Should we try to make it on one car and put the money toward the debt?
Something in between?
My husband absolutely has to have a car because he makes sales calls all day long. I carpool to work and don’t drive, but on occasion I need to take my own vehicle. Maybe we could make other arrangements on those days, but it’s hard to account for any circumstance that could come up. I want to be really smart about the choice we make, because I don’t want to derail all of our hard work. We really want this to be the year that we get our finances in order.
April adds that because of where they live, biking to work isn’t an option, and neither is public transportation. Her choice seems to be: remain a two-car family for convenience, or make a go with one car while tackling the last of the debt.
Often I don’t have a strong opinion about reader questions, but this time I know exactly what I’d do if I were in April’s situation. I’d defer the decision. I would take the money, place it in savings, and try to get by with just one car for a few weeks. If this worked well, I’d pay down the debt. If there were problems, I’d buy a car.
I actually experienced something similar several years ago. In December 2000, a tractor-trailer rig sideswiped my beloved Geo Storm during the morning commute on the freeway. My car was totaled.
I didn’t have an emergency fund and was already deep in debt. But the car was paid off. The insurance company gave me $2000 for it. Rather than make the smart move — buy a used car — I borrowed $15,000 to purchase a brand new Ford Focus, the car I’m still driving today. That choice prolonged my life in debt.
April’s situation is slightly different, of course. I had to buy a car; she and her husband have the option of using the money to pay off debt instead. But is that the best choice?
Have you had to make the choice between buying a car or paying off debt? Which did you choose and why? (Or, to look at the question from a different angle, have you ever opted not to have a car in order to avoid debt?) What would you do if you were in April’s shoes?
Who doesn’t love a bad movie? The only thing better than a self-aware terrible movie is a bad movie trying to be good.
There’s a guilty pleasure in knowing that even some of the brightest, most talented filmmakers can flop sometimes. According to an online movie forum, these are the ten biggest flops meant to be a hit.
1. The Lawnmower Man (1992)
It’s jarring to see a movie rated 5.4 on IMDb with Stephen King’s name attached, but one commenter claims the movie was so bad King sued to have his name removed from the film’s involvement.
The film was adapted from one of King’s books and was directed by Brett Leonard. This movie-watcher describes it as “bad, but it’s also strange, unpredictable, and fun.” They also cite that a scene in the movie about a monkey robocop had to be cut from the theatrical release because it was irrelevant to the rest of the film.
2. Who Killed Captain Alex? (2015)
Funnily enough, this terrible movie is rated 7.0 on IMDb because of the sheer amount of ironic 10s. One person jokes, “nothing but a true passion for cinema was poured into that movie.” Another user remarks, “They asked for terrible movies, not peak cinema.” Watching the amateur acting and terrible CGI in the trailer is a trip.
The synopsis of the film is beautifully ridiculous. The Ugandan president orders Captain Alex to defeat the Tiger Mafia but dies trying. Alex’s brother investigates and vows to avenge his brother. I give it a solid 10 out of 10 for the trailer alone.
3. Battlefield Earth (2000)
This film stars John Travolta and Forest Whitaker and is set in the year 3000, where the ruling alien race Psychlos has enslaved humanity. It’s based on the book by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology.
A connoisseur of terrible movies insists this is the gold standard of unintentionally bad films, calling it the stuff of legends. To encapsulate just how bad they think it is, I leave you with this quote: “I simply couldn’t even fathom what perfect storm of events had to unfold to allow something so aggressively bad to exist on a multi-million dollar scale.”
Wait, they’re not done, “I honestly don’t think it could’ve been any worse if, literally, every person involved was actively trying to sabotage the film.” Quite possibly one of the lowest-rated films on IMDb, with a 2.5 rating.
4. Troll 2 (1990)
Troll 2 is a slight upgrade from the last film, at least earning a 2.9 IMDb rating. One individual thinks it gets funnier every time they watch it. The movie’s premise is a vacationing family discovers the town they’ve arrived at has been taken over by human-impersonating goblins who want to eat them.
A second user added more context, explaining the director was not a native English speaker but insisted the lines be spoken just as they were written.
5. Samurai Cop (1991)
Samurai Cop follows the lives of two police detectives who try to stop the Katana, a killer gang trying to lead the drug trade in L.A. The movie is famous for its supposedly fluent Japanese-speaking main character mispronouncing every other character’s name and uttering cringe lines.
When one character asks him what katana means, he responds, “It means Japanese sword.” The flat delivery is fantastic; I highly recommend this terrible gem, rated 4.6 on IMDb.
6. Zardoz (1958)
Rated 5.8 on IMDb, this X-rated film starring Sean Connery takes place in the late 23rd century. A savage who knows only how to kill is taken in by a bored community of immortals who are tasked with preserving man’s achievements. Someone says Zardoz fits the bill of an awful and amazing film.
Judging by the IMDb reviews, that assessment checks out. As one reviewer describes, it’s an “incredibly profound allegory disguised as a cheesy movie.” The trailer is simultaneously intriguing and disturbing.
7. The Fanatic (2019)
Poor John Travolta — this is the second terrible movie on this list that he stars in. Directed by Fred Durst, this psychological thriller is about a rabid fan who, when cheated out of the opportunity to meet his favorite action hero, resorts to stalking and increasingly sinister methods of getting the star’s attention.
Someone comments this is easily one of the worst movies that weren’t intentionally meant to be terrible because it takes itself so seriously. A commenter named Emily gives it credit purely because everything the movie could have possibly done wrong, it got wrong, which is no easy feat. The Fanatic is rated 4.1 on IMDb.
8. Cats (2019)
This film went viral online for supplying the internet with endless amounts of cringe. Despite having a star-studded cast including James Corden, Judi Dench, Taylor Swift, and Jason Derulo, the CGI was bizarre, and the tone was weird.
Cats is based on the famous musical about a tribe of cats called the Jelicles who, every year, select one among them to ascend to the Heaviside Layer — a type of heaven-like rebirth for cats. One person who saw the movie on a date comments the movie was so bad it ended the relationship.
9. Birdemic: Shock and Terror (2010)
There’s some debate over whether this film is intentionally bad, but one commenter insists it’s worse than The Room — the certifiable worst movie of all time. Another clarifies, “The director legitimately thinks he’s the next Hitchcock.”
This movie, directed by James Nguyen, is about a flock of mutated birds descending upon a quiet California town, causing casualties. Two citizens fight back against the birds. The movie is an homage to Hitchcock’s The Birds but with terrible directing and CGI. It stands at a shockingly low 1.7 on IMDb.
10. The Happening (2008)
This movie singlehandedly destroyed both M Night Shyamalan and Mark Wahlberg’s careers. It’s about a science teacher and his family trying to survive a plague that somehow causes those infected by a plant neurotoxin to commit suicide. Most of the ridiculousness of this movie can be attributed to the awful writing and delivery of the lines.
A final moviegoer recited the famous line, “What? Noooo!” which is uttered by Wahlberg’s character in response to a woman who asks if he’s going to murder her in her sleep — it’s hilarious because the line is supposed to be believable but is delivered more like an SNL skit.
Source: Reddit.
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Some celebrities definitely seem to enjoy the limelight and keep working to stay in the public eye. While others quickly move out of the spotlight. Many of these actors and actresses stepped out of the spotlight to live a more private life without constant media pressures.
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We’ve all been there – sitting through a movie that we can’t help but cringe at, but somehow it still manages to hold a special place in our hearts.
These 10 Terrible Movies Are Still People’s Favorites
Hurricanes can cause extensive damage to homes and entire cities, causing power outages, water shortages, major flooding, and more. And as climate change progresses, disasters will get worse and more frequent, leading to more damage and costly repairs. This will likely be exacerbated as homeowners continue moving to disaster-prone areas at a record rate.
But what do you do after a hurricane, and how do you protect your home in the future?
If your home was recently hit by a hurricane, it’s important to start the recovery as soon as possible to avoid further damage and help get your life on track. So, whether you live in a house in Tampa, FL, or an apartment in Corpus Christi, TX, read on for 10 critical steps you need to know after a hurricane hits.
1. Ensure your safety
The immediate aftermath of a hurricane is often filled with chaos and uncertainty. If you were told to evacuate, only return once you’re given the all-clear. If you sheltered in place, wait for official guidance that the storm has passed.
Once it’s safe to do so, your primary concern should be to ensure your safety and that of others around you. Inspect your home and surrounding areas and check for hazards such as downed power lines, polluted water, or gas leaks; these are critical dangers that you should immediately report to authorities. If your home has sustained substantial damage, don’t attempt to re-enter and instead find temporary shelter until it’s been deemed safe by professionals.
2. Contact your insurance company
Once you’re in a safe location, reach out to your homeowners’ insurance provider to report any damage to your house. It’s important to note that standard homeowners’ insurance policies typically do not cover flood damage. Coverage for flood damage requires a separate flood insurance policy, often provided through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Begin the claims process as quickly as you can; the sooner you file your claim, the sooner your recovery can begin. Just remember that wait times may be long after major disasters. When you get in contact, insurance companies will guide you through the required steps. Remember to have your policy number and relevant personal information ready. This isn’t a step to rush, despite the urgency of the situation.
3. Document damage
For insurance and recovery purposes, it’s important to document damage to your home and belongings. Use a camera or your phone to take clear photos and videos, covering all angles of rooms and belongings to ensure that you don’t miss anything. Include both close-ups and wider shots to provide context.
It’s also essential not to just document the areas with the most visible damage. Cover all areas of your property, including interior rooms, exterior structures, the roof, basement, garage, and outdoor areas, and more. Sometimes, damage might not be apparent right away, but can manifest later on. This comprehensive documentation will prove invaluable when dealing with your insurance company, contractors, and remediation specialists.
Lastly, never throw away an item that was damaged unless it’s an active hazard. If you do, you’re unlikely to get reimbursement for it.
4. Secure temporary accommodation
If your home is uninhabitable due to extensive damage, it will likely be necessary to secure temporary accommodation for you and your family. Many homeowners’ insurance policies include “Loss of Use” or “Additional Living Expenses” coverage for covered events, which can assist with costs related to temporary housing. You can also reach out to local disaster relief organizations for aid, who often provide temporary shelter during emergencies.
5. Check for utility disruptions
After a hurricane, it’s common for utilities to be disrupted. This includes water, electricity, and gas. Check all these services in your home. If you find that they’re unavailable or not working correctly, contact your utility providers to report these issues. Keep in mind that restoration times can vary depending on the severity of the storm and the extent of damage in your area. In case you smell gas or suspect a gas leak, evacuate your property immediately and inform the gas company. Remember, safety comes first.
6. Begin clean up and salvage
Once you’ve ensured safety and contacted your insurance company, it’s time to start the clean-up process. Before you begin, make sure to wear protective gear to avoid injury while sorting through debris. Salvage what you can, but be mindful of water-logged or mold-prone items, as these can pose health risks if not handled appropriately. It’s crucial to remain patient during this process, as it can be time-consuming and emotionally challenging.
7. Mitigate further damage
To protect your home from additional damage in the immediate hours and days following the hurricane, cover broken windows and holes in your roof with tarps or plywood. Your insurance company may require this effort as part of your policy agreement, and in some cases, they may cover the cost of these temporary fixes. This step is crucial in maintaining the structural integrity of your home and preventing further deterioration.
Make sure to take photos of the damage before you begin any repairs, otherwise your insurance may not cover it.
8. Hire professional help
Dealing with the aftermath of a hurricane can be overwhelming, so it can be useful to hire professionals to help navigate the recovery process. From helping with insurance to repairing your home, they can dramatically improve your recover. Here are a few professionals to consider contacting:
Public adjusters: Adjusters can advocate for you with insurance companies to ensure you get the claim settlement you deserve.
Structural engineers: These experts can assess the structural integrity of your home after a disaster, checking for unseen damage that could potentially lead to more serious issues down the line.
Water and mold remediation specialists: Flooding often accompanies hurricanes. If your home was flooded, you should have a specialist inspect it for mold. These specialists can effectively remove water and mold and treat areas to prevent further mold from developing.
Contractors: Disaster recovery contractors can aid in restoring your home to its pre-disaster condition. They can be especially helpful if you’ve made temporary repairs and need something more permanent.
9. Address emotional wellbeing
It’s crucial to take care of your emotional health, especially following a disaster. Hurricanes can cause substantial emotional distress, which may make it difficult to return to normal life. Consider talking with a mental health professional, counselor, or community support groups that can provide emotional and psychological aid. Reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness – it’s a necessary step towards healing and recovery.
10. Prepare for the future
After you’ve weathered a hurricane, it’s a good time to revisit your preparedness strategy. Make sure your insurance coverage is adequate, and get flood insurance if you don’t already. It’s also essential to create a comprehensive evacuation plan and consider making improvements to prepare your house for future hurricanes. Being prepared can greatly reduce the impact of a future disaster and provide peace of mind.
What to do after a hurricane: final thoughts
In the aftermath of a hurricane, facing the recovery process can feel like an insurmountable task. However, it’s important to remember that there are resources and professionals ready to assist you in navigating this challenging time. While the journey towards recovery may seem daunting, with the right resources and support, you can restore normalcy to your life and home. And remember, never neglect your emotional and mental health during and after a disaster. Reach out to your community, support networks, and professionals if needed to take care of yourself and your loved ones.
As the world continues to experience the effects of climate change, these measures aren’t just optional, but essential. By being proactive and informed, you can not only navigate recovery but also better prepare yourself for future events.
This guide should not replace professional advice or guidance. Always seek help from certified professionals for issues related to structural integrity and safety, and follow all official guidance before, during, and after a major weather event.