Humiliated: Claim procedure and treatment - I had reported stolen property and vandalism occurring at my secondary residence ** PA 16510 to the Wesleyville Police Dept. 8/29/2011. After, much reserve, Progressive determined that by law, my items at the secondary residence could be covered under my current homeowners policy due to the fact that I spend the several nights a month there. However, I did not claim the damage to any real property, only personal items. It was not until sometime in January 2012, did Progressive assign an adjuster to my claim. During this process, the agent, Mr. ** complained of a communication problem and not being able to reach me, although I had given him both my home phone and my cell phone numbers for his convenience.
My cell phone and home phone records will indicate, I did return calls to Mr. ** timely fashion on his every attempt. However, Mr. **, sent to me on a weekly basis, at least three letters stating his intent to close my claim for my lack of interest in the matter. He had told his supervisors of this problem of communication, phone records, like I said, will prove that Mr. ** is not telling the truth about his attempts of contact and lack of interest. Our phone contact was frequent and my responses to Mr. ** request were timely. As he requested receipts from a waterbed, purchased over ten years ago.
This took some time to retrieve such records. The agent Zachary **, also stated that his company required the opinion of a certified waterbed inspector to assess the damages done to my bed from the incident. Without such verification from an authorized inspector, my claim was not valid.
After inquiring to his supervisors, as to the exact qualifications of such an inspector and the procedural advice on locating a person with such credentials, an adjuster called me soon after and arranged to meet me to audit the loss and vandalism claim.
Mr. ** supervisor, stated to me that she spoke with my son, current resident of my home. She stated that my son contradicted my statements given to Mr. ** and that my bed was not in fact my bed. I waited 1 hour past the adjusters scheduled appointment with me. To accommodate him, out of respect and I desire of closure, I waited for the adjuster to arrive. An enormous inconvenience since I had errands and tasks complete before the close of business that day. The adjuster finally arrived, without identifying themselves, entered my home. Another man started taking pictures of various damages to the house, walls, cupboards, including property damage that was not part of the claim. I found that to be highly inappropriate and very invasive of my privacy rights since the damaged doors had no bearing on the claim.
He continued to do a photograph of my home even after I asked him to stop, because those items were not part of the claim. He stated that Mr. ** had instructed him to take such photos. I felt violated and intimidated by their presence in my home. The adjuster demanded the few receipts of the items that I could find from my files. I informed him that they were originals and needed to be copied first. He insisted on taking them, promising me that the receipts
would be returned to me in a few days after the adjuster had copied them. I reluctantly gave them to him, as I thought it was a procedural process for a claim. The two men stood over me while I signed some formal documents, they stated they were part of the claims procedure.
Days went by with no word and no sight of my receipts. I called Zachary ** and asked about the return of my receipts. I spoke to his supervisor and expressed my displeasure with Mr. ** demeanor towards me and with their procedure handling my claim. I received most of the receipts in three days following that phone call. Several receipts were not returned. I called Zachary ** immediately to inform him of the missing receipts. Mr. ** scolded me for giving the adjuster the receipts. Mr. ** informed me that the adjuster had no authority to request the receipts and that I was at fault for giving the receipts to the adjuster because he was a contracted third party and not an actual employee of Homesite. I had no response for his reaction. Mr. ** shamed me and intimidated me, inferring that I was just plain stupid.
I assumed that he was there representing Homesite Insurance Underwriters. I did not know the procedure for Homesite, nor did I realize that the adjuster was an independent contractor simply acting on behalf of Homesite. Had I known that he was going to take my belongings and not return them, I wouldn't be writing this letter right now.
After all of this commotion, Mr. ** still requested an inventory of my loss, which I assumed was the reason behind the adjusters evaluation. However, I needed to complete a list as well. I did so and submitted it. Mr. ** then calls me on my cell phone at school and asks me to restate the listing of the items on line three of the inventory list which I had mailed about a week prior. I told him that I did not remember and was not in a position to answer or verify any questions about the inventory list until I could see it. He insisted on my knowledge of the items on the list even though I had no idea, being that, I did not have a viewable copy to refer to. Mr. ** e-mailed me a copy and I promptly answered his question regarding line three, a Sony Cyber Shot Camera. He then called me the following day stating that the entire list needed to be restated to him. He stated that my handwriting was illegible. I then told Mr. ** to simply communicate with me only by mail, as I don't always have access to a computer or a printer since mine was damaged and/or stolen.
About a week passes and I receive a letter in the mail from Mr. **, a letter of determination, stating that three items on the list were not going to be covered because I could not prove ownership. He obviously found a way to decipher my handwriting without me having to type it out for him. Again, it appeared that Mr. ** was deliberately inconveniencing me and controlling me with his position of power over me, due to the fact that he was handling my claim the way he saw fit. Mr. ** insisted on proving his authority over this claim as proven by his continual threat on closing the claim. Is that not a form of sexual harassment? An attempt of intimidation and empowerment?
Enclosed, you will find a copy of the letter Mr. ** sent to me identifying that a receipt is proof of ownership. I gave the receipts to the adjuster who did not return all of my receipts to me. The adjuster even took photos of the smashed Gateway Computer tower, conveniently, one of the receipts not returned to me. The other receipts given to the adjuster had printed on the itemized receipt, X 360. Again, a receipt not returned to me. Yet, I cannot prove ownership with a photo, since the game was stolen. Lastly, a Sony Cyber Shot Camera, again, a receipt not returned to me and that receipt clearly stated the item purchased was a Sony Cyber Shot.
Now, quite honestly, I cannot remember the cost of the items I am referring to, due to the medication I am prescribed for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The medication affects my memory. So, like the insurance company, I too have to refer to the receipts of the items missing. I expect that more items were taken, I just cannot recall due to lost, misplaced or receipts not returned to me. I can however, return to Best Buy, where many of the items were purchased and they can pull records under my husband's name regarding the two of the transactions in question. The receipts are on file there. Again, another attempt by Mr. ** to inconvenience me, taking up time and gas for a 25 mile trip into town for copies of receipts which I already once provided to the adjuster. Mr. ** from the offset, was confrontational with me, but not so with my husband. I assumed he simply had a disdain for women or did he just feel the need to show his muscle with me?. When he told me I had to have a certified waterbed inspector, I thought that was just over the top.
Now, after having a conversation with my husband today, March 22, 2012, Mr. ** informs us that he has no inventory list from the hired adjuster. Then please inform me the purpose of the adjusters visit to my home. Was the adjuster sent there and arrived late only to inconvenience me again? Mr. ** state that he has no copies of the receipts given to the adjuster, and has no itemized list of the depreciation of my items for settlement. As far as I am concerned, this claim must stay open until the receipts taken by their Homesite representative are returned to me.
I feel like I am being victimized again. Homesite and particularly Mr. **, seemed to consistently and intentionally want me to be made a fool. I have been disrespected and mistreated and insulted from the offset by Mr. **, with no regards for my loss or personal humiliation. I feel that now, Homesite and their representatives have stolen my receipts to portray me as dishonest and fraudulent. So, I ask you when does this humiliation and insult to my character and my personal abilities, from communication to handwriting, end? I would like my receipts returned to me. As far as proof of ownership of the particular item, a Gateway Computer, the adjusters took photos of the damaged tower. Thus, proving that I do own such a computer.
Enclosed, are copies of the receipts returned to me, a copy of my inventory list in my handwriting, a copy of the letter of determination and a copy of the letter from Homesite, stating what type of proof is accepted to process a claim. I did not even attempt to claim the numerous DVDs, Cds or Blu-ray movies stolen due to the lack of receipts. There were over 50 items of current title in my movie collection. I would like to see justice and closure to an already awful experience. I believe I have suffered enough loss. This experience over the last several weeks has caused an extraordinary amount of stress, anxiety and traumatized. I feel distraught and taken advantage of in an unfamiliar arena. I feel that is necessary for me to return to therapy and possibly a medication adjustment over this entire humiliating process from Mr. **. I cannot begin to express how overwhelmed and affronted I feel from Mr. ** treatment toward me and my entire situation.