David Carlson - Akron, Ohio
MY ALLSTATE HORROR STORY
I HAVE A HOME AND AUTO POLICY WITH THE "GOOD HANDS" COMPANY AND MY SON HAS HIS TWO CARS INSURED WITH THEM. MY AUTO POLICY WAS SET TO EXPIRE ON THE 19TH OF DECEMBER, A SUNDAY AT MIDNIGHT. ON THE 16TH OF DECEMBER I MAILED THE PAYMENT. SEEING THAT I LIVE IN AKRON OHIO. AND WAS JUST MAILING IT TO HUDSON OHIO, I FELT IT WOULD GET THERE ON TIME.
ON MONDAY THE 20TH OF DECEMBER, WHILE MY CAR WAS SITTING IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, IT WAS INVOLVED WITH A HIT / SKIP ACCIDENT. SOMEONE HIT MY CAR ON THE LEFT REAR QUARTER SO HARD IT BENT MY REAR AXLE. I CALLED THE POLICE AND FILED A REPORT. THE NEXT DAY, TUESDAY THE 21ST, I WENT TO MY AGENTS OFFICE TO FILE THE CLAIM WITH HIM. HE CHECKED HIS COMPUTER AND TOLD ME THAT MY POLICY HAD BEEN CANCELLED. I TOLD HIM THAT THE CHECK WAS SENT AND EVEN SHOWED HIM A DUPLICATE CHECK STUB. ALL HE COULD SAY WAS THAT THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO.
AFTER THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY I DROVE UP TO THE HUDSON MAIN OFFICES. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I GO TO THE CLAIM OFFICE AND TALK TO THEM. I WENT TO THE CLAIM OFFICE ON THE 30TH. I SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE THERE SINCE ALL THE MANAGERS WERE OUT OF THE OFFICE FOR THE HOLIDAYS. HE CHECKED THE FILES AND ADVISED ME THAT SINCE MY HOME AND MY SONS CARS WERE INSURED WITH ALLSTATE, AND THAT I HAVE NEVER FILED A CLAIM BEFORE TO GO AHEAD AND SUBMIT THE CLAIM AND THERE WOULD BE A GOOD CHANCE THAT THEY WOULD HONOR IT. I SUBMITTED THE CLAIM ON THE 31ST OF DECEMBER.
ON THE 3RD OF JAN. I GOT A CALL FROM A CLAIM AGENT AND EXPLAINED THE WHOLE STORY AGAIN. HE EXPLAINED HE WOULD HAVE TO CHECK WITH MANAGEMENT ON A RULING FOR THIS. HE WAS TO CALL ME BACK WITH AN ANSWER. SEVERAL DAYS WENT BY AND I DID NOT HEAR FROM HIM. I CALLED TO CHECK ON THE STATUS, BUT WAS NEVER GIVEN ANY INFORMATION.
ON THE 18TH OF THIS MONTH (JAN.) I DID GET A CALL FROM THE CLAIM AGENT. HE INFORMED ME THAT ALLSTATE WOULD NOT HONOR THE CLAIM BECAUSE IT HAD LAPSED AND BEEN REINSTATED ON TWO PRIOR OCCASIONS. IF THEY DIDN'T WANT MY BUSINESS THEN WHY DID THEY TAKE MY MONEY AND CONTINUE MY COVERAGE? I DID LEARN THAT MY CHECK I SENT ON THE 16TH OF DECEMBER DID GET POSTED TO MY ACCOUNT AND COVERAGE WAS RE-INSTATED ON THE 22ND OF DECEMBER.
HOW DO I KNOW THAT THEY DIDN'T RECEIVE THE CHECK ON TIME, OR THAT THEY ARE TO BLAME FOR IT NOT GETTING POSTED IN TIME? AND ONCE AGAIN, IF THEY FELT I WAS THAT MUCH OF A RISK WHY DID THEY ACCEPT MY MONEY AND CONTINUE THE POLICY? WHY DIDN'T THEY JUST RETURN MY CHECK AND SAY SORRY WE DON'T WANT YOU AS A CUSTOMER. DO THEY NOT HAVE A GRACE PERIOD TO COVER THIS?
SO NOW, I AM WITHOUT A CAR AND IN JEOPARDY OF LOSING MY JOB SINCE I CAN'T GET TO WORK IN A NORMAL MANNER, AND I'M INSURED BY A COMPANY THAT TAKES PEOPLES MONEY AND DOES NOTHING FOR THEM. I DID FILE A CLAIM AGAINST THEM WITH THE OHIO BOARD OF INSURANCE, BUT NOT SURE WHAT OR HOW THAT WILL TURN OUT.
SO, THAT'S MY STORY WITH THE "GOOD HANDS" PEOPLE. THEY DOVE INTO MY WALLET AND RAN THE FIRST TIME I NEEDED THEM.
"There is no incentive for insurance companies to do what is right, such as live up to the promises made in their policies. Tort reformers fueled by insurance money think big business and the insurance industry need to be protected against "runaway juries." It's the other way around. Big business and the insurance industry have always been able to take care of themselves. The little people need protection from them. This country was founded on the common law right of the little guy to get into court with his hired gun to fight the oppressor, be it big government or big business. Take that away and we have nothing left. Look around. It's being whittled away, bit by bit, caps on damages here, restrictions on jury trials there. It won't end until we recognize the enemy and join together to take a stand against them. It will take the little people to do this together".
Louis G. Fazzi, Esq. Attorney & Counselor At Law